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May 2, 2002/Nisan 30, 5763 Vol. 55, No. 36
'Milk & Honey' celebrates Israel
ALISA SLOAN
Special Sections Editor
From left, Michael Sample, Amanda Kuchinski Weiss and Jettie Kootman, shown here at a rehearsal, will perform in "Milk & Honey" at Temple Beth Israel on May 7.
Photo by David Hock
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Israel, 1961. Two tourists from the United States meet when a young Yemenite girl's flock of sheep cause a fracas on a Jerusalem road. The man, who is separated from his wife, develops an interest in the stranger. As the two begin to fall in love, eventually the woman realizes that she cannot live with a married man.
Their turbulent story of romantic cat-and-mouse is set against the backdrop of real Israeli life.
"What makes this show so interesting to do now, given the current state of affairs in the Middle East, is that the show was done in 1961 and there are references in the book and in some of the lyrics that illustrate how little has changed in Israel over the past 40-some odd years regarding the Israeli/Arab conflict," says director David Hock.
"I am not changing any dialogue or updating any of the story line at all specifically to emphasize the lack of change in Israel, even today."
Temple Beth Israel will present "Milk & Honey" on Wednesday, May 7, to celebrate Israel Independence Day.
The music and lyrics are by Jerry Herman, who also wrote "Hello Dolly," "La Cage Aux Folles," "Mame," "Mack & Mabel," "Jerry's Girls," "Grand Tour" and "A Day in Hollywood/A Night in the Ukraine."
"Milk & Honey" is the only show ever performed on Broadway that exclusively takes place in Israel.
"Given the current state of world affairs," says Hock, "we want to do everything we can to share this event with the entire Phoenix Jewish community."
Details
- Who: Temple Beth Israel
- What: "Milk & Honey"
- Where: 10460 N. 56th St., Scottsdale
- When: 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 7
- Cost: $18 adults, $15 seniors, $10 students
- CALL: 480-951-0323
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