“Mikva the Musical, Music and Monologues from the Deep,” an innovative theater experience, comes to the New York area for a limited engagement with the final show tomorrow afternoon in Manhattan.
A stellar cast arrived from Israel for its U.S. premiere and performed in Forest Hills, Teaneck and Lawrence earlier this week to sold out performances for women only. The musical is composed of authentic stories by real women, presented by accomplished actresses, and with songs using original lyrics to beloved melodies. It is compelling storytelling filled with honesty, laughter and tears, an eye-opening and transformational experience.
The musical has been playing in Israel for the past year and traveled to the New York area this week. It’s based on people’s diverse personal stories and struggles with mikva and set to musical theater songs that were adapted for this performance.
The creators, including director Toby Klein Greenwald, who oversees Raise Your Spirits Theatre in Israel, and Myra Gutterman, who conceived of the project, worked together on this production for 13 years, which they’re bringing now to communities all over. Topics of individual journeys performed include those who found healing or comfort through mikva while facing infertility, phobia of water, exotic travels, paralysis, postpartum struggles, OCD, abuse or divorce. The situations are enacted through vivid performances of incredible sensitivity and this traveling project are impacting lives along the way.
One of the actresses, Michele Gray Thaler, originally from Pennsylvania and has been in the performing arts since childhood, became paralyzed after her fifth child was born. In spite of this, she performs on stage from a wheelchair with grace and joy, giving over the challenges – sometimes comedic – that she has overcome to go to the mikva, ones that have special access equipment.
Last night Toby Klein Greenwald was one of the recipients of an American Jewish Press Association Simon Rockower Award. They are returning to Israel with requests for performances in Ra’anana, Modiin, Jerusalem, Ramat Beit Shemesh, Beersheba.
Tomorrow’s performance is at the National Opera Center at 3:30 p.m. at 330 7th Avenue, 7th floor, New York. For more information and tickets visit www.mikvathemusical.com
Wow, sounds wonderful.
I went to the show this week on Sunday night in Forest Hills/Queens. So inspired!
If you haven’t yet seen this- GO!!!!