National Jewish Theater to Present THE SOAP MYTH, 3/23-4/22

National Jewish Theater, Producing Artistic Director Arnold Mittelman, will present a limited Off-Broadway run of The Soap Myth, by Jeff Cohen, from March 23 – April 22 at theBlack Box Theatre at the Harold and Miriam Steinberg Center for Theatre (111 West 46th Street, between 6th Avenue and Broadway).  Directed by Arnold Mittelman, this production will starGreg Mullavey (television's "Marty Hartman") and features Andi Potamkin, Donald Corren, and Dee Pelletier.  Tickets range in price from $50 to $60 and can be purchased online at www.nationaljewishtheater.com or by calling (212) 352-3101.  Official press opening is slated for Monday, March 26 at 7pm. 

The horrific possibility that the Nazis turned Jews into soap is the catalyst for The Soap Myth, a play by Jeff Cohen.  Cohen's lead characters, a survivor and a young investigative journalist, go on a collision course to ascertain how much fact is needed for something not to be fiction.  The Soap Myth, directed by Arnold Mittelman, includes set design by Heather Wolensky, costume design by David Winitsky and lighting design by Jason Scott. 

Author Jeff Cohen's most recent play, last season's The Man Who Ate Michael Rockefeller, received virtually unanimous critical acclaim, including Critic's Picks in The New York Times and Time Out New York.  His play Men of Clay was selected Best New Play of 2005 by the Baltimore City Paper.  His adaptation of Uncle Vanya set in West Virginia– Uncle Jack – was published in the anthology "Playing With Canons," edited by Martin Denton.  Cohen's adaptation of The Seagull set in the Hamptonshas starred, variously, Laura Linney (NY stage debut), D.B. Sweeney, Tammy Grimes, Christopher Collet, Marin Hinkle, Neal Huff, and Lizbeth MacKay.  It was selected to the annual "Ten Best List" of The Boston Globe.  His adaptation of Woyzeck – Whoa-Jack! –marked the NY stage debut of Golden Globe nominee Michael Ealy.  Highlights of his work as Producer, Artistic Director, and Director include: The Normal Heart (Public Theater with Raul Esparza and Joanna Gleason – Drama Desk nomination); the NY premiere of Four by Christopher Shinn (two Drama Desk nominations, Lucille Lortel Award); the world premiere of The Moonlight Room by Tristine Skyler (two Lortel noms, Outer Critics nomination); the NY premiere of The Mystery of Attraction by Marlane Meyer (Obie Award); and the Tribeca Playhouse Stage Door Canteen – a ten week series in the aftermath of 9/11 to entertain the rescue and recovery workers at Ground Zero (Drama Desk Award). 

Arnold Mittelman (Director) is the Producing Artistic Director of the National Jewish Theater and the former Producing Artistic Director for over two decades of the Coconut Grove Playhouse.  He helped found and lead the Whole Theater Company and the New York Free Theater.  Mr. Mittelman has created over 300 diverse productions including many that transferred to Broadway or the West End.  Directing credits encompass classics, dramas, comedies, musicals, and numerous world premieres, including the following: Mother Courage, by Brecht; Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf, by Albee; and Touch of the Poet, by O'Neill, all starring Olympia Dukakis; The Madman of the Balconies, by Mario Vargas Llosa, starring Jose Ferrer; Love Letters, by A.R. Gurney, with Eli Wallach and Ann Jackson; and Lady Day at Emersons Bar and Grill, by Lainie Robertson, starring Ernestine Jackson.  Other directing credits include: premiere of Mixed Blessings, by Luis Santeiro, based on Molière's Tartuffe; Once Upon a Song, starring Anthony Newley; and a re-imagined Bricusse-Newley Roar of the Greasepaint, with Larry Kert, Obba Babatundé, and Vivian Reed.  He directed Alone Together, by Lawrence Roman on Broadway, starring Janis Paige and Kevin McCarthy.  As a producer he is developing the first major Broadway and West End revival of the Bock-Harnick-Yellen musical, The Rothschilds, and was the sole producer of the Off-Broadway hit,Visiting Mr. Green, by Jeff Baron, starring Eli Wallach then Hal Linden.  Mr. Mittelman is the founding President of the American Theater Festival Foundation and a recipient of the George Abbott Award for outstanding achievement in the arts. 

National Jewish Theater Foundation/National Jewish Theater (NJT) was founded 5 years ago as a not-for-profit 501c3 organization and has rapidly succeeded in fulfilling the promise of its name and mission by becoming a truly national/international theater company. Celebrating the genius, creativity, and history of the Jewish people, its work under the leadership of President/Producing Artistic Director Arnold Mittelman has shown in New York, South Florida, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Atlanta, Toronto, Dallas, and Minneapolis/St. Paul.  Supported by regional and national funders, NJT produced the premiere of the Soul of Gershwin, the Musical Journey of an American Klezmer.  NJT also produced Sholom Aleichem: Laughter Through Tears, with Theodore Bikel as author and actor.  NJT's latest initiative is to create the first comprehensive research and production oriented Holocaust Theater Archive.  The company is filling an unfortunate void that has occurred by the loss of many professional resident English-speaking Jewish theaters, in major cities including New York. 

The Soap Myth plays from March 23 – April 22 at the Black Box Theatre at the Harold and Miriam Steinberg Center for Theatre, 111 West 46th St, between 6th Avenue and Broadway.  The schedule is as follows: Wednesday – Saturday at 8 pm; Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday at 3 pm.  There will be special added performances on Sunday, March 25 at 7pm; Monday, March 26 at 7pm; and Thursday, April 19 at 3pm and 7pm (in recognition of Holocaust Remembrance Day).  There will be no performances on Saturday, March 26 at 3pm; from April 1 - April 9; and Wednesday, April 18 at 3pm.  Tickets start at $50 and may be purchased online at www.nationaljewishtheater.comor by phoning (212) 352-3101.  A limited number of $20 student rush tickets will be available one hour before each performance for purchase at the box office, cash only.  For groups sales, please call(305) 365-8038.  Please visit www.nationaljewishtheater.com for more information.  The running time for The Soap Myth is 80 minutes with no intermission.

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