Minnesota Jewish Theater Presents CHUTZPAH A GO-GO

Come out of the cold and celebrate the New Year with the Minnesota Jewish Theatre Company as we present the United States premiere production of Chutzpah à go-go by David Gale and Randy Vancourt. Chutzpah à go-go is playing February 21 through March 15, 2009, and will feature Joe Bombard, Teri Parker-Brown, Adena Brumer, and Chet Taylor.

Join the Bubkes Jewish Community Players for their tour stop in St. Paul. This newish Jewish musical celebrates the centennial of Bubkes, North Dakota. You'll discover the roots of the early Jewish settlers of the upper Midwest in a town full of mavens of political and social causes, inventors, and entrepreneurs, and delight in the creativity of individuals who adapted into American life without losing their Jewish identity.

Chutzpah à go-go is a rollicking tribute to early Jewish settlers that paints a unique portrait of a people's journey from the shtetl to the prairie. You won't want to miss this joyful hit that celebrates everything endearing about the Jewish culture.

Chutzpah à go-go will be directed by David Gale. Gale grew up in Winnipeg, Canada, and after graduating from Winnepeg's Hebrew high school, studied theater arts at the University of Minnesota where he appeared in numerous productions. After returning to Canada, he became a part of the improvisational scene in Toronto and performed with Mike Myers and The Kids in the Hall. Throughout the last 25 years, Gale has been a successful actor, director, choreographer, writer, and television host. As host of Loving Spoonfuls, the grandmother cooking show, he won both a Gemini (Canadian Emmy - 5 nominations) and a Galaxi award (Canadian cable award). The series continues to air in Canada, Israel and around the world. He is currently Vice President of ACTRA Toronto and councilor of ACTRA National (Canadian actors' film and TV union). He also sits on the board of The Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television.
Gale's directing and choreography credits include Bye, Bye, Birdie, Godspell, The Me Nobody Know, Dads: The Musical, and I Slept With Tony Trouble which was selected to be performed at the Edinburgh Festival. Chutzpah à go-go won a Dora (Toronto's Tony Awards) and played to sold out houses in Montreal, Winnipeg, and Toronto. "Randy and I were approached by the Winnipeg Jewish Theatre to write a musical based on the dictionary cum joke book: The Joys of Yiddish. With the help of our dramaturge, Jordan Merkur, we came up with a more personal concept of writing a show about my own experiences growing up surrounded by Yiddish in a small but vibrant Jewish community in Winnipeg. We all felt that the title Chutzpah à go-go would work better than Little Jews on the Prairie." 

Kevin Dutcher is music director for Chutzpah à go-go. Dutcher has a long history with MJTC, as well as credits for over 100 productions as a director, music director, and actor. He was Josef Mashkan in MJTC's acclaimed production of Old Wicked Songs (1997 and 1998), and music director for our first musical, The Odd Potato. He appeared as Luther Rosser in MJTC's production of Parade (co-produced with Theater Latté Da). Other credits include director of Actors Theater of Minnesota's productions of I Do, I Do!, Magic Moments, and We Gotta Bingo. He also scored their current production, Tony and Tina's Wedding.

Chutzpah à go-go opens February 21 and plays through March 15, 2009 with performances Saturdays at 8 pm, and Sundays at 2 pm and 7 pm. Ticket prices are Saturdays $25, Sunday afternoons $22, and Sunday evenings $18. Student rush tickets are $12. Group discounts are available. All performances are at MJTC's theater home, Hillcrest Center, 1978 Ford Parkway, Saint Paul The little brown stage Off-River! For ticket reservations call 651-647-4315, Monday through Friday, 9 am - 5:30 pm, or e-mail info@mnjewishtheatre.org.

Minnesota Jewish Theatre Company is a non-profit organization now in its 14th year of presenting professional productions rooted in the Jewish experience but illuminating the common humanity among us all. The audience for MJTC is almost equally divided between Jews and non-Jews. For further information about MJTC, call 651-647-4315 or visit our website at www.mnjewishtheatre.org.

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