A SHAYNA MAIDEL Plays Clarence Brown Theatre, Now thru 4/12

"A Shayna Maidel" will play in the Clarence Brown Theatre's Lab Theatre tonight, March 26 to April 12, 2015. Because the show has been sold out for some time, two additional evening performances have been scheduled for March 29 and 31. In addition, a waitlist will be in effect for all of the sold out performances as, often, tickets are turned back in and may be available for those shows. An Open Captioned performance will take place on Sunday, March 29 at 2:00 pm. A talkback with the cast will take place on Sunday, April 5 immediately following the matinee. Free and convenient parking is available in the McClung Tower Garage on Volunteer Boulevard. The production is sponsored by WUTK and WUOT.

On Sunday, March 15 from 5:00 - 7:00 pm, the CBT will partner with the Knoxville Jewish Alliance on a program entitled "Not Just Fiction" to be held at the Arnstein Jewish Community Center. The program is free and open to the public. Director Terry Silver-Alford will discuss the play and present a short scene from "A Shayna Maidel" followed by author, Alan Gratz, who will speak about his book "Prisoner B-3087." Then, Arthur Pais will share his reflections from his own Holocaust experience.

In "A Shayna Maidel," Barbara Lebow's powerful portrait of a family in the aftermath of the Holocaust, two sisters - one a survivor of Nazi concentration camps, and the other brought up as an American - meet in 1946 after a separation of almost 20 years.

"This play is not about the concentration camps or torture, degradation, murder or misery. It is about survival and the reuniting of a family that has had to endure the unimaginable. It is, at its heart, a very hopeful story," said Terry Silver Alford, director.

Terry Silver-Alford (Director) is a member of the UT Theatre faculty and teaches Musical Theatre Performance, Introduction to the Theatre and Acting. He has worked professionally as a director, musical director, performer and composer at theaters across the country, including the California Theatre Center, Madison Repertory, Madison Children's Theatre, University of Madison Theatre and Opera Programs, Omaha Playhouse, Nebraska Caravan, Augusta Barn-Michigan, Fireside Theatre-Wisconsin, Light Opera of Oklahoma and the Clarence Brown Theatre. He has directed or musically directed over 100 productions and has created the scores for four original musicals and a variety of chamber and vocal music pieces. CBT directing credits include: "CTRL+ALT+DELETE," "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee," "The Little Shop of Horrors," "Guys and Dolls," and "Assassins," to name a few.

The cast is comprised of UT Theatre faculty and several undergraduate students.

Jed Diamond (Mordechai Weiss) is Head of Acting at UT Theatre. Previous CBT credits include: "Noises Off," "On the Razzle," "A Christmas Carol," "Woyzeck," and "Oedipus the King," to name a few. Prior to UT, he was based in New York City, where he worked as an actor, teacher, and director for 18 years. He was founding faculty of The Actors Center and of The Shakespeare Lab at the New York Shakespeare Festival. He also taught at NYU's Tisch School of the Arts, The Stella Adler Studio, Fordham University, and Playwrights Horizons Theatre School. He maintained a thriving private teaching practice in acting and the Alexander Technique. Regional acting credits include: The Roundabout Theatre, Signature Theatre, The New York Shakespeare Festival, at Arena Stage in Washington, D.C., with The Acting Company, and Syracuse Stage Company.

Gracie Belt (Hanna) is sophomore Music major from Johnson City, TN. She was seen most recently on at the CBT in "A Christmas Carol." She also has performed with Knoxville's WordPlayers, Jonesborough Repertory Theatre (Jonesborough, TN) and Niswonger Performing Arts Center (Greeneville, TN).

Andrew Price Carlile (David Pechenik) is an undergraduate Theatre major. He also has performed with Shakespeare Unauthorized, TKD, and with ACT.

Sarah Compton (Mama) is a Violin Performance major, who is working toward a minor in Theatre. This is her first CBT production.

Rachel Finney (Rose Weiss) is an undergraduate fifth-year senior currently earning her degrees in English Literature, Theatre, and Education. Previous CBT credits include "The Miracle Worker" and "WRENS." She also has performed with ACT

Sophia Shefner (Lusia Weiss Pechenik) is a Knoxville native and senior graduating with a degree in Journalism and Electronic Media. This is her first CBT production.

The creative team for this production includes: UT MFA candidate Olivia Trees (Costume Designer); UT MFA candidate Tannis Kapell (Lighting Designer); UT MFA candidate Nevena Prodanovic (Scenic Designer); UT Theatre staff member Mike Ponder (Sound Designer); and UT Theatre undergraduate student Brittany Coopman (Stage Manager).

A Preview for "A Shayna Maidel" is Thursday, March 26 followed by Opening Night Friday, March 27. The show runs through April 12. Ticket prices are $5 for UT students, $12 for non-UT students and $15 for adults. For tickets, call the Clarence Brown Theatre box office at 865-974-5161, Tickets Unlimited at 865-656-4444 or order online 24/7 at www.clarencebrowntheatre.com

With a dual mission to train the next generation of theatre artists and to provide top quality professional theatre, like that of a teaching hospital, the Clarence Brown Theatre at the University of Tennessee Knoxville is one of only 12 academic LORT (League of Resident Theatre) institutions in the nation. Under the leadership of Producing Artistic Director Calvin MacLean and Managing Director David B. Byrd, the CBT season runs from August through May and features eight productions ranging from musicals to drama.

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