UNT's Dance and Theatre Department and Jewish and Israel Studies Program present "The Jewish Wife"

Thursday, October 1, 2015 - 15:08
Category:

What: "The Jewish Wife," a one-act play at the University of North Texas focusing on the issues of antisemitism. The play features faculty members Sally Vahle and Bob Hess, both from the UNT Department of Dance and Theatre.

When: 7 p.m. Oct. 12 ­– Oct.15 (Monday -Thursday) and Oct. 17 (Saturday).

Where: Room 127 of UNT's Radio, Television, Film and Performing Arts Building, 1179 Union Circle, Denton

Cost: Admission is free for students, faculty and the general public.

More information: Contact Andrew B. Harris at Andy.Harris@unt.edu.

DENTON (UNT), Texas – The University of North Texas' Department of Dance and Theatre, in conjunction with the Jewish and Israel Studies Program, will present "The Jewish Wife." The one-act play is part of a larger work by Bertolt Brecht titled "The Private Life of the Master Race." The play will be performed a total of five times: Oct. 12 (Monday) ­– Oct.15 (Thursday) and Oct. 17 (Saturday). All performances will take place at 7 p.m. in in Room 127 of the Radio, Television, Film and Performing Arts Building, located at 1179 Union Circle in Denton.

Brecht, a renowned poet, playwright and theatre director from Germany, lived through World Wars I and II. Brecht's work touches on many aspects of the human experience, but it all hinges on the single motif: transforming the stage into a place for political discussion. "The Jewish Wife" presents the subject of society's intolerance to diversity. Like much of Brecht's work, "The Jewish Wife" is a didactic piece.

Department of Dance and Theatre faculty members Sally Vahle and Bob Hess will play the roles of wife and husband. Vahle, once described by D Magazine "as the best actress in Dallas," is a permanent member of the Dallas Theatre Center. Her co-star, Bob Hess, has performed with many leading ensembles in the Dallas-Fort. Worth Metroplex.

"The Jewish Wife" will be directed by Andrew B. Harris, a professor in the Department of Dance and Theatre. Harris said Brecht's mastery of drama shines in this brief play.

"Brecht had an extraordinary ability to capture the essence of a relationship with a few quick strokes," said Harris. "In this very short play, he fully lays out the issues that this couple faces in a world that has grown intolerant of diversity. It behooves us all to listen closely to what is said and to think hard about the choices we make."

Each performance of the play will conclude with a forum discussion, with a different set of panelists each night. The five performances of "The Jewish Wife" are the second event in "The Oldest and Newest Hatred: Antisemitism-Anti-Israelism," a series sponsored by the Jewish and Israel Studies Program during the 2015-16 academic year. The event is co-sponsored by the Jewish Federation of Fort Worth and Tarrant County, the Jewish Federation of Greater Dallas, Hillels of North Texas, UNT Division of Institutional Equity and Diversity, UNT Division of Student Affairs, UNT-International, UNT Multicultural Center and UNT Office of Spiritual Life.

For more information about the play and other events regarding the Jewish and Israel Studies Program, please contact Harris at Andy.Harris@unt.edu.

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