Minnesota Jewish Theatre Company's JERICHO Begins Tonight

Minnesota Jewish Theatre Company (MJTC) has announced the opening of a new work by Jack Canfora, Jericho. This regional premiere runs from tonight, April 18 - May 10 at the Highland Park Center Theater, 1978 Ford Parkway, St. Paul, MN 55116. Tickets range in price from $19 - $28. Student and group discounts are available. To order, call (651) 647-4315 or visit mnjewishtheatre.org. Press passes are available for the performances on Saturday, April 18 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, April 19 at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m.

This powerful new play looks at four thirty-something New Yorkers as they navigate the emotional aftermath of September 11. Characters struggle to make sense of their lives as they grapple with cultural identity, fraught relationships, residual guilt, and overwhelming grief. These issues come to a head as the family gathers for a confrontational Thanksgiving meal. Displaying surprising humor and wit, this thought-provoking play about living and letting go is a moving testament to survival and redemption.

Ryan M. Lindberg (Josh) is thrilled to be returning to MJTC for his seventh production. Previous credits at MJTC include Handle With Care, The Gospel According to Jerry, Goats, Moonlight and Magnolias, Modern Orthodox, and The Twilight of the Golds. Ryan has appeared around town with the Guthrie Theater (Six Degrees of Separation), Walking Shadow Theatre Company (Squawk, Robots vs. Fake Robots), Park Square Theatre (You Can't Take It With You), and Gremlin Theater (An Absolute Turkey, Corleone: The Shakespearean Godfather). Ryan is a graduate of the University of Minnesota/Guthrie Theater B.F.A. Actor Training Program.

Maggie Bearmon Pistner (Rachel) is delighted to return to MJTC. She was recently seen in Other Desert Cities at Bloomington Civic Theatre and, in June, will be in an original experimental piece created for the Red Eye Theatre's Work in Progress. Maggie has worked at many Twin Cities theaters including The Jungle, Park Square Theatre, and Walking Shadow. In 2013, Maggie told her mother's story in the one-woman sold-out Fringe show "They Called Her Captain." Maggie is a voice-over and commercial talent.

Max Polski (Ethan) is happy to make his debut at MJTC. Max is a graduate of the University of Minnesota/Guthrie Theater B.F.A. Actor Training Program. He has acted at the Guthrie Theater, Drury Lane Theater in Chicago, and Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival in New York.

Miriam Schwartz (Jessica) is a Seattle native and graduate of the University of Minnesota/Guthrie Theater B.F.A. Actor Training Program. She is thrilled to be working with MJTC again where she was previously seen as Ayelet in Handle With Care. Other theater credits include Walking Shadow Theatre Company (Gabriel), 7th House Theater (Cinephillia), Workhaus Collective (Homegrown, The Hollow), Guthrie Theater (Born Yesterday), and Theatre Forever (The Brutes), as well as Sonya in Uncle Vanya, Jenny in In Game or Real, and multiple roles in Clandestino.

Anna Sutheim (Beth) has been working in theater and music in the Twin Cities since 2011. Favorite performing experiences have included shows with 20% Theatre (her solo show Singing Out), Nimbus Theatre (Emma in Babel, Penelope in Happy Birthday, Wanda June), The Friction Collective (the Countess in Primadonnas), and Nautilus Music Theater (performer and writer for REACH, and a 2014 Management Fellow). She is currently writing a pastiche chamber opera set in a coffee shop.

Michael Torsch (Dr. Kim/Alec) is happy to be returning to MJTC after playing Baruch de Spinoza in New Jerusalem last fall. Other recent credits include Ken in RED (Normandale Theatre), Dad in Matthew McGuire's Beget (Agile Rabbit Theatre Company), and Dromio of Syracuse in The Comedy of Errors (Cromulent Shakespeare Company). He also recently directed and acted in an original stage adaptation of Richard Connell's The Most Dangerous Game at the Bedlam Lowertown.

Creative Team:

Warren C. Bowles (Director) previously directed Photograph 51 at MJTC. He has more than 40 years of experience as an actor, director, fight choreographer, and playwright at Mixed Blood Theatre and others across the country. Directing credits include Park Square Theatre, San Diego Public Theatre, Theatre L'Homme Dieu, Interact, Southwest State University, Augsburg College, and others. In 2004, Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak proclaimed a "Warren Caesar Bowles Day." Warren is a recipient of a 2005 McKnight Fellowship for Theater Artists.

Michael Hoover (Scenic Design) returns to MJTC, having recently designed Stars of David. Michael designs sets locally for many theaters including the Guthrie Theater, Park Square Theatre, History Theatre, Theater Latté Da, and Torch Theater. Upcoming, Michael is co-designing Juno and the Paycock and designing Choir Boy at the Guthrie later this spring. In addition to his freelance career as a scenic designer, Michael is on staff as the Lead Scenic Artist at the Guthrie Theater.

Paul Epton (Lighting Design) discovered theater lighting at Carleton College and was an award-winning designer in Detroit. Since moving to Minneapolis, he's designed regularly for MJTC (over 50 shows, including Photograph 51, Handle With Care, Goats, My Name is Asher Lev, Women's Minyan, The Triangle Factory Fire Project, Rose, Old Wicked Songs, and The Chosen), Mixed Blood Theatre, Off-Leash Area, Torch Theater, and the Jon Hassler Theater.

C Andrew Mayer (Sound Design) has been privileged to work with many of the finest Twin Cities theater companies. Previously for MJTC, he was sound designer for New Jerusalem, The History of Invulnerability, and Photograph 51, among others, and projections designer for Stars of David. He was a McKnight Theatre Fellow and won an Audelco Award for his design for Carlyle Brown's Pure Confidence at 59E59 in New York City. In summer, he serves as Producing Director of the Acadia Repertory Theatre in Maine.

Liz Josheff Busa (Costume Design) is pleased to be back at MJTC, having previously designed for Stars of David. As well as being a freelance designer, she is a Red Eye Theater company member where she has collaborated on over 40 productions. Her theater work includes costume, set, and projection design. In addition, she has designed for film and television, and has worked in arts education as a teaching artist.

Kelli Tucker (Stage Manager) has been the regular stage manager for MJTC since 2011. Jericho marks her 21st production at MJTC. She stage-managed the Ivey Award-winning productions Rose and Our Class. Other credits at MJTC include Stars of David, New Jerusalem, Handle with Care, My Mother's Lesbian Jewish Wiccan Wedding, Photograph 51, and others.

Minnesota Jewish Theatre Company (MJTC) is a non-profit organization currently celebrating its 20th season. Minnesota Jewish Theatre Company ignites the hearts and minds of people of all cultural backgrounds by producing theater of the highest artistic standards. Rooted in Jewish content, our work explores differences, illuminates commonalities, and fosters greater understanding among all people. For further information about MJTC and its 20th anniversary season, visit www.mnjewishtheatre.org, email info@mnjewishtheatre.org, or call (651)647-4315.

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