Shalom Machaneh Yavneh!
I am writing this blog from the comfort of my New York City apartment, safe and ready for this unprecedented Kayitz. To say this past year has been a wild ride would be an understatement. All my work as a theatre actor stopped and I had to get creative – my favorite thing to do. I have been filling my time with odd jobs; cooking for a wonderful family, crafting my heart out, and spending time with my new adopted Chihuahua, Bernie Benito (the love of my life). But this summer will be a new one for me. I am coming back to camp as Rosh Drama, full time, and cannot be more excited.
After a year without theatre and in-person performance, it is my honor to work with the chanichim (campers) at Yavneh to bring you productions that camp has never seen before. The Maalot/Kerem this summer will be putting on the magical musical, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, written by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice – A full scale production with sets, costumes and accompaniment. Second session, the younger chanichim will get to have their time on the stage with a roving production of Really Rosie by Carole King and Maurice Sendack. I’m pretty excited, I must say.
I will never forget seeing the Kerem plays when I was a little boy at camp. The rush of anticipation, the music, the spectacle…I am who I am today because of those memories. It is my goal to bring that back to camp for 2021. Theatre is an artform that thrives on immediate interaction. That eureka moment, where everything comes together. That rush is unparalleled and truly sacred to my existence.
The chanichim at Yavneh have experienced a year that none of us can truly comprehend – zoom/masked school, virtual extracurriculars, and separation from family and friends. I know how difficult it would have been for me to experience all those twists and turns. But my work this summer will hopefully bring some levity and much needed joy to the Yavneh community. Get ready Machaneh Yavneh…we are putting on a show!
