Originally posted on Broadway World
Written by BWW News Desk
Marin Theatre Company is honored to participate in the 2nd Annual National Jewish Theater Foundation's Holocaust Theater International Initiative Remembrance Readings. MTC will present a staged reading of Jeff Cohen's THE SOAP MYTH on Monday May 2, 2016 at 7:00pm.
A wide range of cultural and educational organizations take part in the Initiative, using theatrical content to create live events memorializing the events of the Holocaust and highlighting relevant stories. Initiative events take place in venues throughout the U.S.A. around Yom Ha Shoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day.
In just its second year, national participation has increased by 50% to include theaters, memorial museums, libraries, consulates, colleges and universities and Jewish Community Centers from eleven states, and includes the celebrity involvement of Ed Asner. Remembrance Readings use theatre as a means to honor the victims of the Holocaust, their memories and stories, and its "must never to be forgotten" lessons.
In its first year of participation, MTC's event will begin with a lobby reception at 6:30pm, followed by a staged reading of THE SOAP MYTH, and a panel discussion with local Jewish artists and historians to invite conversation about this important day of remembrance.
As a playwright, Jeff Cohen is known for original work and adaptations. THE SOAP MYTH was presented Off Broadway by the National Jewish Theater Foundation at the Roundabout Theater's Steinberg Theater Center in 2012. The film of that production was broadcast nationally by American Public Television on PBS and is the first American production on Britain's prestigious Digital Theatre. Mr. Cohen's other plays include Men of Clay-a memoir about his father Stan "Squeaky" Cohen and tennis in 1970s Baltimore (Best New Play, Baltimore City Paper), The Man Who Ate Michael Rockefeller-adapted from the Christopher Stokes short story (Critics Pick, The New York Times and Time Out New York), Woah-Jack!-his racially-charged adaptation of Woyzeck starring Golden Globe nominee Michael Ealy (AUDELCO Award), and The Seagull/The Hamptons his highly acclaimed American adaptation of The Seagull whose various productions have featured Tammy Grimes, D.B. Sweeney, Marin Hinkle, Lizbeth Mackay, Neil Huff and the New York stage debut of Laura Linney (Ten Best of the Year - The Boston Globe).
Mr. Cohen was founder and artistic director of three small but significant Off Broadway theaters - the RAPP Arts Center, the Worth Street Theater Company/Tribeca Playhouse, and Dog Run Rep. Directing highlights include Christopher Shinn's Four (New York Times Critics Pick, Lortel Award, Drama Desk nominee), Tristine Skyler's The Moonlight Room (Critics Pick and Annual Ten Best list - New York Times, two Lortel nominations, Outer Critics nominee) and Marlene Meyer's The Mystery of Attraction (Obie Award). Mr. Cohen may be best known for his two signature theatrical events: opposition to the invasion of Iraq, Voices of Peace and Dissent from Ground Zero and his response to the attacks of 9/11, The Tribeca Playhouse Stage Door Canteen-a 10-week USO style variety show to 'entertain the troops' (the rescue and recovery workers at Ground Zero) that featured such stars as Kristin Chenoweth, Phylicia Rashad, Colin Quinn, Mario Cantone, Lea DeLaria and was recognized with a special Drama Desk Award in 2002.