Tuesday Evening, November 12, 2019, at 5:00 & 8:30 Isaac Stern Auditorium / Ronald O. Perelman Stage

CENTRAL SYNAGOGUE

presents

Our Future is Central: A Musical Celebration

by Jeremy Desmon

with Rabbi Angela Buchdahl, Cantor Daniel Mutlu, and Cantor Julia Cadrain

Rabbi Nicole Auerbach, Marcia Caban, Jeremy Fielding, Rabbi Ari Lorge, Abigail Pogrebin, Danielle Rodnizki, Rabbi Rebecca Rosenthal, Rabbi Daniel Ross, Rabbi Lisa Rubin, Rabbi Peter Rubinstein, Rabbi Mo Salth, and Livia Thompson

Featuring Farah Alvin, Mike Crane, Jordan Gelber, and Lauren Molina and The Central Synagogue Congregational Choir, Teen Choir, and Students of the LCLJ

Musical Director Costume Design Projection Design Lighting Design Sound Design David Strickland Claudia Brown Caite Hevner Brian Aldous Keenan Hurley

Hair and Makeup Design Stage Manager Production Manager Nikiya Mathis Ben Freedman Kris Bergbom

Directed by Michelle Tattenbaum

Executive Producer Carol Ostrow

PLEASE SWITCH OFF YOUR CELL PHONES AND OTHER ELECTRONIC DEVICES. Our Future is Central featuring…

The Central Synagogue Band Randy Andos Ivan Barenboim Caleb Burhans Aaron Heick Benny Koonyevsky David Romano Scott Wendholt

The Central Synagogue Quartet Misa Iwama Tami Petty Neil Netherly David Vanderwal

Production Team Kris Bergbom, AV / Production Manager Ben Freedman, Stage Manager Mariah Pepper Berkowitz, Assistant Stage Manager Moni Bell, Vanessa Guadiana, and Sharon Litwinoff, Production Assistants

Claudia Brown, Costume Design Taelen Robertson, Wardrobe Master Nikiya Mathis, Hair and Makeup Design

Brian Aldous, Lighting Design Adam Macks, Lighting Assistant

Caite Hevner, Projection Design Brian Pacelli, Projection Assistant MB Productions, Projection Tech Support

David Strickland, Music Director Misa Iwama, Assistant Music Director

Keenan Hurley, Sound Design Paul Howells, FOH Sound Engineer

Jesse Lauter, Webcast and Broadcast Management MB Productions, Camera Support

Lese Center for Living Judaism (LCLJ) Student Performance Merissa Hochberg, LCLJ Director Cantor Ellen Dreskin, Eran Sabo, and Jenna McMillan, LCLJ Song Leaders Mirit Sands and Amanda Phillips, LCLJ Assistant Directors Becca Greenspan, Eve Morin, Rina Bergman, Julia Laibstain, Stella Berfas, and Ben Feshbach, LCLJ Educators

Pamela Goldstein, Front-of-House Management/Development Jessica Barist Cohen, Marketing and Communications Director Yohanna Castellanos and Jackie Simon, Marketing and Communications Managers Carrie Connor, Lori Dubin, Anna Kosatka, and Danielle Tomczak, Administrative Assistants Amy Goldberger and Anne Mininberg, Archivists

Central Synagogue would also like to thank the Tech and Administrative Staff of Carnegie Hall, especially: Michael Domue, Tabitha Glista, Jill Marshall, the Carnegie Box Office team, and the crew of Local One IATSE. Central Synagogue expresses heartfelt appreciation to the members of our Lay Leadership Group: Jennifer Chanowitz Cindy Edelson Amy Goldberger Marni Gutkin Jenny Kane Michele Klausner Emily Lawi Peter Mensch Steve Molitz Lori Moore Carol Ostrow Debbie Palmer Susan Picker Whitney Pollack Jesse Rothschild Amy Ruben Beth Rustin Richard Schechner Marcela Sigmon Nicki Tanner Blake Vogel Katy Williamson Linda Zaro THE Artists

Rabbi Angela War- (cantor’s hat)—because it’s cold up nick Buchdahl made there at the top. In the upcoming Sony her Carnegie Hall Pictures Classics movie, The Song of debut twenty years Names, Cantor Mutlu will appear with ago singing backup a lustrous red beard that took makeup vocals for Debbie artists four hours to paste on. He enjoys Friedman. Rabbi polluting the minds of future genera- Buchdahl grew up tions of cantors as a professor at playing small parts as the token Asian Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute in Jewish productions, but now fre- of Religion. When Cantor Mutlu is not quently finds herself playing the female on the bimah or in the classroom, you lead in otherwise all-male casts, partic- can find him with his wife, Nina, jug- ularly at interfaith gatherings. Since gling their three children up and down 2006, she has regularly appeared on the streets of the Upper West Side. Friday nights in the longest-running off-Broadway production of Shabbat! Cantor Julia Cadrain Off-off-Broadway appearances include just accepted the role an ongoing role as “The Tiger Mom,” of “mother-of-two” which opened in Scarsdale before relo- with the birth of her cating to New York City; “Hot Break- second daughter in fast,” an eight-minute cooking show August, and therefore that is on each school-day morning; did not have time to and “Me Time,” a situational comedy make her bio funny. frequently subject to cancellation. She joined Central’s clergy team in 2012 Rabbi Buchdahl and her husband Jacob after being ordained by Hebrew Union are proud parents of Gabriel, Eli, and College-Jewish Institute of Religion’s Rose. Rabbi Buchdahl is thrilled to be Debbie Friedman School of Sacred back at Carnegie Hall for what she Music. Since her ordination, she has considers the role of a lifetime. been honored to return to the college as a guest worship leader and teacher. She Hailed by the New loves serving Central Synagogue’s con- York Times as “pow- gregation in numerous and varied erful…[and] attrac- capacities. Some highlights include tive,” Cantor Daniel co-producing two records, Sounds of Mutlu is universally Shabbat and Sounds of Healing, over- known as the baldest seeing Central’s Adult Bnei Mitzvah cantor on earth. program, and conducting the teen choir. Though many have Throughout it all, she has the privilege tried to imitate his sleek aerodynamics, of ushering Central’s families through their efforts have ended in stubble and peak life cycle moments. Cantor Cad- frustration. Meanwhile, the decades rain is also a certified vinyasa yoga saved not fussing over his hair have instructor, and member of a clergy afforded Cantor Mutlu the time to cohort with the Institute for Jewish Spir- focus on what really matters: traveling ituality. She is passionate about explor- the globe in search of the perfect kovah ing the interplay between Judaism, mindfulness, and yoga, creating new merchant and travel businesses. She and innovative practices with integrated cannot, however, get congregants Jewish content. Cantor Cadrain grew upgrades under the Amex Fine Hotels up in West Hartford, Connecticut, and program. She lives with her husband studied classical vocal performance at Noel, an artist, in Cobble Hill Brook- the New England Conservatory in Bos- lyn—and they lived there before it ton. She lives in Park Slope, Brooklyn was—well—Cobble Hill. with her wife Elana and their two chil- dren, Maya and Acadia. Jeremy Fielding is the current President of Rabbi Nicole Auer- Central Synagogue. bach made her debut Hailing from a at Central Synagogue Reform Jewish a little over five years upbringing in Britain, ago. Following her he joined the congre- breakout perfor- gation in 1998, during mance as a rabbinic the summer of the fire (and, in fact, intern, she originated never saw the old sanctuary). His two the role of Director of Congregational children, Josh and Maya, went to Nurs- Engagement, in which she creates ery and Religious Schools at Central, opportunities for adults to deepen their were Bnei Mitzvah’d and Confirmed relationships with one another, with there, and attended URJ Summer Camp. Central, and with Jewish tradition. Jeremy and his fiancée Stef will be mar- Prior credits include Central’s Saturday ried by Central clergy in January 2020. morning Mishkan service (off-off- In his other day job, Jeremy is Co-Chief Broadway and Live Stream), the Civil Executive Officer of Kekst CNC, a Rights Trip to the South (lead), and global strategic communications firm. CORE Groups (director). She relies on Jeremy is excited and proud to be mak- the love and support of her husband, ing his Carnegie Hall and Broadway Josh, and daughters, Catherine and debut in this performance, and is mildly Vivian. Having cheered her on first as a amused that, while his daughter Maya lawyer and now as a rabbi, they can’t is the true actor in the family, he will wait to see her play Carnegie Hall. have a solo role before she does. But she will ultimately lap him. Marcia Caban is proud to make the Rabbi Ari Lorge is in trains run at Central his seventh year at Synagogue. She joined Central Synagogue. Central as Executive That is 3.9% of Cen- Director in 2016 tral’s 180 years (if you (equating to 21 Dog round up). He feels Years). She feels tremendous gratitude grateful to be a part of such a special to be a part of that community and to partner with the 3.9%. He grew up in Skokie, Illinois, clergy, board, and professional staff to and graduated from the great University help Central achieve its vision and aspi- of Wisconsin at Madison. When not rations. She spent 25 years as an execu- officiating lifecycle events, preparing tive at American Express where she Bnei Mitzvah students, or caring for never was asked to sing in Yiddish but congregants, he has overseen our volun- also held a variety of positions in their teer initiatives, the early stages of our CORE groups work, 20s/30s outreach, Danielle is a guitar-playing fifth-year the Confirmation Program, and taught cantorial student at Hebrew Union numerous classes for adults and chil- College-Jewish Institute of Religion’s dren. He has also led congregational Debbie Friedman School of Sacred trips to Madrid and Toledo, London, Music. She has been songleading and Frankfurt and the Shum cities, Rome, facilitating worship for almost 15 Berlin, Prague, New Orleans, Washing- years, when not cooing at the cutest ton D.C., and Israel three times. He is dogs she can find. Danielle is passionate grateful to Carnegie for lifting the ban about crafting intentional and on his appearance on their stage after innovative worship, and she is thrilled the infamous electric kazoo incident. to continue exploring this area in her And, in all earnestness, he would be current role as the Cantorial Intern at nothing without his amazing wife, Central Synagogue. Danielle believes Alexis, and newborn son, Emet. that something holy happens when people gather together and sing, and Abigail Pogrebin is a she is excited to be doing just that with recovering Central the Central community during her President and a pas- Carnegie debut tonight! Danielle is sionate defender of deeply grateful to her parents, Irene the controversial and Jorge, and her brother, Jordan, for Shechiyanu sway. She their loving support. is the author of My Jewish Year: 18 Holi- Rabbi Rebecca days; One Wondering Jew, which was Rosenthal has been a finalist for the 2018 National Jewish the Director of Youth Book Award; and the author of Stars of and Family at Central David: Prominent Jews Talk about for the past five years. Being Jewish, which was adapted for She loves working the Off-Broadway stage. Abby was an with all the children Emmy-nominated producer for Mike and families, from the Wallace at 60 Minutes, and she moder- time they are in Central Tots through ates conversations at The JCC in Man- Nursery School and LCLJ and into their hattan and The Streicker Center. Tablet teen years. She especially loves celebrat- Magazine’s iTunes podcast, “Parsha in ing holidays with Central’s youngest Progress” features the Torah Odd Cou- members and traveling the world with ple — Abby (Reform) and Rabbi Dov teens and families to Israel, Spain, and Linzer (Orthodox) talking Torah. (It’s Italy. She grew up in New York City a mitzvah to subscribe!) Abby is mar- and attended many a Bnei Mitzvah at ried to a Skokie native and they love Central in her youth (not quite 180 their Central Confirmation alumni — years ago). She graduated from Yale Ben and Molly Shapiro. and Jewish Theological Seminary and has served in congregations in El Paso Danielle Rodnizki has and Los Angeles. Rabbi Rosenthal is dreamed of standing shocked to find herself performing at on the Carnegie Hall Carnegie Hall. She thanks her husband stage ever since she Adam and their children Simon, Leo saw Meryl Streep in (May Family Nursery School Class of Music of the Heart in 2017), and Maddie (May Family Nurs- 1999. Long having ery School Class of 2019) for not mak- put down her violin, ing too much fun of her performance. Rabbi Dan Ross is the was ultimately ordained at the New newest, tallest mem- York Campus of Hebrew Union Col- ber of Central Syna- lege-Jewish Institute of Religion and gogue’s clergy team. has dedicated her career to welcoming After only four people into Judaism. When she isn’t at months on the bimah, the mikveh (rare), Rabbi Rubin lives in he’s amazed to find Westchester with her husband, Howard himself making his Neuthaler, and their three children—all Carnegie Hall debut. Though he’s still of whom are too young to know or care learning how to do his job—some com- she debuts tonight at Carnegie Hall. bination of lifecycle officiation, pastoral care, teaching, and 20s/30s program- Rabbi Peter J. Rubin- ming—he feels unbelievably blessed to stein is Rabbi Emeri- serve this community. Prior to Central, tus of Central Syna- he enjoyed a highly caffeinated year as gogue, where he the Senior Jewish Educator at Yale Hil- served as the Senior lel. A proverbial wandering Jew, Rabbi Rabbi for 23 years. Ross has lived up and down the East Since 2014, he has Coast, though he calls Philadelphia been Director of Jew- home. After graduating from UPenn, he ish Community at the Bronfman Center appeared in an acclaimed production of for Jewish Life at the 92nd Street Y. Teach For America as “seventh grade Rabbi Rubinstein is the Chairman social studies teacher #2.” He followed Emeritus of the Board of Auburn Theo- that up with a sell-out performance as logical Seminary in New York City and “health care consultant” with the Advi- is on the Board of the New York Region sory Board Company. He would like to of the American Jewish Committee and thank his wife, Rabbi Jade Sank Ross, Co-Chair of its Rabbinic Round Table. who is truly his better half, and their He is presently the director of the Be ridiculously adorable dog, Rashi. Wise Fellowship in Jewish Entrepre- neurialism at the Hebrew Union Col- Rabbi Lisa Rubin lege-Jewish Institute of Religion (HUC- joined Central Syna- JIR) in New York City. Rabbi Rubin- gogue in 2010 and is stein is a founder of the Rabbinic Coun- the founding Director cil of the World Union for Progressive of the Center for Judaism and was co-president of the US Exploring Judaism. Board of the Tony Blair Faith Founda- Known on social tion. Rabbi Rubinstein graduated from media as the “Con- Amherst College and was awarded an version Queen,” she has officiated 300 honorary Doctor of Humane Letters conversions and offers infant swim- degree by Amherst College in 2017. He ming lessons at the mikveh. Before was ordained by HUC-JIR in New York coming to Central, Rabbi Rubin served City, where he also received a Master of Temple Beth-El of Great Neck and led Hebrew Letters degree with honors. He annual trips to Israel for Catholic and received a Doctor of Divinity in 1994. Jewish teens, which planted the seeds As founder of the Just-Off-Key-Choral for her eventual full-time, interfaith Group of Central Synagogue, Rabbi work. Her first career was in marketing Rubinstein was specifically forbidden to for the co-branded youth business of sing at this performance but will inflict Disney and McDonald’s, which planted it on his wife Kerry and dog Tali, the seeds for absolutely nothing. She @talirubinsteinthedog. Rabbi Maurice Salth David Strickland (Musical Director) started to be called is delighted to have been Central Mo when he attended Synagogue’s Music Director for over URJ’s Eisner Camp 1/18th of Central Synagogue’s 180 when he was 13; the years! He’s served as Music Director/ nickname stuck. His Arranger for the American Conference parent’s devotion to of Cantors Convention; Shetl Stories, their hometown shul, Columbia University’s Miller Theater; Sinai Reform Temple in Bay Shore, NY, Broadway Baritones and the Dallas along with his Eisner experience, Symphony Orchestra; and for Matt planted the seed for his eventual Bogart’s “Sky Above Manhattan” and decision to become a rabbi. He spent the National Symphony Orchestra of more than 10 years before rabbinical London. As a composer, he and lyricist/ school employed in the fields of youth author Abigail Pogrebin are creating development, community service, and a song cycle celebrating the Jewish leadership training, working in the holidays. He composed and performed White House starting up AmeriCorps the score for Deepak Chopra’s audio and later at Up With People. At Central, book A Path to Love, narrated by Mo serves as one of the bimah clergy. Chopra. For his opera Phoenix Park He feels privileged to be a part of this (Librettist Ilsa Gilbert), Strickland sacred community. When he is not received awards from the New York onstage at Carnegie Hall and at Central, City Department of Cultural Affairs, Mo treasures his time with his wife BMI, The Dramatists Guild, Inc. and Hilary and son Caleb. Special thanks to from the Andrew Mellon and Aaron his parents Ellen and Irv (z”l) for Copland Funds. A member of the helping him get all the way from West adjunct faculty of Hebrew Union Islip to Carnegie Hall! College, he’s beyond thrilled to be a part of this incredible evening, sharing Livia D. Thompson the stage with his amazing and gifted was the senior friends! director of Central Synagogue from Farah Alvin: Broad- 1993-2016, having way credits include It the honor to work Shoulda Been You, with Senior Rabbis Nine, The Look of Rubinstein and Love, Saturday Night Buchdahl. She was intimately involved Fever, and Grease! in the rebuilding of the Sanctuary among others. following the fire of 1998. Prior to Off-Broadway credits coming to Central, she worked as an include Window Treatment (cast album), attorney for 10 years. She is now an Goldstein, The Last Smoker In America NFP consultant, working with Jewish (cast album), The Marvelous Wonder- organizations and synagogues. Livia ettes (Drama Desk Nomination, cast enjoys the flexibility this gives her to album), I Love You Because (cast album), volunteer, be politically active, travel, and more. Lots of regional theater, and visit with family and friends. Livia including Papermill Playhouse, Good- and her husband Tom are proud speed Opera House, Signature Theatre Brooklynites, and raised their three (Helen Hayes Award), Cape Playhouse, daughters there. Geva Theater, Berkshire Theatre Group, and Alabama Shakespeare. She has per- formed as a soloist with the Symphony and After Birth. TV: recurring on “Ele- Orchestras of Indianapolis, Cleveland, mentary,” “Mr. Robot,” “Mind- Detroit, and the National Symphonies of hunter,” “FBI,” “The Blacklist,” “Insa- the United States and Canada. In New tiable,” “Boardwalk Empire,” “Nurse York: Many Broadway Close Up con- Jackie,” “The Good Wife,” “Rescue certs at the Kaufman Center, many Me,” “Ugly Betty,” first three “Law & Broadway by the Year and Broadway Order” series (recurring on SVU), “The Unplugged at the Town Hall, many 54 Sopranos,” and many more. Film: The Sings…concerts at 54 Below. She is also Kitchen, Bleed For This, star of Dark occasionally a funny voice on your radio. Horse, . . .Pelham 1 2 3, Before The Proud member of Actor’s Equity for 25 Devil Knows You’re Dead, Everyday years. Please find Farah under her name People (IFP/Gotham Award nominee on social media for more. for Breakthrough Acting), Riding in Cars With Boys, Changing Lanes. BA, Michael Crane: The- Stanford University; MFA, NYU Tisch ater: Gloria, This Day Graduate Acting (2000 Laura Pels Forward (Vineyard), Award). www.JordanGelber.com Little Women, The Body Of An American Lauren Molina is an (Primary Stages), actress, singer, song- Bloody Bloody writer, and musician. Andrew Jackson, King She is a co-creator Lear and Richard III (Public Theater), and performer with Taking Care Of Baby (MTC), Doris To the acclaimed come- Darlene (Playwrights Horizons), The dy-pop band The Mag-7 (Naked Angels), The Young Left Skivvies. Her Broad- (Cherry Lane), The Tenant (Woodshed way credits include Johanna in the Collective,) Noises Off (Two River The- actor-musician revival of Sweeney Todd ater), Father Comes Home From The and Regina in Rock of Ages. She won a Wars (A.R.T.), Hamlet (Pioneer The- Helen Hayes award for her portrayal of atre), Hell Meets Henry Halfway (Pig Cunegunde in Candide, directed by Iron Theatre Co.), Long Wharf, William- Mary Zimmerman at the Shakespeare stown, Berkshire Theatre Festival, Theatre in DC, and received an IRNE Weston Playhouse. TV/Film: “People of nomination for the same role at the Earth,” “Succession,” “The Good Fight,” Huntington Theatre. She originated the “Barry,” “Damages,” “White Collar,” role of Bella Rose in Desperate Mea- “Winter’s Tale,” “Law & Order,” sures Off-Broadway and received nom- “Kings,” “Winter’s Tale.” MFA: NYU. inations for the Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Actress in a Musical Jordan Gelber: Broad- and Outer Critics Circle for Best Sup- way: Sunday in the porting Actress. She also originated Park with George, Megan in Nobody Loves You at Second Buddy in Elf the Stage. In 2019, she and her Skivvies Musical, All My Sons, partner Nick Cearley co-conceived a Avenue Q (original new actor-musician revival of You’re a cast, special Outer Good Man, Charlie Brown, also play- Critics Circle Award). ing Lucy and Linus, at the Cincinnati Off-Broadway: John Guare’s Nan- Playhouse in the Park. Other favorite tucket Sleigh Ride (LCT), Mike Leigh’s roles include Audrey in Little Shop of 2000 Years, Avenue Q, The Joke, Birth Horrors (Cleveland Playhouse), Squeaky Fromme in Assassins (Yale for kids (including the Peabody Award Rep), Countess in A Little Night Music Winning podcast The Unexplainable (Huntington Theatre), Janet in The Disappearance of Mars Patel) and Rocky Horror Picture Show (Bucks the web series Babyprov. Regional: County Playhouse), Eileen in Wonder- ACT of CT, O’Neill Musical Theatre ful Town (Goodman Theatre), and Her Conference, Hangar Theatre, Cape in Marry Me A Little (Off-Broadway). Fear Regional Theatre, Williamstown, Lauren received her BFA from the Uni- Goodspeed and Shakespeare Theatre versity of Michigan in musical theatre. of NJ. Tattenbaum worked for Manhattan Theatre Club for three Carol Ostrow (Executive Producer) is years, developing new work. Member: the Producing Director of The Flea SDC. Two-time Drama League Theater, the award-winning off-off- Directing Fellow. Michelle also led the Broadway institution located in its new Friday night Reform minyan at the three theater performing arts complex Slifka Center at Yale while in college in Tribeca. She has produced plays by and taught religious school at Rodeph leading playwrights including Thomas Sholom and Shaarei Tefila. www. Bradshaw, Will Eno, A.R. Gurney, michelletattenbaum.com Hamish Linklater, Itamar Moses, NSangou Njikam, Adam Rapp, Roger Jeremy Desmon (Playwright) is an Rosenblatt, Todd Solondz, Elizabeth award-winning playwright, bookwriter Swados, and Mac Wellman. Ostrow and lyricist whose stories have played holds a BA from Vassar and a MFA around the world. His rock-musical from the Yale Drama School. She was adaptation of the film, Pump Up The Producing Director of the Classic Stage Volume, debuts at Pittsburgh Playhouse Company as well as the founder of in April, 2020. Other credits include Vassar’s Powerhouse Theater. She has The Girl In The Frame, The Oliver been an adjunct professor of theater at Experiment, and One Hit Wonder, Vassar College, Chatham College, and a jukebox musical in development at McGill University. Carol is a trustee of ABC Television. In addition, Jeremy Vassar and a member of the Board of was recently commissioned to write an Advisors to the Yale Drama School. She original Broadway musical for Simon also serves on the Board of Directors & Schuster’s iconic sleuth, Nancy of the National Psoriasis Foundation, Drew. Jeremy has written touring the Sag Harbor Partnership, and is a arena shows for some of the world’s proud former board member of Central most recognizable characters. These Synagogue. include monkeys (Universal’s Curious George Live!), talking mice (Disney Michelle Tattenbaum (Director): Live’s Mickey’s Music Festival!), singing Michelle directed the world premiere ponies (Hasbro’s My Little Pony Live!) of Nobody Loves You at the Old and real, live clowns (multiple editions Globe (San Diego Theatre Critics of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Baily Circle nomination: Best Director) and Circus). Jeremy is an alum of Stanford the New York premiere at Second University and NYU’s Tisch School of Stage. She has directed three world the Arts and is a former Jonathan Larson premieres (Love/Stories, Student Body, Fellow with the Dramatists Guild. and Ms. Estrada) at the Flea, where she is an Associate Artist. International: Claudia Brown (Costume Design) Urinetown at Fredericia Teater in has designed costumes for The Flea Denmark. New Media: fiction podcasts Theater, En Garde Arts, The Alley Theater, Playwrights Horizons, MCC Brian Aldous (Lighting Design) has Theater, and Soho Rep. She has been lighting for plays, dance, concerts, designed costumes for Syncing Ink by and museums for over 25 years. His Nsangou Njikam, Dawn and Southern recent work in NYC includes Mac Promises by Thomas Bradshaw, Oh, Wellman’s The Invention of Tragedy at The Humanity by Will Eno, Family the Flea and Risa Puno’s The Privilege Furniture and What I Did Last Summer of Escape for Creative Time. Other by A.R. Gurney, Crowbar, Bad Penny, work in recent years includes What I and Sincerity Forever by Mac Wellman, Did Last Summer at Signature Theatre, and Basetrack and Wilderness for En Philharmonic 360 at the Park Avenue Garde Arts. Her film credits include Armory, the Performance Mix dance River’s Edge, Trust, The Ballad of festival at the University Settlement, Little Jo, Smoke, Copycat, and Starting and the installation of Dreamhouse for Out in the Evening. Ms. Brown has composer Lamont Young and artist also designed costumes for the Hartford Marion Zazeela at the Pompidou Centre Ballet, Arizona Ballet, and Lava Dance. in Metz. He is the resident lighting designer for Symphony Space, teaches Caite Hevner (Projection Design) lighting design at The City College of Broadway: In Transit, Derren Brown: New York, and is proud member of Secret, Harry Connick Jr., A Celebration United Scenic Artists Local 829. of Cole Porter (coming this December.) New York: Bella Bella (Manhattan Keenan Hurley (Sound Design) writes Theatre Club), Collective Rage (MCC), plays and makes sound. He sound DISCORD (Primary Stages), Ugly Lies designed and performed in Sibyl the Bone (Roundabout Underground), Kempson’s Sasquatch Rituals (The Parade and The Scarlet Pimpernel Kitchen), co-sound designed Erin (Manhattan Concert Productions/ Markey’s Singlet with Jeff Aaron Bryant Lincoln Center), My Mother Has (The Bushwick Starr), designed Hype 4 Noses (Duke on 42nd Street), Man, Bad Penny, The Fez, and The Baghdaddy (St. Luke’s), Triassic Parq Sandalwood Box at The Flea, and with (Soho Playhouse), Tail! Spin! (Lynn Caborca has sound designed shows Redgrave Theater), The Elephant in New York and in Cuba. Assistant in Every Room I Enter, (New York credits include: I Used to Love You Theater Workshop Next Door). Opera: (The Joyce, Martha Graham/Annie-B Le Nozze di Figaro (North Carolina Parson), Right Passage (Panorama Opera), Il Postino, (Opera Saratoga), Music Festival), and Seven Spots On La Scala di Seta and Il Cambiale di the Sun (Rattlestick). Matrimonio (The Juilliard School). Regional: Alley, Arena, Alliance, Nikiya Mathis (Hair and Makeup Baltimore Center Stage, Barrington Design) is an actress herself, also Stage, Cleveland Play House, Dallas specializing in hair and makeup Theater Center, Everyman, Goodman, consultations and collaborations Guthrie, Kennedy Center’s Broadway with costume designers, actors, and Center Stage, Long Wharf, Maltz producers. Her hair/wig designs for Jupiter, McCarter, MUNY, Pasadena “Blacktresses” have appeared on shows Playhouse, Playmaker’s Rep, Seattle such as “Luke Cage,” “Jessica Jones,” 5th Avenue, Studio Theatre, Syracuse “She’s Gotta Have It,” “Charmed” and Stage, Westport Country Playhouse, in productions at The Public Theatre, Williamstown, Woolly Mammoth. Signature Theatre, MCC, Soho Rep, www.caitedesign.com Women’s Project, Ars Nova, Ensemble Studio Theatre, Classical Theater Stage, Tectonic Theater Project, The of Harlem, National Black Theater, TEAM, New World Stages, MTC, Hartford Stage, Huntington Theatre, Playwrights Horizons, Williamstown Longwharf Theatre, Berkshire Theatre, Theatre Festival, Pittsburgh CLO & Theatre Works, NYU Tisch Grad Goodspeed Musicals. Graduate of the Acting, and AMDA. @our_black_tresses University of North Carolina School of the Arts, Akiba Hebrew Academy in Ben Freedman (Stage Manager) Philadelphia, and Kellman Academy in Broadway: Torch Song, Natasha, Cherry Hill, New Jersey. Proud member Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812, of Actors’ Equity and Congregation Angels in America, On Your Feet, Beth El, in southern New Jersey. Lobby Hero. National Tours: Disney’s The Lion King, Elf the Musical. Other Kris Bergbom, AV and Production credits include work with Second Manager OUR FUTURE IS CENTRAL EVENT SPONSORS

Central Synagogue expresses heartfelt appreciation to the following generous members who provided leadership support of this evening’s musical celebration.

Katherine Farley and Jerry Speyer

Amy and Richard Ruben

Laurie and Stephen Vogel

Lori and David Moore

Nicki and Harold Tanner

The Michaels Family, in memory of Howard L. Michaels

Richard Ravitch HISTORY OF CENTRAL SYNAGOGUE The 180-year history of Central Synagogue — and counting! — is a story of courage, boldness, and vision. The courage to emigrate to a strange, new land and soon build an enormous house of worship; the boldness to hold fast to our beliefs, yet adapt them to our ever-changing times; and the vision to recognize the importance of our place in the greater community. These three ideas encapsulate guiding principles that help tell our history (and our future). They are: Chutzpah, Reform, and Looking Beyond Our Walls.

Chapter #1: Chutzpah (1839-1870) In 1885, Central found itself at the In the early 1800s, a large number center of the firestorm over what it of Jewish German-speaking families truly meant to be Jewish in America. risked their lives to flee famine and Our new rabbi, Dr. Alexander Kohut, rising anti-Semitism, many settling in engaged in a highly public debate with New York’s Lower East Side, then prominent scholar, Rabbi Kaufmann known as Kleindeutschland (Little Ger- Kohler, over how to honor ancient many). Small congregations formed, a practices yet modernize in accordance few dozen families at a time, most with- with the realities of their time. And, as out their own rabbis or Torah scrolls, great changes swept through the Jewish giving these immigrants a chance to community, important members of the worship and find community in their Central community such as Rebekah new home. Kohut and Julia Richman made their mark on the next generations of New During these days, our two parent con- York City’s Jews. gregations formed: Shaar Hashomayim (1839) and Ahawath Chesed (1846). Chapter #3: Looking Beyond Our Slowly their numbers grew as these Walls (1926-today) hard-working men and women made As Central Synagogue matured, we their way into the middle class and out found ourselves taking a leadership of the overcrowded conditions of the role in our community, looking beyond Lower East Side. In 1870, defying the our walls more than ever before. Rabbi odds, Ahawath Chesed brazenly built Jonah Wise, who led Central for thirty a grand synagogue on 55th Street and years starting in 1926, was a leading Lexington Avenue, where it was soon force in raising money and awareness joined by Shaar Hashomayim. This for the plight of European Jews under new synagogue far exceeded their needs Hitler’s rising Third Reich. In the early at the time and audaciously looked into 1930s, he founded “The Message of the future. The bet paid off. Israel,” a weekly radio program that brought the tenets of Judaism into the Chapter #2: Reform (1870-1926) homes of millions of Americans and Just as it is today, Central Synagogue helped combat growing anti-Semitism has been at the heart of the debate over on the airwaves. “modern Judaism” since the Reform Movement came to America. In the late When New York City hit its darkest 1800s, our prayer books began shed- hours in the 1970s, and many Jews ding many of their older, “Orthodox” packed up for the suburbs, members ways, and our services adapted with of Central took leading roles saving the times, ultimately jettisoning the the city from financial ruin. Richard German language in favor of English. Ravitch, Lew Rudin, Robert Tisch, and many other prominent Jews doubled bat services are regularly attended by down on New York, helping it nar- hundreds. Through our live stream rowly avoid a disastrous bankruptcy and the Jewish Broadcasting Service, and assisting in its incredible rise in the we reach an extensive virtual audience, following decades. representing 108 countries around the world. Led by Senior Rabbi Angela When the tragic fire of August 28, Buchdahl, Central continues to inno- 1998 ravaged Central Synagogue, vate worship and create transformative we renewed our commitment to our Jewish experiences through a practice historical building and our founders. of Reform Judaism that is constantly We recreated our house of worship questioned and renewed. as the building originally looked, with changes to brighten and modernize the As we look to where Central is head- structure so that it might stay strong for ing, and re-examine who we are in this centuries to come. modern world, it helps to look back and see how our guiding principles Today, Central Synagogue is thriving have made us who we are over the past with 2,600 families and nearly 700 180 years. L’Chaim… and here’s to students in our religious school. Our 180 more! vibrant and musical Friday night Shab-