SILENT TEARS: THE LAST YIDDISH TANGO at the Duncan Theatre November 12th

02 Friday Oct 2026

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Bridging Memory and Music:
Silent Tears: The Last Yiddish Tango
An Award-Winning Concert Based on the
Poetry and Testimonies of Women of the Holocaust
at the Duncan Theatre, November 12th

“Profound, extremely expressive… an unforgettable project, giving voice to those
who lived through the hell of the Holocaust”
Blogfoolk Magazine, Italy

For Immediate Release
Contact:  Carol Kassie
carol@carolkassie.com / 561-445-9244

October 2, 2026

PALM BEACH COUNTY, FL: The Art of Humanity, an organization dedicated to ‘transforming hate into hope’ and combatting antisemitism, Holocaust denial, and bigotry through the transformative power of the arts and education, will present Silent Tears: The Last Yiddish Tango for two performances only at Lake Worth’s Duncan Theatre on November 12th.   

Canada’s world-renowned Payadora Tango Ensemble will perform this award-winning concert which features songs based on the poetry, testimonies, and writings of women who were victims – and survivors – of Holocaust atrocities.   Set to music in the style of Polish tangos from the 1930s – the popular music of the era – the songs tell the stories of unimaginable loss, resilience and survival.  Silent Tears also includes a number of works based on Holocaust survivor Molly Applebaum‘s diary and memoir, Buried Words. As a child, she was buried underground in a wooden box beneath a barn in occupied Poland. (Molly Applebaum is now 94 and living in Toronto.)

The Silent Tears project began when Dr. Paula David launched a poetry project to help survivors deal with long term trauma from the horrific crimes they had experienced during the Holocaust – some of which they hadn’t even told their own families.

Silent Tears won the Weltmusikpreis in Germany, reached #1 on World Music Charts Europe, won the 2024 Ontario Folk Music “Album of the Year” award, and “Producers of the Year” at the 2024 Canadian Folk Music Awards.  

The concert will be performed in Yiddish, with English supertitles. Carolina Simon scholar, author, educator, and founding Executive Director of The Art of Humanity will conduct a talk- back after the 11:30 am performance, and professor, author, historian Dr. Robert Watson will do the same after the 7 pm performance. 

Payadora is an award-winning chamber music ensemble that performs original compositions and arrangements drawn from Argentinian and Uruguayan tango and folk traditions. Made up of players who are each musical powerhouses in their own right, this “superstar group” combines deep knowledge of tango with classical, jazz, and world music backgrounds to create something entirely new. Founded in 2013 in Toronto, the ensemble has performed sold-out concerts across Canada, the United States, South America, and Europe — from Canada’s National Arts Centre to the Rudolstadt Festival in Germany, with a sold-out 2023 European tour that included a live-to-air BBC performance.

The Art of Humanity is building Silent Tears: The Last Yiddish Tango into a Palm Beach County Community Event through coordinated outreach with Jewish and non-Jewish organizations, educators, students, young professionals, Christian and interfaith communities, and the performing arts audience. Supported by community partners and cross-promotion across social media, email, print, and digital platforms, the campaign aims to bring people of different backgrounds, faiths, and generations together through Holocaust remembrance, education, music, poetry, and conversation—and a shared commitment to confronting antisemitism and hate.

Tickets for Silent Tears:  The Last Yiddish Tango are on sale now and are available online at
https://ci.ovationtix.com/35256/production/1290996?performanceId=11867597.

For more information about Silent Tears: The Last Yiddish Tango, to speak with anyone involved in the production, or to arrange to attend a performance please contact Sheri Smith at sheri@purplehairdev.com / 561-254-5494 or Carol Kassie at carol@carolkassie.com / 561-445-9244.

For more information about The Art of Humanity visit: https://www.theartofhumanity.org.
For more information about the Payadora Tango Ensemble visit: https://payadora.com
~
Silent Tears – The Last Yiddish Tango
Bridging Memory & Music
Performed by the Payadora Tango Ensemble
November 12
Performance times: 11:30 am & 7 pm
Tickets: $36 Adults/$10 Students
For tickets:  https://ci.ovationtix.com/35256/production/1290996?performanceId=11867597
Both performances will take place at
The Duncan Theatre
4200 South Congress Avenue
Lake Worth, FL 33461

Payadora Tango Ensemble (Photo credit Payadora Tango Ensemble)

2026-2027 THEATRE PRODUCTION SCHEDULES

06 Thursday Aug 2026

Posted by in Boca Stage, Clients, Entr'Acte Theatrix, Hy Juter, My Son the Waiter

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2026-2027 THEATRE PRODUCTION SCHEDULES
for
Entr’Acte Theatrix
The Art of Humanity
Boca Stage
 Hy Juter Presents
My Son the Waiter

August 6, 2026

Below is a current list of some of my clients’ theatrical productions currently scheduled for the 2026-2027 season. 
As yet, tickets are not on sale for some of these productions.
Please note that this list and these productions are subject to change, and that there will most likely be additions and rescheduling as time goes by!
Please don’t hesitate to contact me should you need more information about any of these theatre companies and/or shows, would like to see a performance, or speak with anyone involved with any of these productions.

ENTR’ACTE THEATRIX


Mary Poppins – The Broadway Musical
Original music and lyrics by Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman
Book by Julian Fellowes
New songs and additional music and lyrics by George Stiles and Anthony Drewe
Co-created by Cameron Mackintosh
A musical based on the stories of P.L. Travers and the Walt Disney Film
November 6 – 22, 2026
A ‘Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious’ entertainment is in store for audiences of all ages! Based on the books by P.L. Travers and the beloved Walt Disney Film, Disney and Cameron Mackintosh’s Mary Poppins – the Broadway Musical is an enchanting mixture of irresistible story, unforgettable songs, breathtaking dance numbers, and astonishing stage craft.
Tickets will be on sale soon!
For tickets: https://linktr.ee/entractetheatrix
Performance days and times:
Fridays at 7:30 pm
Saturdays at 2 pm & 7:30 pm
Sundays at 2 pm
All performances will take place at
The William G. Skaff Center
500 Spencer Drive
West Palm Beach, FL  33409

THE ART OF HUMANTIY


Silent Tears – The Last Yiddish Tango
Bridging Memory & Music
Performed by the Payadora Tango Ensemble
November 12, 2026
This award-winning production includes performances of songs based on poems, testimonies, and writings of women victimized during the Holocaust.    The music – composed of Polish tangos that were performed in the 1930s – tells stories of survival, resilience, and terrible loss.
Silent Tears – The Last Yiddish Tango began when Dr. Paula David launched a poetry project to help Holocaust survivors deal with long term trauma from horrific crimes.
Silent Tears also includes a number of works based on Holocaust survivor Molly Applebaum’s diary and memoir, Buried Words. She’s now 94 and lives in Toronto. As a child, she was buried underground in a box on a farm in Dabrowa, Poland, with just a small hole to breathe.
Silent Tears won the Weltmusikpreis in Germany, reached #1 onWorld Music Charts Europe, was album of the year at the Folk Music Ontario Awards, and won “Producers of the Year” at the 2024 Canadian Folk Music Awards. 
The program is performed in Yiddish with English supertitles.
There will be a post-performance discussion led by Dr. Robert Watson.
Tickets (on sale now): $36 Adults/$10 Students
For tickets:  https://www.theartofhumanity.org
Performance times:
11:30 am & 7 pm
All performances will take place at
The Duncan Theatre
4200 South Congress Avenue
Lake Worth, FL  33461

BOCA STAGE


A Human Being Died That Night
By Nicholas Wright
Based on the book by Pumla Godob-Madikizela
Directed by Keith Garsson
December 4 – 20, 2026
Eugene de Kock was a paid White political assassin nick-named “Prime Evil” for his crimes against anti-apartheid activists.  While he was serving his multiple life sentences at Pretoria’s C-Max prison, Black psychologist Pumla Gobodo-Madikizela went to interview him.  As she attempts to unravel De Kock’s psychology, their conversations – and the play – offer a rare, penetrating look at how one of the 20th century’s bloodiest regimes came to be and the agonizing path toward healing and compassion.
Tickets:  $45
For tickets:   https://www.myboca.us/2649/A-Human-Being-Died-that-Night
Phone:  561-347-3948
Performance days and times:
Friday and Saturday at 7 pm
Saturday and Sunday at 1 pm
All performances will take place at
The Willow Theatre in Sugar Sand Park
300 S. Military Trail
Boca Raton, FL  33486

HY JUTER PRESENTS



To Life – The Grand Finale:  Jewish Broadway to Hollywood
Written, Directed, and hosted by Shari Upbin
Musical Direction by Elliot Weiss
January 15 – 31, 2027
A delightful evening filled with music and song and a wonderful combination of amusing anecdotes and fascinating facts about some of America’s most well-known, lauded, and popular Jewish composers and entertainers who created and/or performed in iconic Broadway musicals, Hollywood movies, and popular and pop music – and added immeasurably to the American Songbook. Featuring the music of Rodgers and Hammerstein, Stephen Sondheim, Barbra Streisand, Jerome Kern, Simon and Garfunkel, and Marvin Hamlisch – just to name a few!
Featuring Kate Delaney, Shelley Keelor, Ben Sandomir, and Shane Tanner.
Tickets:  $46 ($42 Group Rate – 6 or more tickets purchased in a single transaction)
For tickets & Information: https://www.myboca.us/2647/To-Life-7-The-Grand-Finale
Phone:  567-347-3948
Performance days and times:
Friday and Saturday at 7 pm
Saturday and Sunday at 1 pm
All performances will take place at
The Willow Theatre in Sugar Sand Park
300 S. Military Trail
Boca Raton, FL  33486

MY SON THE WAITER: A Jewish Tragedy & STILL Not Famous


My Son the Waiter:  A Jewish Tragedy & STILL Not Famous is the continuation of the story of comedian/actor/raconteur Brad Zimmerman’s struggle to fulfill his dream and ‘make it’ as a comedic actor in New York.  One-part standup, one-part theatrical, and all parts uproarious, Zimmerman celebrates his 10th year on the road (with his original show, My Son the Waiter: A Jewish Tragedy) with this brand-new production – once again detailing his search for success in show business and “the parents who suffered through it”.
My Son the Waiter:  A Jewish Tragedy & STILL Not Famous
By Brad Zimmerman
January 21, 2027
Showtimes:2 pm & 7 pm
Tickets:  $45-$65
Phone:  1-561-586-6410
Online: https://www.mysonthewaiter.com   
The Lake Worth Playhouse
713 Lake Avenue
Lake Worth, FL  33460

Boca Stage to Present A HUMAN BEING DIED THAT NIGHT – December 4 – 20 at the Willow Theatre

08 Monday Jun 2026

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Boca Stage to present
A Human Being Died That Night
        At the Willow TheatreDecember 4 – 20

“What is forgiveness… A scorching look at apartheid guilt” – The Guardian

“…quietly gripping…reveals in searing, sometimes heart-rending detail the atrocities committed by the South African police forces during the terrible years of apartheid.”
– The New York Times

For Immediate Release
Contact:  Carol Kassie
carol@carolkassie.com / 561-445-9244

June 11, 2026

BOCA RATON, FL:  Boca Stage will return to its roots with A Human Being Died That Night, Nicolas Wright’s searing and award-winning adaptation of Pumla Gobodo-Madikizela’s powerful account of her interviews with South Africa’s state-sanctioned mass murderer Eugene De Kock. The play will run at the Willow Theatre in Boca Raton from December 4th through December 20th, 2026.

Eugene de Kock was a paid White political assassin nick-named “Prime Evil” for his crimes against anti-apartheid activists.  While he was serving his multiple life sentences at Pretoria’s C-Max prison, Black psychologist Pumla Gobodo-Madikizela went to interview him.  As she attempts to unravel De Kock’s psychology, their conversations – and the play – offer a rare, penetrating look at how one of the 20th century’s bloodiest regimes came to be and the agonizing path toward healing and compassion.

A Human Being Died That Night – to be directed by Boca Stage founder Keith Garsson – will feature Carbonell and Silver Palm award-winner Rita Cole as psychologist Gobodo-Madikizela and veteran New York actor and South Florida favorite Steve Carroll as de Kock.

“This production perfectly highlights Boca Stage’s signature style of intense, dark, and highly personal stage dramas,” Garsson says. “The play becomes its own mystery in terms of unraveling how a family man could justify such errant behavior. It is enthralling to see how there are no easy answers as the play becomes a cat-and-mouse chase burrowing into the dark recesses of our minds.”

Tickets for A Human Being Died that Night will be on sale as of this summer and will be available online at https://www.myboca.us/2508/Willow-Theatre  or by phone at 561-347-3948.

For more information about Boca Stage and A Human Being Died that Night, to speak with Keith Garsson, or to arrange to attend a performance please contact Carol Kassie at carol@carolkassie.com / 561-445-9244.

In the attached photos
Rita Cole
Steve Carroll
Keith Garsson
Photos courtesy of the actors
~
A Human Being Died That Night
By Nicholas Wright
Based on the book by Pumla Godob-MadikizelaDirected by Keith Garsson
December 4 – 20, 2026
Tickets:  $45
For tickets:   https://www.myboca.us/2508/Willow-Theatre
Phone:  561-347-3948
Performance days and times:
Friday and Saturday at 7 pm
Saturday and Sunday at 1 pm
All performances will take place at
The Willow Theatre in Sugar Sand Park
300 S. Military Trail
Boca Raton, FL  33486

(Click on each image to enlarge it, then right click on the enlarged image and ‘save image as’ or ‘copy image’)

Rita Cole
Keith Garsson

Entr’Acte Theatrix’ CATS Opens June 12 at the William G Skaff Center

26 Tuesday May 2026

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Entr’Acte Theatrix’
Cats
Will run at the William G Skaff Center
June 12 – 28

For Immediate Release
Contact:  Carol Kassie
carol@carolkassie.com / 561-445-9244

May 26, 2026

WEST PALM BEACH, FL: Entr’Acte Theatrix will present Andrew Lloyd Webber’s award-winning, record-breaking, family friendly feline musical Cats at the William G Skaff Center in West Palm Beach from June 12th through the 28th.

Based upon Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats, TS Eliot’s 1939 whimsical collection of poems that humorously describe the personalities and behaviors of various cats, the musical has won numerous awards, had one of the longest runs in Broadway history, and has been seen by millions around the world.  A newly imagined version of the show – Cats: The Jellicle Ball – is currently enjoying a hit run on Broadway. 

A completely sung and danced-through musical, Cats tells the story of a tribe of cats called The Jellicles, who have gathered to make ‘the Jellicle Choice’ – deciding which cat will be chosen to the ascend to the Heavyside Layer and come back to a new life.

“This show is a bit of a departure for us,” says Entr’Acte Theatrix’ founder and producer Vicki Halmos.  “It’s a challenge we’re excited to take on, and we have found an incredibly talented cast who are confident, creative, and enthusiastic.  They have embraced their feline personalities with great passion – it’s been a real treat to watch this show take shape.”

Cats’ Director/Choreographer is Amber Lebrun. Music Director is Aaliyah Hirt; Elizabeth Southwell will serve as the production’s Technical Director; the Production Stage Manager is Milo OConnor; and the Production Manager is Carlo Sabusap.

Lebrun’s talented cast of local actors includes Anneliese Wolfanger as Grizabella, Averi Cain as Jennyanydots / Ensemble, Keyla Zaltzburg as Victoria / Ensemble, Jacob Perry as Munkustrap, Shelby Tudor as Rumpleteazer / Ensemble, Brianna Taitt as Jellylorum / Ensemble, Samuel Zilberstein as Bustopher Jones / Ensemble,  Joshua Ewers as Old Deuteronomy, Benjamin Helbling as Mungojerrie / Ensemble, Joseph Farrar as Skimbleshanks, Maya Suchy as Macavity / Bombalurina, Tysen Odeh as Mistoffelees / Ensemble, Desir Dumerjuste as Rum Tum Tugger, Greg Halmos as Gus the Theatre Cat, Nik Rosa as Rumpus Cat, Polina Sharova as Cassandra, Amber Lebrun as Demeter, and Aaliyah Hirt as Jemima.

Cats will run from June 12 – 28 at William G Skaff Center in West Palm Beach (500 Spencer Drive, WPB, 33409).  Tickets range in price from $20 – $40 and are on sale now. They can be purchased online at https://linktr.ee/entractetheatrix  or by phone at 561-833-7529. (Please note: tickets purchased at the door will be $5 more).

For more information about Entr’Acte Theatrix and/or Cats, please contact Carol Kassie at carol@carolkassie.com / 561-445-9244.

~

Cats
Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber
Based on Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats by T.S. Elliot
June 12 – 28, 2026
Tickets:  $20/$30/$40
!0% off for groups of 10 or more
Student Rush tickets are also available at the door ($15 with valid ID)
For tickets:  https://linktr.ee/entractetheatrix
Performances: 
Friday, June 12th at 8 pm
Saturday, June 13th at 2 pm & 8 pm
Sunday, June 13th at 2 pm
Friday, June 19th at 8 pm
Saturday, June 20th at 2 pm & 8 pm
Sunday, June 21st at 2 pm
Friday, June 26th at 8 pm
Saturday, June 27th at 2 pm & 8 pm
Sunday, June 28th at 2 pm
All performances will take place at
The William G Skaff Center
500 Spencer Drive,
West Palm Beach, FL  33409

(Click on each image to enlarge it, then right click on the enlarged image and ‘save image as’ or ‘copy image’)

Cats Rehearsal photos (photo credit: Carlo Sabusap)

The Cast of Cats:

Aaliyah Hirt
Amber Lebrun
Anneliese Wolfanger
Averi Cain
Benjamin Helbling
Brianna Taitt
Desir Dumerjuste
Greg Halmos
Jacob Perry
Joseph Farrar
Joshua Ewers
Keyla Katzenberg
Maya Suchy
Nik Rosa
Polina Sharova
Sam Zilberstein
Shelby Tudor
Tysen Odeh

YI Love Jewish to Present GOD & THE HOLOCAUST Commemorating International Holocaust Remembrance Day

30 Monday Mar 2026

Posted by in Avi Hoffman, Clients, YI Love Jewish, Yiddishkayt Initiative

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YI Love Jewish to Present
God & The Holocaust
Commemorating International Holocaust Remembrance Day

A multi-media concert event honoring memory, courage, and resilience at the
Aventura Arts & Cultural Center on April 13th

For Immediate Release
Contact:  Carol Kassie
carol@carolkassie.com / 561-445-9244

March 31, 2026

AVENTURA, FL:  On April 13th, 2026 in commemoration of International Holocaust Day, YI Love Jewish founder and CEO Avi Hoffman along with Maestro Aaron Kula and his Klezmer Company Jazz Orchestra will present God & The Holocaust, a stunning multi-media musical concert at the Aventura Arts & Cultural Center.

This stirring performance will delve into the profound and complex bond between Jews and their God, as depicted through the haunting music and literature born of the Holocaust.  Drawing deeply from the words and melodies of legendary Jewish and Yiddish playwrights, poets, and authors, the concert will feature songs and stories that echo with heartbreak, resilience, and hope.

YI Love Jewish and the Yiddishkayt Initiative, founded by Hoffman and his mother, Professor Miriam Hoffman is a not-for-profit organization that utilizes the performing arts, education, language, literature, and publishing to challenge antisemitism, and to celebrate and promote Jewish history, life, and culture and their far-reaching impact on the world.

Carbonell Award-winning actor Avi Hoffman has been awarded Congressional recognition, was invited to the Vatican to meet Pope Francis, and was inducted into the Bronx Jewish Hall of Fame for his lifetime work advancing Jewish culture, Yiddishkayt, and Holocaust awareness through the organization he founded – Yiddishkayt Initiative, Inc. (YILoveJewish.org). As an actor, he was nominated for a NY Drama Desk Award for his Yiddish language portrayal of Willy Loman in Death of a Salesman. He is well known for his Too Jewish Trilogy: Award winning one man shows Too Jewish, Too Jewish, Too! (PBS, Performer of the Year ’95 – NY Press Magazine; L.A. OVATION award – Best Actor in a Musical 2001; NY Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle award nominations) and Still Jewish After All These Years. On TV, he was featured as Sid Raskin in the Starz TV series Magic City, as well as on Netflix’ Bloodline, A&E’s The Glades and on the NBC series Law and Order. Avi has performed all over the world, has numerous acting and directing credits and has received multiple awards and nominations.

Aaron Kula is a nationally recognized conductor, educator, composer, accordionist, and producer.  He is a Fulbright Music Specialist; in 2018 he was awarded a grant to lecture in Israel, with appearances at the U.S. Embassy, Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance, and music conservatories in the Negev and Western Galilee.  Maestro Kula’s interdisciplinary career in classical, jazz, and folk music led him to form the award-winning genre bending Klezmer Company Jazz Orchestra in 1997.  He is an innovator of concert programming, and has conducted concert performances of multiple Broadway musicals, including My Fair Lady, Funny Girl, Fiddler on the Roof, and South Pacific.  He is currently Artist in Residence at the Levis Jewish Community Center in Boca Raton, and Artist Liaison for Community Engagement for the Elevar Foundation.

God & The Holocaust will take place at 8 pm on Monday, April 13th at the Aventura Arts & Cultural Center. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased online at https://tinyurl.com/ms2xd5xw.  Tickets range in price from $23 – $89. 

For more information about God & The Holocaust, to speak with anyone involved in the event, or to attend the performance, please contact Carol Kassie at carol@carolkassie.com / 561-445-9244.

(Click on each image to enlarge it, then right click on the enlarged image and ‘save image as’ or ‘copy image’)

~

God & The Holocaust
Monday, April 13 at 8 pm
Tickets:  $23-$89
Direct ticketing link:  https://www.ticketmaster.com/event/0D00636A9488640B?brand=aventuraacc&camefrom=cfc_aventura_web&webview=1
The performance will take place at the
Aventura Arts & Cultural Center
3385 NE 188th Street
Aventura, FL  33180

Avi Hoffman
Aaron Kula
Aaron Kula
Avi Hoffman

RISING STARS Ignites Boca Raton: National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene Debuts the Next Generation of Talent!

11 Wednesday Mar 2026

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Rising Stars Ignites Boca Raton:
National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene Debuts
The Next Generation of Talent
at B’nai Torah Congregation!

Yiddish theater’s rising stars shine brighter than ever!

For Immediate Release
Contact:  Carol Kassie
carol@carolkassie.com / 561-445-9244

March 11, 2026

BOCA RATON, FL:  The legendary National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene (NYTF) will join forces with B’nai Torah Congregation to unveil the Boca Raton premiere of Rising Stars – a thrilling showcase celebrating the vibrant future of Yiddish culture featuring a group of breathtakingly talented young performers.

The performance, which will take place at B’nai Torah Congregation on Sunday, March 22nd at 2 pm, will feature internationally acclaimed conductor/composer/pianist Zalmen Mlotek, Artistic Director of NYTF, along with special guest star Cantor Magda Fishman, who will serve as the musical director and featured vocalist for the event, bringing her powerful, soulful voice to the B’nai Torah stage.

However, at the heart of the event are the true “rising stars” themselves: Yair Keydar, Margot Weintraub, Riki Rose, and Mia Twill, a remarkable group of young performers proudly rooted in their Jewish heritage and already headed toward Broadway, concert halls, and other major stages. Their energy, talent, and emotional connection to their material promises an afternoon of joy, nostalgia, and inspiration for audiences of all ages.

Yair Keydar is a 12-year-old musical theater prodigy who gained national attention as a standout contestant in the Music Juniors category of Netflix’s reboot of “Star Search,” where his powerful voice and charismatic stage presence repeatedly impressed the celebrity judges and audiences. The son of cantor Magda Fishman, he has performed with his mother since early childhood in synagogues and at concerts, experiences that helped shape his Star Search success and emerging New York stage career.” 

Margot Weintraub is an up and coming actress appearing in Off-Broadway productions and television, known for her talent, stage presence, and growing work in theater and on screen; Riki Rose is a Yiddish singer and entertainer from the Satmar community in Williamsburg, known for her powerful voice and viral hit “Utem Arein Utem Arois” (“Breathe In, Breathe Out”’; and Mia Twill is a budding violinist with heart.

“Rising Stars is more than a performance – it’s a beacon for Yiddishkayt’s enduring legacy,” says Avi Hoffman, award-winning actor and founder of Yiddishkayt Initiative. “Partnering with B’nai Torah and NYTF, we’re empowering youth to carry the torch of our rich cultural heritage forward.”​

Rising Stars will take place on Sunday, March 22nd at 2 pm at B’nai Torah Congregation in Boca Raton.  The synagogue is located at 6261 SW 18th Street, Boca Raton, FL 33433.
Tickets to the event range in price from $36 to $54 and are available online at https://www.btcboca.org/rising-stars.

For more information about Rising Stars, to speak with anyone involved in the event, or to attend the performance, please contact Carol Kassie at carol@carolkassie.com / 561-445-9244.

About National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene

NYTF, America’s longest-running Yiddish theater company, champions Jewish culture through innovative performances, concerts, and educational programs that reach audiences around the globe.

About B’nai Torah Congregation

B’nai Torah is a vibrant hub for Jewish life in Boca Raton, fostering spirituality, learning, music, and community through dynamic services, events, and renowned concert series.

~

Rising Stars – Presenting the Next Generation of Yiddish Voices
Presented by  National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene & B’nai Torah Congregation
Sunday, March 22nd at 2 pm
Tickets:  $54 (Premium Seating) / $36 (General Admission) / $40 (Virtual)
For tickets:  https://www.btcboca.org/rising-stars
Or Call:  561-392-8566
The performance will take place at
B’nai Torah Congregation
6261 SW 18th Street
Boca Raton, FL  33433



Boca Stage to present DAMAGED FURNITURE at the Willow Theatre March 6 – 15

24 Tuesday Feb 2026

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Damaged Furniture
Howard Skora’s Dark Comedy
Opens at the Willow Theatre March 6th

“… you can understand your family, still think they’re insane, and yet forgive them…. Skora’s dialogue is full of zingers and deliciously rendered snark.”
Paul Birchall – Stage Raw

For Immediate Release
Contact:  Carol Kassie
carol@carolkassie.com / 561-445-9244

February 24, 2026

BOCA RATON, FL: Boca Stage returns to the Willow Theatre with Damaged Furniture, Howard Skora’s outrageously funny dark comedy about a totally dysfunctional Brooklyn family. The production will open on March 6th and run through March 15th. The play received multiple awards and nominations when it debuted in Los Angeles in 2018.

When Doug Elling receives word that his beloved uncle has died in an unexpected – and bizarre – accident, he rushes from Los Angeles to Brooklyn and finds himself at the center of his family’s efforts to salvage their furniture business.  An alcoholic father, his ‘happy-face’ mother, his recently widowed aunt and his therapist sister all add to the chaos surrounding Doug as he tries to balance the demands upon his future.

“We are now back at the glorious Willow Theater in Sugar Sand Park where we started over twenty years ago as The Boca Raton Theater Guild,” says the show’s producer/director Keith Garsson. “Although we have had several successful seasons elsewhere, we are happy to be returning to our original venue – and to our original mission – which was to produce shows on an a la carte basis rather than committing to a full season. This enables us to curate new work more finely.

“Howie Skora is a talented young playwright who has said the play is semi-autobiographical,” Garsson continues. “And we wanted a straight (and twisted) comedy that was fresh, “now” and relevant,” he continues. “Well… it is set in Bensonhurst!  But, either way, Damaged Furniture is a comedy for today, a character-based piece that reflects how fast we are these days to say exactly what we are thinking…the moment we think it!”  

Garsson has cast Bruno Faria as Doug, with Valerie diLorenzo as Laurie, Sharon Pfieffer as Gina, Liz DeBeer as Irene, Shane Tanner as Phil, and Susan Lloyd as Jo.

The Stage Managers for the production are Nicole Roach, Guiliana Barioli, and Hannah Hayley. Lighting Design is by Nicole Roach and Laura Fulton. Sound is by David Hart, Costumes are by Tim Charles Bowman, and the set will be designed and constructed by the MNM Scenic Shop.

Tickets for Damaged Furniture are on sale now and can be purchased online at https://www.myboca.us/2649/Damaged-Furniture or by phone at 561-347-3948.

For more information about Boca Stage and Damaged Furniture, to speak with Keith Garsson, orto arrange to attend a performance, please contact Carol Kassie at carol@carolkassie.com / 561-445-9244.

~

Damaged Furniture
by Howard Skora
March 6-15, 2026
Tickets:  $40/$35 Groups (six or more tickets purchased in a single transaction)
For tickets:   https://www.myboca.us/2649/Damaged-Furniture
Phone:  561-347-3948
Performance days and times:
Friday and Saturday at 7 pm
Saturday and Sunday at 1 pm
All performances will take place at
The Willow Theatre in Sugar Sand Park
300 S. Military Trail
Boca Raton, FL  33486

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Production photos by Amy Pasquantonio.

Bruno Faria
Shane Tanner
Valerie DiLorenzo
Susan Lloyd
Liz DeBeer
Sharon Pfeiffer

AVI HOFFMAN Returns to the Aventura Arts & Cultural Center in March in Celebration of the Venue’s 15th Anniversary!

18 Wednesday Feb 2026

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Hoffman was the inaugural performer at the Center’s opening in 2010

For Immediate Release
Contact:  Carol Kassie
carol@carolkassie.com / 561-445-9244

February 18, 2026

AVENTURA, FL:   Award-winning actor, singer, author, raconteur, and South Florida favorite Avi Hoffman will return to the Aventura Arts & Cultural Center to celebrate its 15th birthday, with two of his most popular productions: he will perform his one person shows Avi Hoffman’s Too Jewish? (the very first show to be performed on the Cultural Center’s stage in October 2010) on Wednesday, March 4th at 8 pm and Still Jewish After All These Years: A Life in the Theatre, a celebration of his life in show business at 8 pm on Thursday, March 5th.  Hoffman will be accompanied by Phil Hinton at both performances.

Avi Hoffman’s Too Jewish? premiered Off-Broadway at New York’s Houseman Theatre in 1994 and has been presented thousands of times all over the world, as well as on the national PBS network.  Hoffman, a child of Holocaust survivors, was taught at an early age to appreciate the beauty and depth of Jewish literature, music, and tradition.  In Avi Hoffman’s Too Jewish? he combines a delightful mix of music, comedy, impersonations, and personal reminiscences to take his audiences on a journey through his own Jewish roots, and to illustrate the traditions and history of his beloved Yiddish culture.

In Still Jewish After All These Years, Hoffman will invite audiences on a casual and intimate tour of his multifaceted career and his extraordinary life in show business. Filled with songs and stories, reminiscences of performances, encounters with greats… and not so greats, Hoffman’s Still Jewish… will, entertain, move, and resonate with everyone. 

Carbonell Award-winning actorAvi Hoffman has been awarded Congressional recognition, was invited to the Vatican to meet Pope Francis, and was inducted into the Bronx Jewish Hall of Fame for his lifetime work advancing Jewish culture, Yiddishkayt, and Holocaust awareness through the organization he founded – Yiddishkayt Initiative, Inc. (YILoveJewish.org). As an actor, he was nominated for a NY Drama Desk Award for his Yiddish language portrayal of Willy Loman in Death of a Salesman. He is well known for his Too Jewish Trilogy: Award winning one man shows Too Jewish, Too Jewish, Too! (PBS, Performer of the Year ’95 – NY Press Magazine; L.A. OVATION award – Best Actor in a Musical 2001; NY Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle award nominations) and Still Jewish After All These Years. On TV, he was featured as Sid Raskin in the Starz TV series Magic City, as well as on Netflix’ Bloodline, A&E’s The Glades and on the NBC series Law and Order. Avi has performed all over the world, has numerous acting and directing credits and has received multiple awards and nominations.

Avi Hoffman’s Too Jewish? and Still Jewish After All These Years will be performed on March 4th (Too Jewish?) and March 5th (Still Jewish…) at the Aventura Arts & Cultural Center. The theatre is located at 3385 NE 188th Street, in Aventura, Florida (33180). Both performances will take place at 8 pm.

Tickets for both performances range in price from are $53-$59. Tickets may be purchased online at https://www.aventuracenter.org.

For more information about Avi Hoffman or either performance, please contact Carol Kassie (carol@carolkassie.com / 561-445-9244).

In the attached photo:  Avi Hoffman
Photo credit:  Bachi Frost

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Avi Hoffman’s Too Jewish?
March 4th at 8 pm
Created and performed by Avi Hoffman
Tickets:  $53-$59
Direct ticketing link:  https://www.aventuracenter.org/events/detail/avi-hoffman-too-jewish-2026 
The performance will take place at the
Aventura Arts & Cultural Center
3385 NE 188th Street
Aventura, FL  33180

Avi Hoffman’s Still Jewish After All These Years
March 5th at 8 pm
Created and performed by Avi Hoffman
Direct ticketing link:  https://www.aventuracenter.org/events/detail/avi-hoffman-still-jewish-2026
The performance will take place at the
Aventura Arts & Cultural Center
3385 NE 188th Street
Aventura, FL  33180

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Avi Hoffman

Entr’Acte Theatrix to present THE WIZARD OF OZ February 26 – March 14

03 Tuesday Feb 2026

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Entr’Acte Theatrix to present
The Wizard of Oz
February 26 – March 14

“This is, to come out with it immediately, the most marvelous show.”
– Jeremy Kingston, The Times

For Immediate Release
Contact:  Carol Kassie
carol@carolkassie.com / 561-445-9244

February 3, 2026

WEST PALM BEACH, FL: Entr’Acte Theatrix invites audiences to join them on the yellow brick road ‘somewhere over the rainbow’ when they present The Wizard of Oz at the William G. Skaff Center in West Palm Beach from February 26th through March 14th. 

Based on the classic 1939 movie, this delightful theatrical version was tailored for the stage by John Kane for the Royal Shakespeare Company.  It is a faithful adaptation of the film, recreating the dialogue and structure of the MGM classic nearly scene for scene. The production will feature the movie’s iconic score by Harold Arlen and E.Y. (Yip) Harburg, and all the tale’s beloved characters – Dorothy Gale, The Scarecrow, The Cowardly Lion, and The Tin Man, The Wicked Witch of the West, Glinda the Good Witch, and many more. 

“The timeless messages of love and friendship and searching for home are just as relevant today as they were in 1939, and in 1900 when Frank L. Baum penned this classic tale,” says Entr’Acte Theatrix founder and producer Vicki Halmos. It’s a fitting piece for the times, and for Entr’Acte… a classic musical, extremely entertaining, and very apropos for these times.”

“The Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum brings out so many vivid memories and feelings for a lot of people,” says the production’s director, Carlo Sabusap. “It’s one of those timeless classics that could only be best described by experiencing it, whether you watch the original 1939 film or see it on stage. I find it exciting to be helming such a memorable story because it’s something I feel that we can all relate to, that feeling of finding home, whether it be a place or a group of people who make you feel loved and appreciated.

“We’re doing some fun new things with the material, via the use of hand-crafted puppets and costumes, but doing our best to stay true to the classical feel that everyone has come to be familiar with,” he continues. “The cast and crew are both talented and brilliant, and I’m sure it’s going to be a great time for all, even if for a moment, going somewhere over the rainbow.”

Director Sabusap’s cast includes Daley Fosgate as Dorothy, Cherry Rivera as Almira Gulch/The Wicked Witch of the West, Carley Graefe as Aunt Em/Glinda the Good Witch, Ace Gilliam as Hunk/The Scarecrow, Greg Halmos as Hickory/The Tin Man, John Douglas as Zeke/The Cowardly Lion, Ennalls Berl as Professor Marvel/The Wizard of Oz, and Aaron Bravo as Uncle Henry/The Guard/and Others.  The show’s ensemble cast includes Sarah Glass, Luis Acosta, Ophelia Koré, Carlo Sabusap, Nik Rosa, Mimi Anne Levenson, and Milo O’Connor.

The show’s Music Director is Aaliyah Amoin, and the Choreographer is Amber Lebrun.  Elizabeth Southwell will serve as the production’s Lighting and Technical Director, and the Production Stage Manager is Jacob Quartell.  Puppets by TCA – Carlo Sabusap, Milo O’Connor, and Sarah Elizabeth Kenny. Jason Fisher will handle Front of House duties.

The Wizard of Oz will run from February 26 – March 14 at William G Skaff Center in West Palm Beach (500 Spencer Drive, WPB, 33409).  Tickets range in price from $20 – $40 and are on sale now. They can be purchased online at https://linktr.ee/entractetheatrix  or by phone at 561-833-7529.

For more information about Entr’Acte Theatrix and/or The Wizard of Oz, please contact Carol Kassie at carol@carolkassie.com / 561-445-9244.

~

The Wizard of Oz (RSC Version)
By L. Frank Baum
With Music and Lyrics by Harold Arlen and E.Y. Harburg
Background Music by Herbert Stothart
Adapted by John Kane for the Royal Shakespeare Company
Based upon the Classic Motion Picture owned by Turner Entertainment and distributed in all media by Warner Bros.
February 27th – March 15th, 2026
Tickets:  $20/$30/$40
For tickets:  https://linktr.ee/entractetheatrix
Performances: 
Thu, Feb 26th – 8 pm
Fri, Feb 27th – 8 pm
Sat, Feb 28th – 2 pm & 8 pm
Sun, March 1st – 2 pm
Fri, March 6th – 8 pm
Sat, March 7th – 2 pm & 8 pm
Sun, March 8th – 2 pm
Fri, March 13th – 8 pm
Sat, March 14th – 2 pm & 8 pm
All performances to take place at
William G. Skaff Center
500 Spencer Dr.
West Palm Beach, FL 33409

(Click on each image to enlarge it, then right click on the enlarged image and ‘save image as’ or ‘copy image’)

Daley Fosgate as Dorothy
John Douglas as The Cowardly Lion
Ace Gilliam as The Scarecrow
Greg Halmos as The Tin Man
Cherry Rivera as The Wicked Witch of the West
Ennals Berl as The Wizard
The Cast of ‘The Wizard of Oz’
Daley Fosgate
Cherry Rivera
John Douglas
Ace Gilliam
Greg Halmos
Ennalls Berl
Aaron Bravo
Carly Graefe
Ophelia Koré
Luis Acosta
Milo O’Connor
Mimi Anne Levenson
Nik Rosa
Sara Glass
Carlo Sabusap

YILoveJewish.Org to present GATE B23: CARRY-ON BAGGAGE January 24 & 25

08 Thursday Jan 2026

Posted by in Avi Hoffman, Clients, YI Love Jewish, Yiddishkayt Initiative

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YILoveJewish.Org to present
Gate B23:  Carry-On Baggage
January 24th & 25th

A poignant and hilarious journey of stranded travelers comes to
Boca Raton and Delray Beach

For Immediate Release
Contact:  Carol Kassie
carol@carolkassie.com / 561-445-9244

January 8, 2026

BOCA RATON & DELRAY BEACH, FL: YILoveJewish.org will present readings of award-winning playwright Debbie Slevin’s critically acclaimed play Gate B23: Carry-On Baggage. The readings will take place at Sol Theatre in Boca Raton on January 24th at 7:30 pm and at Movies of Delray on January 25th at 1 pm.

This ‘dramedy’, directed by Avi Hoffman, is a witty and compelling exploration of human connection amid uproarious chaos. It follows a diverse cast of travelers, each wrestling with personal challenges, as they are stranded at Gate B23 at Palm Beach International Airport whilst enduring an increasingly prolonged flight delay.  The play promises to deliver a unique theatrical experience that blends humor, tension, and profound human insights.

The reading of Gate B23: Carry-On Baggage will feature some of South Florida’s most prominent actors, including Barbara Bradshaw, Brandon Campbell, Abbie Fricke, Sara Grant, Barbara Sloan, Seth Trucks, and Dave Corey who will take on the role of the progressively disturbed Gate Attendant.

Debbie Slevin, an award-winning essayist and author is a writer, producer/director, and teacher. She conceived and co-produced The Apron Strings Project in Riverhead, NY, produced and directed The Last Five Years at Guild Hall in East Hampton, and the first NYC revival of Songs for a New World. Her play Gate B23: Carry-On Baggage was a best-selling selection of NYC International Fringe Festival and Manhattan Repertory Theater’s Winterfest. Now a well-read blogger for Huffpo50, Debbie’s writing has also appeared in Essence Magazine, Woman’s World, and Reform Judaism. She was also a staff writer for the Jewish Standard.

Tickets are available at both venues the day of the performance on a first come/first served basis.  Tickets are free, but donations, accepted at the door of each venue, are suggested.

For more information about Gate B23: Carry-On Baggage, to speak with anyone involved in the reading, or to arrange to see the performance, please contact Carol Kassie at carol@carolkassie.com / 561-445-9244.

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Gate B23: Carry-On Baggage
By Debbie Slevin
Directed by Avi Hoffman
January 24th at 7:30 pm
Sol Theatre
3333 N. Federal Highway
Boca Raton, FL  33433
January 25th at 1:00 pm
Movies of Delray
7421 West Atlantic Avenue
Delray Beach, FL  33446