Four-Time Tony Award Nominee Tovah Feldshuh To Star In DANCING WITH GIANTS, Written By Her Brother David Feldshuh

Congregation Rodeph Shalom presents four-time Tony Award nominee Tovah Feldshuh starring in a one-night only play reading of DANCING WITH GIANTS on Wednesday, November 14 at 7 p.m. at Congregation Rodeph Shalom, 615 N. Broad Street in Philadelphia. The play was written and will be directed by Tovah's brother, David Feldshuh, a Pulitzer Prize finalist for MISS EVERS' BOYS. The performance is one of the centerpiece events of the synagogue's year-long 90th Anniversary celebration of its sanctuary and is supported by First Trust Bank.

Tovah Feldshuh is an actress in theater, television and films as well as a cabaret performer. In addition to receiving four Tony Award nominations, she also received two Emmy nominations, won four Drama Desk awards, four Outer Critics Circle Awards, the Obie, the Theatre World Award and the Lucille Lortel Award for Best Actress. (See bio below.)

DANCING WITH GIANTS begins in 1928, coincidentally the same year that the Rodeph Shalom sanctuary opened. It is set against the background of the rise of Hitler and Nazi Germany in the dangerous world of the late 1920's and 1930's. The play explores the survival of an incongruous and remarkable friendship of three very different men--Max Schmeling, the German boxing champion and Hitler's favorite boxer, Joe Louis, the American Boxing Champion, and Joe "Yussel the Muscle" Jacobs, a small-time, wise-cracking, Jewish boxing manager. All three were enemies of the powerful Nazi Minister of Propaganda, Joseph Goebbels, who was determined to destroy their friendship with his ruthless manipulation of the truth.

Tovah Feldshuh plays Joe "Yussel the Muscle" Jacobs, who finds himself dancing at the feet of three giants of history. She is joined by Sam Bardwell as Max Schmeling, Ricky Morisseau as Joe Louis, James Cunningham as Joseph Goebbels and Steven Hauck as the Narrator.

DANCING WITH GIANTS had its world premiere at the Illusion Theater in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Both Tovah and David Feldshuh studied at the University of Minnesota as McKnight Fellows and worked at the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis. All the actors appearing in Philadelphia (except the Narrator) performed in the play's world premiere.

There is a much enthusiasm about the performance of DANCING WITH GIANTS taking place at Congregation Rodeph Shalom. Catherine Fischer, Director of Membership and Philanthropy, said, "Congregation Rodeph Shalom is committed to engaging the community in support of Jewish arts and culture as an expression of our values and tradition, and we look forward to presenting this moving play in our sanctuary, whose grandeur magnifies the power of the drama." Senior Rabbi Jill Maderer added, "We are grateful for this opportunity to invite the Philadelphia community into our sacred space and to find meaning in this powerful experience."

Tickets range from $25 to $250 with a student price of $18. Tickets are available for purchase on-line at rodephshalom.org/dancingwithgiants or by email at ssaunders@rodephshalom.org or by calling 267-930-7289.

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