English and Yiddish language production of Jac Weinstein's  tableau in Madison, WI, 2016

A Performing the Jewish Archive event.  

Weinstein's Mother Rachel and her children was produced for the ‘Out of the Shadows’ festival in Madison, May 2016, and it was a world premier of the tableu. The production was a collaboration between the Performing the Jewish Archive project and staff of the School of Music, University of Wisconsin. 

The performance script, mostly in English, was based on Simo Muir’s translation of Weinstein’s original Yiddish manuscript (versified by Scott Hurley). For the production Simo Muir chose arrangements of Jewish choral music from the repertoire of the Jewish Choir Association (Juutalainen Laulukuoro ry) in Helsinki. The tableau's music ranged from classic Jewish cantorial repertoire to Yiddish folk songs. Central to the tableau was Eyli, Eyli (My God, My God), written by Helsinki-born composer and conductor, Simon Parmet (1897-1969). The scores were prepared ready for performing with the expertise of Stephen Muir.

David Ronis was in charge of the stage direction and overall coordination of the production team. Beverly Taylor prepared and conducted the University of Wisconsin-Madison Concert Choir. 

Other persons involved in the production were: Greg Silver (technical director), Jeanne Swack (Yiddish coach), Martinique M. Barthel-Steer (stage manager), John Penisten (lighting designer), Hyewon Park (costume designer) and Brian Anderson (sound designer). 

The production used artwork by Czech artist Ivan Bukovsky.

Musical pieces performed as part of the 

Eykho from the Book of Lamentations, by Louis Lewandowski (1821 – 1894)

Eli Tsioyn by Louis Lewandowski, Jac Weinstein (1883 – 1976)

Kol Nidrey by Louis Lewandowski, arr. Stephen Muir

Fun Shpanyen, arr. Samuel Rubinstein

Unter dem kinds vigele, arr. Simon Parmet (1897 – 1969)

Eyli, Eyli, Simon Parmet, Jacob K. Sandler (1860 – 1931)

Eyl mole rakhamim, arr. Salomon Katz

Exodus by Ernst Gold, arr. Simon Parmet

Haleluyo (Psalm 150), Louis Lewandowski/arr. Simon Parmet

Hatikvo by Samuel Cohen, arr. Samuel Rubinstein, N.H. Imber

Cast

Cast: Narrator/ Shofar: Mikko Rankin Utevsky

Rachel: Jessica Kasinski

Child: Lola Hernandez

Elderly Woman: Dr. Jeanne Swack

Mother: Talia Engstrom

University of Wisconsin–Madison Concert Choir

Violin: Thalia Coombs

Introductory remarks: Dr. Simo Muir

Talk-back: Dr. Joel Berkowitz

Artwork: Ivan Bukovský

Musical Direction: Prof. Beverly Taylor

Musical Consultant: Dr. Stephen Muir

Stage Direction: Prof. David Ronis

Technical Director: Greg Silver

Yiddish Coach: Dr. Jeanne Swack

Stage Manager: Martinique M. Barthel-Steer

Lighting Designer: John Penisten

Costume Designer: Hyewon Park

Sound Designer: Brian Anderson