מחזמר

Welcome to the 26th annual Hillel Theater Workshop

The annual Hillel Theater Workshop production and to the World’s Most Popular Musical- Les Miserables. Since 1985 the Beit Hillel Theater Workshop at Hebrew University, has engaged in various theater formats, from drama and comedy to musical comedy, concert tributes, operetta, and Holocaust presentations. Among our past productions: Fiddler on the Roof, (x2) Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream      Coat (x3), Phantom of the Opera, Guys and Dolls, Les Miserables, A Tribute to Andrew Lloyd Webber, The Diary of Anne Frank, Ish Chassid Haya, The Wall, Lend Me A Tenor, Brighton Beach Memoirs, A Chorus Line, Oliver, Biloxi Blues, West Side Story (x2) , Blood Brothers (x2), My Fair Lady, Annie, and Beauty and the Beast (x2). Over 1000 student thespians have performed in Hillel Theater Workshop productions. Several past student performers have returned this year for this special event, and to bask one more time in the sensation of theater performance. For all of us – Les Mis has been a Labor of Love.

About Hillel

The mission of Hillel Israel is to engage the maximum number of students and young adults to take responsibility for their Jewish identity through meaningful activity on behalf of the community, the country, and the Jewish people. Hillel Israel focuses on re-igniting Jewish life across Israel by engaging students and young adults through meaningful Jewish experiences. Hillel Israel operates at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem; Tel Aviv University; Ben-Gurion University of the Negev; Haifa University; the Technion; the Carmel center in Haifa; the Interdisciplinary Center Herzliya; Sapir College; Emek Yezreel College; and Tel Hai College 

Our Director - Michael Berl

Michael Berl has been the Director of the Hillel Theater Workshop since its inception 26 years ago. Michael has a BA in Political Science, and an MA in Theater Arts. He has directed productions for Bar Ilan and Tel Aviv Universities. In “real” life, Michael founded and directs Heritage Seminars, the University accredited Holocaust Education Seminars in Eastern Europe for University students, Yeshiva One Year students, High School students, and Adults. Prior to Aliyah, he served as Director of Student Activities and Music/Drama Director at the prestigious Ramaz School in New York, Program Coordinator and Music Director at Camp Massad, and Director of Fine Arts at Camp Morasha

Our Music Director - Naama Tamir

Naama Tamir is a graduate student of the Rubin Academy of Music and Dance, where she specializes in Piano, and Composition. She has composed music for Dance and Animated Film and has performed throughout Israel with various orchestras. She has been at the piano at Hillel for previous productions of My Fair Lady and Annie, and will accompany her greatest challenge – Les Misérables.

THE CAST

 The cast of Les Miserables reflects young adults from a wide variety of backgrounds who have come together at Hillel, bonded and produced this singular event: Overseas students at the Rothberg School at Hebrew University or studying on the NATIV Program, Israeli students studying at Hebrew University, Israeli high school students, one active soldier in the IDF, Sherut Leumi and Seminary women – and one student “imported” especially for this production from NY.

Jean Valjean: David Djemal

Javert: Noam Tomaschoff

Fantine: Noga Yechieli

Eponine: Miri Fraenkel

Marius: Zev Kupfer

Cosette: Gabriella Wachspress

Enjolras: Aaron Fineberg

Ms. Thernadier: Bryan Friedland

Mme.Thernadier: Sapir Ohayon

Gavroche: Esti Mellul

Bishop: Natan Goldstein / Yair Goldstein

Little Cosette: Zoey Tabak

Chain Gang

Aaron Fineberg, Netanya Mischel, Inbal Mayron, Marlaina Rich, Natan Goldstein, Yair Goldstein, Jacob Schonzeit, Michael Levi, Yehuda Lauer, Ayala Tabak, Sophie Menashe 

Factory Workers 

Zev Kupfer, Inbal Mayron, Aaron Fineberg, Miriam Wartski, Sophie Menashe, Marlaina Rich, Netanya Mischel, Sapir Ohayon, Dalya Holder, Rene Zemel, Ayala Tabak, Sarah Raff, Esti Mellul, Natan Goldstein, Yair Goldstein, Gal Sapir, Ayelet Poupko, Hadassah Weiss, Hannah Kober, May Stery, Tal Schwerd, Noam Kleinburd, Jacob Schonzeit, Michael Levi, Yehuda Lauer, Noam Beili, Ariella Chase, Renana Oz, Niv Beili

Lovely Ladies and Widows

Miriam Wartski, Ayala Tabak, Inbal Mayron, Sapir Ohayon, Dalya Holder, Sarah Raff, Gal Sapir, Ayelet Poupko, Hannah Kober, May Stery, Tal Schwerd, Renana Oz, Ariella Chase, Sophie Menashe

Student Soldiers

Zev Kupfer, Aaron Fineberg, Marlaina Rich, Netanya Mischel, Esti Mellul, Inbal Mayron, Natan Goldstein, Yair Goldstein, Hadassah Weiss, Hannah Kober, Jacob Schonzeit, Michael Levi, Yehuda Lauer, Sarah Raff, Ayala Tabak

Yedida Gellman - Costume Designer

Yedida is a fashion designer, and had a lot of fun designing the costumes for this production. She wishes the greatest cast she’s ever worked with “Happy Chanukah and enjoy the shows”

Miriam Johnstone - Make Up Artist

This is Miriam’s second year doing makeup for Hillel. She lives in Hashmonaim with her husband, where she is a freelance makeup artist. Although she normally specializes in making people look beautiful for weddings and smachot, she really had fun making everyone look “miserable”.