Local News
Winnipeg Jewish Theatre to premiere first live show since February 2020
By BERNIE BELLAN Amidst all the plans that had either to be shelved or retooled as a result of Covid, perhaps no organization within our community has had to constantly rejig its plans more than the Winnipeg Jewish Theatre.
Beginning with the cancellation of a new play by Winnipeg’s own Daniel Thau Eleff, “Narrow Bridge”, which was scheduled to receive its world premiere on March 28, 2020, followed by a series of changes to the 2020-21 program, ultimately the WJT did find success going online with two separate productions this year: “Becoming Dr. Ruth” – in February, featuring a repeat of her award-winning role by Mariam Bernstein – and which was offered on demand to at-home audiences; and, more recently the free streaming online of “True Colours” in March.
While WJT Artistic Director Ari Weinberg was quite pleased with the reception that both those productions received from at-home audiences, he’s more than a little excited to once again being able to offer Winnipeg audiences live theatre, beginning August 26, with eight performances of a play that is particularly timely given the circumstances in which we’ve all found itself, titled “Dear Jack Dear Louise”.
Recently I had the chance to talk to Ari about this impending production which, by the way, features the youngest member of the immensely talented Frohlinger siblings, Becky Frohlinger (sister to Alexandra and Joey), along with another talented Winnipegger, Justin Stadnyk.
Following are excerpts from my conversation with Ari Weinberg:
JP&N: “When was the decision made to do a live show?”
Ari: “The plan was always to do a live show. Our plan all along was to do two digital shows, and then a live show – and this is it. We had hoped to do it in May, and then it got bumped. Then we were hoping for late June or early July, and then it got bumped. So this is actually the third time we planned to do it.”
JP&N: “What will the seating capacity be?”
Ari: “Eighty seats.”
JP&N: “How many performances will there be?”
Ari: “Eight performances. We usually do eight, but if it continues to sell as well as it has been we can add one or two shows.”
JP&N: “So tell me something about this show. I’ve never heard of it.”
Ari: “Well, the reason that almost no one has heard of it is that it actually premiered in December 2019, just before the start of Covid. We’re doing the Canadian premiere of it; it’s actually the second production of it anywhere in the world.
“Ken Ludwig is the playwright. He’s a master of comedy. He wrote ‘Lend Me a Tenor’ – a very funny farce. He wrote the book for ‘Crazy for You’, also a very funny musical.
“This is the story of his parents. All four of his grandparents met at a barbeque during the Second World War. One set had a single son, the other had a single daughter. The son was off being a doctor in the army and the daughter was off aspiring to be in musicals in New York City.
“So the grandparents thought: ‘We should get them to start writing to each other. So Jack picked up a pen and wrote to Louise and she responded, and they kept in touch throughout the war. They were supposed to meet, but various obstacles kept popping up, so they wrote letters to each other for four years and met at the end of the war – and got married, and had Ken and his brother.
“When they both passed away, he inherited the letters that they had written to each other, and he thought: ‘There’s a play here’, so it’s sort of an homage to his parents.”
JP&N: “You know, this reminds me of a play put on at the Fringe Festival a few years ago (2014, to be exact) by Susan Freedman, who was the daughter of the late Sam and Brownie Freedman. (The play was titled “Spilling Family Secrets”.) It was a one-woman show based on letters they had written to one another.”
Ari: “This one is quite hilarious, too, especially Louise. She’s quite a vivacious character who’s trying out for Broadway musicals. She’s excitable and she has all kinds of hilarious adventures that she relates to Jack throughout the play.”
JP&N: “It must involve more than reading letters.”
Ari: “No – and that’s why I planned it. It’s a perfect ‘social distancing’ play. The characters don’t even meet until the final moment of the play. They’re in their two separate worlds.
“This is actually a perfect show to do in a tent. He has his army tent and a little foot locker and she’s in a boarding house in New York City, but it’s the two of them in their separate worlds conversing with one another.”
JP&N: “Is there any singing, because I know that both Becky and Justin are very talented singers?”
Ari: “No – they’re both incredible singers, but there’s no singing in the play.”
JP&N: “So maybe we can ask them to stay after the play is over, pass a cup around, and ask them to sing for us.”
Ari: “Yah, we’ll ask them to take requests.” (Ed. note: This is all tongue in cheek, in case you think this is meant to be taken seriously.)
JP&N: “Let’s talk a little about Becky (Frohlinger) and Justin (Stadnyk). I know Becky very well and I also know Justin from a show that he was in with my son at Rainbow Stage” (which also included Alexandra and Joey Frohlinger, but not Becky, who was too young to appear on Rainbow Stage at that time).
Ari: “This is actually their fifth show together. It feels like a homecoming in many ways. It’s great to have Becky back in Winnipeg.” (Ed. note: When we last mentioned Becky in a column it was in August 2016, when Becky was appearing in a production of ‘Shrek the Musical’ at Rainbow Stage. Becky was already a seasoned performer by then, also having just graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre from Elon College in North Carolina.)
JP&N: “We’ve been following the careers of all three talented Frohlinger siblings for years.”
Ari: “I know, I’ve been hearing lots of anecdotes about the Frohlingers.”
(A perusal of Justin Stadnyk’s website reveals that he was born in 1985 and has been performing in the musical theatre world for years. Justin is also a dedicated yoga practitioner and teacher.)
“Something that might interest you is that Justin and I were in the same class together at Sheridan College.
“Justin became a dad during the pandemic and this is his first show back. This show is a labour of love for the both of them – as well as the Winnipeg Jewish Theatre.”
JP&N: “Okay, so how long does the show run?”
Ari: “It’s 90 minutes – without an intermission.”
JP&N: “It’s under a canopy, is it?”
Ari: “Yes, it’s under a tent. Three of the sides are open. We’ve got good air flow.”
JP&N: “Are you encouraging people to wear masks?”
Ari: “Masks are strongly recommended.”
JP&N: “Do you have to present a proof of vaccination to enter?”
Ari: “No, we checked with the province, and because we’re outdoors and because there’s good air flow, and because we’re under 100 people, and because people are socially distanced in the seats – seats are either in pairs or singles – vaccination is not mandatory. We’re assuming that the majority of our audience is vaccinated, but that’s why masks are strongly recommended.”
JP&N: “Let’s talk a little about the two shows you did online this year. I know the Dr. Ruth show did quite well.”
Ari: “Yes, it was a great success for us. We had lots of people watch it – and it was watched all over the world.
“Then we did our production of ‘True Colours’ – and it’s currently part of the Stratford Festival streaming platform.”
JP&N: “I was going to ask you about Daniel Thau-Eleff and the lousy luck he’s had. His play (‘Narrow Bridge’) has been canceled twice now, hasn’t it?”
Ari: “We have a plan to do one digital production in the fall, then two live productions, both Canadian premieres. One is a production we’re hoping to do live and in person in February, and the other in a tent again next summer. It’s a musical that we’re hoping to do live at the campus.
“Then, the following year, we’re hoping we’ll be fully back in the season, and that’s when we’re hoping ‘Narrow Bridge’ will make it to the stage.”
JP&N: “So that’ll be 2022-23 – right?”
Ari: “Yes.”
JP&N: “It’s becoming ‘A Bridge Too Far’ by now.”
Ari: “Yes, a very long, narrow bridge.”
JP&N: “Coincidentally, I’m going to be running a story this issue about the Jewish Foundation and how they came through for so many Jewish organizations during the pandemic, including Winnipeg Jewish Theatre. I don’t know if you had been able to carry on without that funding.”
Ari: “A hundred per cent. They and the Winnipeg Foundation have been great foundations of support for us.”
JP&N: “Anything else you want to say, Ari?”
Ari: “Just that we’ve already sold 50% of the available tickets (as of August 12), so this is not a show where you should sit back and think about whether you want to buy tickets. This is definitely a case where you should pick up the phone and call or get to a computer and go online and book.”
Local News
Fringe Festival star Melanie Gall to appear at Gwen Secter Centre July 16
By BERNIE BELLAN A veteran performer at the Winnipeg Fringe Festival, Melanie Gall, will be making a special guest appearance at the Gwen Secter Centre on Thursday, July 16.
Melanie will be the featured speaker (and entertainer) for the Remis Speakers’ Series that day. The Remis Speakers’ Series is held every Thursday starting at noon and ending at 1:30. This year’s series began May 7 and will continue through the end of October. This year it has been attracting increasingly large audiences – ranging from 40-60 people, as it offers attendees the opportunity to enjoy a delicious – and kosher lunch, while listening to a very diverse variety of speakers – all the way from Gail Asper talking about returning the Ten Commandments to Assiniboine Park to Rabbi Matthew Leibl performing Christmas songs that were written by Jewish songwriters. At the same time it provides those attending a chance to make new acquaintances – or perhaps bump into old friends they haven’t seen in a long time.
Melanie Gall’s own story is sure to be riveting. I’ve written about Melanie in the past, but the past two summers had been especially nerve wracking for Melanie, as she was subjected to a torrent of antisemitic abuse over her support for the State of Israel.
You can read my story about what Melanie went through during the Winnipeg Fringe Festival – both in 2024 and again last year, at Melanie Gall subjected to antisemitic abuse.
Melanie, who will be entering her 13th year of performing at the Winnipeg Fringe Festival, will be peforming in only one show this year – a departure from her past practice of performing in multiple shows (as many as three different shows) during the Fringe Festival.
Elsewhere on this website we’ll be offering a preview of Melanie’s show (which is called “The Ballad of Isobel Gunn” and which is based on an incredible, but true story), along with previews of several other shows.
In the meantime, if you’re not already a member of the Remis Speakers’ Series group, but would ike to attend this coming Thursday, simply email us at jewishp@mymts.net and we’ll reserve a spot for you. The cost for the lunch is only $20.
The Gwen Secter Centre is located at 1588 Main Street (corner of Smithfield). There is parking available on a lot behind the centre or on the street.
Local News
Folk Festival Report
(Posted July 10) During this year’s Winnipeg Folk Festival we’re going to be running an ongoing blog report – with photos and blurbs from the festival, sent to us by Heather Silbert and Samara Ebanks.
Here’s Heather’s first entry (sent Friday at 3:33 pm): “It’s a hot hot day at the 51st Winnipeg Folk Festival! Lots of people; lots of good vibes; and an abundance of awesome music!!”
“We just moved to spruce hollow. Nice and shady. listening to Jacob Brodovsky.”
4:21 pm: “Jacob just announced that he lost his job and received a lot of vitriol from the Jewish Community because he’s a Jewish person who believes that Palestinian and Jewish lives are intertwined, and he is against the genocide. He is very deeply feeling, and expresses all these big feelings through his songs. I want to give him a hug, but it’s so hot outside!”
5:33 pm: The inscription in the plaque below begins with some lines from a Bruce Cockburn song called “Joy Will Find a Way (A Song About Dying)”: and continues with: “Memory Lane honours those who are no longer with us but whose presence lives on in the music, memories and moments we share here…”
7:06 pm “Gorgeous hand made polymer clay jewelry! Amanda Greisman makes gorgeous pieces that can be worn across many occasions! And she’s so so nice!” (See her booth called “Blue Sky Jewelry.”
(Keep checking for updates)
Local News
New GrowWinnipeg “Grow Together” highlights diverse origins of our growing Jewish community
By MYRON LOVE On Monday, June 11, about 120 younger Jewish Winnipeggers from diverse backgrounds came together at the Asper Campus for an evening of food and music, games and prizes and, most important, the opportunity to socialize with their peers from a growing community that reflects the long term success of our community’s 26-year-old GrowWinnipeg initiative.
“We are gathered here to celebrate your and your parents’ decisions to come to Winnipeg, build families and raise families here,” noted Dalia Szpiro, GrowWinnipeg’s director, in addressing the young adults in attendance.
To summarize, the GrowWinnipeg Initiative arose when our past community’s leadership recognized that our Jewish population was an aging and shrinking community with aging infrastructure.
The first stage was the planning and construction of the Asper Campus, which brought our major institutions and organizations under one roof in an attractive new building.
The next challenge was to attract more people to our community. GrowWinnipeg was created to take on the challenge. The initiative, which was officially launched in 2000, is unique in its efforts to reach out to young Jewish families throughout the Western world.
The first outreach efforts were directed at Argentina’s sizeable Jewish community at a time when the South American country’s economy was going through a very difficult period. Several of our community leaders visited the Jewish community in Buenos Aires and a website was established. Arrangements were made for local families to host Jewish Argentinians here on exploratory visits and the community helped the prospective immigrants navigate the then new Provincial Nominee Program, find jobs and establish themselves here.
Since then, many young families – from Argentina, as well as a great number of other countries – have chosen to make Winnipeg their new home. The young people at the recent GrowWinnipeg evening were reflective of the diversity of our growing community. During the course of the evening, I had the opportunity to speak with not only Israeli-born participants, also young people from Russia and Ukraine, Turkey and Uruguay – and a young lady who grew up in Ottawa.
Naomi Kirshenblatt Palansky originally came here from Ottawa to go to university. She met and married local entrepreneur Noah Palansky in 2023. (We wrote about Noah in the December 19, 2025 issue). That same year, the former competitive swimmer who competed in the Maccabiah Games in 2009 and 2013 served as manager of the Canadian Junior swimming team participating in the games. She is currently the director of operations and strategy for a company called CoinFlip.
Although born in Montevideo, Uruguay, Yael Borovich grew up in Winnipeg. She is the daughter of Dalia Szpiro and Eduardo Borovich (and younger sister of Vanessa) all of whom moved here in 2002. She is a graduate of the Asper School of Business and works as a senior client relationship manager for Scotia Bank’s commercial branch.
Siblings Igal and Edem Avimelek arrived here from Turkey six years ago with their parents, Etel and Moris. Edem is in her second year at the University of Manitoba while Igal is studying engineering at UBC.
They report that their father, Moris, has established the Upperwear Textile Agency – marketing textile products online – while their mother Etel, is senior IT Director, software development and data analytics and enterprise architecture at Standard Aero.
“Our parents were looking to move to a new country and came across the GrowWinnipeg webpage,” Edem says. “GrowWinnipeg has been really supportive of us in helping us move here and become established.”
More recent arrivals Alex Tsmokaliuk and Jane Hin are from Ukraine and Russia respectively and have been together since 2022. “We were looking for a peaceful place to start a family,”: Alex says. “We heard about GrowWinnpeg and here we are.”
Alex is a fitness trainer while Jane is working for WRE Development as a property manager.
Dora Bronstein, who is originally from Beersheva, is also a recent arrival to our community. “I came to Winnipeg because I wanted to get away from war – and I heard about GrowWinnipeg,” she says.
She is currently working for L.C. Taylor Licensed Insolvency Trustee as an estate manager.
Erele Tzidon and Daniel Mejnov
Last October, GrowWinnipeg introduced its new Youth Ambassadors program.
“Since October, we have been working to create an organized system and opportunities to help young newcomers find their people within our community,” wrote Youth Ambassador Erele Tzidon on Facebook.
“Our mission is to help young immigrants find a sense of home in Winnipeg and support a smooth and welcoming transition.
We are excited to help bring our young Jewish community together.
As reported in the Jewish Post about 18 months ago, Tzidon is originally from Moshav Ginaton in central Israel. She came to Winnipeg in 2018 with her parents Ofer – formerly regional manager for a car rental agency in Israel and now an RBC branch manager – and Sharon – an emotional therapist in Israel who is currently working as an educational assistant at Gray Academy – and three younger brothers.
The 20-year Gray Academy graduate has recently completed her third year in Science at the University of Manitoba. For the past three years, she has also been a member of Dr. Inna Rabinovich-Nikitin’s research team at the Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences (ICS), researching the link between pregnancy complications and the risk for heart disease.
In November, 2024, Tzidon was presented with the Dr. James S. McGoey Student Award – based on the quality of her cardiovascular research at the ICS, which operates out of the St. Boniface Hospital campus’s Albrechchtsen Research Centre.
Tzidon’s fellow Youth Ambassador is Daniel Mejnov. He was born in Beersheva but moved to Winnipeg with his parents, Dennis and Victoria (and younger brother Alon) 14 years ago. He is currently enrolled in an IT program at the University of Winnipeg.
Mejnov welcomed all those in attendance at the celebration and thanked the volunteers who helped him and Tzidon organize the event.
“It has been great being able to bring so many people together,” he said. “This is a good way to unite our community.
Two other individuals of particular note that I spoke with at the event were Orit Agabayev and Alina Plis, partners in three year old A and O Event Décor, who provided the balloon arches and walls, table settings and centre pieces for the evening.
Agabayev is originally from Netanya and Plis is from Yeruham (in southern Israel). The latter has been here for 18 years and operates a daycare. The former came 16 years. Her principal career is working in the field of animal nutrition.
In an Instagram PosI from four years ago, Plis noted that “I have always been passionate about planning parties and events. I started out with planning big surprise birthday parties for my kids. Eventually I began planning and decorating events for family and friends. Now I am taking the next step with my friend, Orit, who shares the same level enthusiasm as me. What drives me to go above and beyond is simply the excitement my creations bring to those who see my work.
On Facebook, Agabayev added that “Alina and I are so excited to start A&O event decor. We both love decorating and planning different events. We hope that you can put your trust in us to create or decorate an event for you. We do Birthday parties, anniversaries, bachelor/bachelorette parties, proposals, weddings and more..
“Message us with your ideas to get a free quote and you’re one step closer to having an unforgettable event.”
