Past HitsJEST's past shows have included everything from classics such as Oscar Wilde's "An Ideal Husband," to the works of modern playwrights such as Wendy Wasserstein's "The Sisters Rosensweig." Musicals, comedies and plays for children are among the different kinds of shows that JEST has put on since 1985. Accompanying photos are by Brian Negin. Past plays2008/9Kudos to the cast and crew of the powerful production of "The Winslow Boy", directed by Leah Stoller. Wonderful acting, a beautiful set, and superb directing combined to create an artistic masterpiece. A book of photos from the show is available through "Blurb": 
Warm congratulations to the cast and crew of the moving and beautiful production of The Diary of Anne Frank, directed by Chuck King, that recently completed its 2-week run. The masterly performances, magnificent set, strikingly authentic costumes, makeup, and lighting all contributed to a new interpretation of this old favorite that electrified Jerusalem audiences. 
2007/8JEST ended its 2007/8 season in June with "Love a la Mode" -- three charming one act plays about love: "Tender Offer" and "Boy Meets Girl" by Wendy Wasserstein, and "Overruled" by George Bernard Shaw. Our hats are off to Director Leah Stoller and the talented cast who provided us with this season's tasty dessert. 
Kudos to the kids who came to JEST and said: "Let us put on a show - Peter Pan." High schoolers David Kalman (production director) and Liel Zahavi-Asa (director) went forward with some adult help (choreographer Arlene Chertoff and musical direcotr Chuck King) to produce a smash hit full of wit, charm, beauty and even flying. A souvenir book of photos is available. 
Due to it's tremendous appeal, JEST brought back, once again, the story of Janusz Korczak for the opening of its 2007/8 season. Korczak's Children never ceases to leave a strong impression on audiences -- even those who have seen the show before. The play, written by Jeffrey Hatcher, is a tribute to this selfless man, whose devotion to children marked his entire life as well as his death. David Glickman once again powerfully depicted Janusz Korczak. Directed by Leah Stoller. 
2006/7Leah Stoller once again presented a powerful production with JEST's final show of the 2006-7 season: Jeffery Sweet'sValue of Names. Actors David Glickman, Marvin Meital and DeDe Jacobs Komisar gave stellar performances in a play that was both funny and sad -- and above all, thought provoking. 
Gilbert and Sullivan's Patience came to life in March in a celebration of music, movement, costume and color. The magic was wrought, once again, by director Robert Binder, maestro Paul Salter, and choreographer Arlene Chertoff. 
Prairie Lights brought music and light to Jerusalem in January 2007. Veteran JEST director, Leah Stoller, once again produced a charming family musical laden with happines and tears. Book by Susan Lieberman; lyrics by David Rush; music by Rosalie Gerut. 
David Auburn's Proof opened JEST's 2006/7 season. Under the direction of Pnina Fredman-Schechter, four gifted actors (Gayle Meyers, Howard Metz, Tania Hershman and Arthur J. Fischer) put on 4 stellar performances of this Tony Award winning play. 
2005/6Jeffry Sweet's The Action Against Sol Schumann gave audiences in June moving drama around a troubling topic: the Holocaust. Director Leah Stoller and a cast of talented veteran and new JEST actors, gave life and depth to the characters and the tragic story. 
Gilbert and Sullivan's HMS Pinafore wowed Jerusalem in March with its glorius music performed by a stellar cast under the direction of Rob Binder and maestro Paul Salter, with choreography by by Arlene Chertoff. 
Tom Sawyer, an American legend with music opened this year's season. It matched the warmth and wit of Mark Twain's classic with JEST's veteran director, Leah Stoller, to produce a smash hit, enjoyed by young and old alike. 
2004/5The Price was right!! Congratulations and kol ha'kavod to the wonderful cast of The Price. Everyone who saw the play was flabberghasted by the marvelous performances of the four difficult roles (proof that we didn't know whether to love or hate the characters), the beatifully evocative set, the terrific effects and - need we say it - the superb directing. IOLANTHE - Gilbert & Sullivan's witty political satire, "It's love that makes the world go 'round!", the script and music was full of fantasy, joy, humor and beauty, as were the costumes, scenery and dancing. Besides brilliant direction by Robert Binder, the show's musical director, Paul Salter, put together a 15-piece orchestra, along with singers - only one word describes it - WOW!!! 
2003/4Korczak's Children - One can never forget the haunting sculpture of Janusz Korczak and the children at Yad Vashem. Jeffrey Hatcher's play "Korczak's Children" was about this selfless man, whose devotion to children marked his entire life as well as his death. 
Camelot - Congratulations to Kim, Tami, Betty, Arlene and the wonderful cast for the successful musical production of Camelot, by Lerner and Loewe, JEST's enchanting winter musical about King Arthur that enchanted Jerusalem audiences. What's Wrong With This Picture? - The conlusion of shiva was the opening of Donald Margulies' play. It was on the background of the shiva that the conflicts, tensions and disappointments of the family were revealed; and at its conclusion, that Shirley, the late, lamented mother, returned. The play, directed by Leah Stoller, kept the audience bouncing between hilarity and pain as the son enlightened the mother and father on the painful necessity of letting go. The Pirates of Penzance or The Slave of Duty - Gilbert & Sullivan's immortal comic opera featured a talented international cast, a 30-voice strong chorus, delightful melodies and a whimsical sense of humor that was bound to tickle local funny bones. Dear Liar - Supper Theatre presentation by Jerome Kilty. A witty play that featured excerpts from several of George Bernard Shaw's plays. Mrs. Patrick Campbell, the superb British actress, and George Bernard Shaw, arrogant, rude and brilliantly literate, are brought to vivid life in this play through their correspondence over 40 years. Directed by Leah Stoller and followed by a four-course dairy buffet. 2002/3She Loves Me - A warm, romantic musical comedy with an endearing innocence and old world elegance and nostalgia, yet as universal and relevant as ever in this age of internet romances. By the team who gave the world Fiddler on the Roof. Directed by S. Kim Glassman. The Devil's Disciple - An American Hero? In a Shaw play? Yes, Shaw's only play with an American background, that of the American Revolution, in which America fought and won her independence from England. The scene was 1777, New Hampshire, and the rebel, Richard Dudgeon, a scapegrace young man with a full-blown love of life, prepared to sacrifice himself to the English hangman in place of the local minister, whose identity he assumes in an act of incredible selflessness. The play was replete with drama, comedy, romance, and Shaw's unique perspective on the human animal in his folly, tyranny and graciousness. The play was directed by Leah Stoller, assisted by Josh Becker. Photos by Mel Brickman. Mikado - The most popular of all the comic operas written by Sir W.S. Gilbert and Sir Arthur Sullivan. No opera would be worth its salt, or hold the stage, if it did not have a romantic pair of lovers and The Mikado is no exception. From the delightful storyline to the unforgettable musical scores, Mikado presented an evening of delicious fun for the entire family. Broadway Bound - The final play in Neil Simon's "B-B" trilogy, which included Brighton Beach Memoirs. This autobiographical play combined Simon's humor with serious issues. The Jerome brothers, Eugene and Stanley, prepared with a combination of excitement and trepidation, to plunge into the world of comedy writing. The play was a touching drama, tender and funny. 2001/2Rashomon - A drama by Fay and Michael Kanin, directed by Harry Wagner. Set in 12th century Japan, the play dealt with the question of what is truth and how people's perception of truth can be widely different. Based on the 1950 movie directed by Akira Kurosawa. The Disputation - Historian Hyam Maccoby's dramatization of a medieval debate between Jews and Christians. Directed by Leah Stoller. Into Futurity - A dramatized revue of Gilbert and Sullivan's greatest hits. Written and directed by Robert Binder. You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown - This staging of the recent revival is JEST's second production of a musical favorite. Brighton Beach Memoirs - The first play in Neil Simon's autobiographical trilogy. The third, "Broadway Bound," will be performed in early 2003. 2000/1Pygmalion - George Bernard Shaw's gem of language and wit. Directed by Leah Stoller. Painting Churches - By Tina Howe. A play about age, illness, and art. Directed by Helen Eleasari. Two Plays by A.R. Gurney - "The Fourth Wall" and "The Guest Lecturer," one-act comedies about the nature of theatre. Directed by Leah Stoller. 1999/2000Once Upon A Mattress - A musical parody of "The Princess and the Pea," by Rodgers and Barer. Singing, dancing, and a giant chicken. Directed by Leah Stoller. Two in time - Two one-act plays in one evening. Arthur Miller's short play "Clara," directed by Leah Stoller, was first, followed by Euripides' "Cyclops," directed by Mel Brickman. 1998/9I Believe in Make Believe - This musical for children was directed by Leah Stoller. Playland - This drama about a conflict between a black and a white man in South Africa was directed by Batya Casper. A Thurber Carnival - This collection of plays by James Thurber was directed by Leah Stoller. Kindertransport - This powerful play by Diane Samuels was directed by Bruce Oppenheimer. 1997/8Sylvia - A romantic comedy by H.R. Gurney, directed by Kelly Hartog. Annie - One of JEST's most successful musicals, "Annie" had a cast of over forty, including a dog and fourteen little girls. The show was directed by Leah Stoller. Hay Fever - Noel Coward's comedy of bad manners was directed by Bruce Oppenheimer in October. 1996/7The Near-sighted Knight and the Far-sighted Dragon - A children's play by Eleanore and Ray Harder. It was staged in January and February and was directed by Leah Stoller. Poster The Woman in Black - A ghost play from a book by Susan Hill. The entire production seemed to be under a curse, from the set to the fate of the actors. It was directed by Kelly Hartog and was performed in February, and at the Dundak Festival in Ireland where it won an award for best sound. The Sisters Rosensweig - A play by the popular American playwright Wendy Wasserstein. It was directed by Leah Stoller and was performed during June and July. Mrs. Klein - A play about the famous psychoanalyst by Nicholas Wright. It was directed by Bruce Oppenheimer and was performed in November in both Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. 1995/6All in the Timing - Four wildly succesful one-act comedies, directed by Howard Metz and Kelly Hartog. An Ideal Husband - Oscar Wilde's comedy about high society in London, directed by Leah Stoller in December (1995)-January. Lost in Yonkers - A comedy by Neil Simon, directed by Leah Stoller and performed in June-July. 1994/5The Music Man - Meridith Wilson's musical about a con man in America at the turn of the century. It was JEST's biggest musical to date, directed by Leah Stoller and performed in June-July. Death and the Maiden - By Ariel Dorfman
1993/4Another Antigone - By A.R. Gurney, Jr. The Zoo Story - By Edward Albee Picture
The Prince Who Wouldn't Talk - By James Brock The Jesters Sing Cole Porter The Marriage Proposal - By Anton Chekhov
1992/3A Chorus of Disapproval - By Alan Ayckbourn The Tiger - By Murray Schisgal The Jesters Sing Rodgers & Hammerstein Look Back in Anger - By John Osborne
1991/2Witness for the Prosecution - By Agatha Christie Pajama Game - By Adler & Ross Village Wooing - By G.B. Shaw What I Did Last Summer - By A.R. Gurney
1990/1Private Lives - By Noel Coward A Life in the Theater - By David Mamet South Pacific - By Rodgers and Hammerstein
1989/1990The Philandere - By G.B. Shaw The Dining Room - By A.R. Gurney Life Upon the Wicked Stage A musical evening
1988/9Night School - By Harold Pinter The Dock Brief - By John Mortimer Steel MagnoliasAnnie Get Your Gun - By Irving Berlin I Ought to be in Pictures - By Neil Simon
1987/8Don't Drink the Water - By Woody Allen Spoon River Anthology - By Maidman and Hirschorn
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