A dramatic reading and discussion presented by the Yiddish Theatre Ensemble.

2:00pm | Seminar Room

Jewish Arts and Bookfest
Sunday, May 4, 2025

at UC Berkeley’s Magnes Collection of Jewish Art and Life, 2121 Allston Way, Berkeley,  CA

Argentina has a large Jewish population and has played a major role in El Boom, the renaissance of literature that has taken place in recent decades in Latin America. Several outstanding writers of that flowering have been women authors in Argentina: Liliana Heker, Ana María Shua,, and Irene Gruss.

Yiddish Theatre Ensemble presents a dramatic reading and discussion of these great writers, featuring Zack Rogow, Laura Sheppard, and Anne Hallinan. The reading features a very Jewish blend of styles: politically engaged, lyrical, and flat-out hilarious.

About the Yiddish Theatre Ensemble

Yiddish Theatre Ensemble (YTE) is dedicated to producing the rich, rarely performed repertory of Yiddish dramas, musicals, operettas, and comedies from the past 150 years in English translation. YTE also develops and produces new and original works by living artists, and presents staged readings, lectures, and workshops to engage the community. YTE strives to bring a contemporary approach and relevance to all productions while staying true to the essence of the original scripts.

About the Writers

Liliana Heker is one of the leading fiction writers in Latin America, celebrated for her moving and dazzling short stories. Her family arrived in Argentina on the legendary ship the Weser, which transported the first Jewish emigrants from Eastern Europe to that country. 

Ana María Shua (1951– ) is an internationally renowned author living in Buenos Aires. Best known for her collections of flash fiction that include Quick Fix and Microfictions, she has also written novels, short stories, books of humor, folklore, and film scripts. Her publications total more than 50 full-length works.

Irene Gruss (1950–2018) was one of the most widely recognized contemporary poets in the Spanish language until her death in 2019. Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, her volume of collected poetry is titled La mitad de la verdad [One Half of the Truth]. She edited and compiled the anthology Poetas argentinas (1940–1960) [Women Poets of Argentina, 1940–1960].

About the Cast

Zack Rogow serves as the dramaturg of the Yiddish Theatre Ensemble and is the author, editor, or translator of twenty books or plays. Zack’s play, Colette Uncensored, had its first reading at the Kennedy Center and ran in London, Indonesia, Catalonia, and San Francisco. www.zackrogow.com

Laura Sheppard is Co-Artistic Director of Yiddish Theatre Ensemble, an event producer, and professionally trained actor. For over 35 years she has produced large-scale festivals, including the Earth Day New York Celebration in Times Square and Bryant Park, and the Jewish Music Festival and Jewish Food Festival at JCC of the East Bay. Since 2000, she has worked as the Director of Events at the Mechanics’ Institute Library.

Anne Hallinan is a long ago member of the San Francisco Mime Troupe who returned to acting 25 years ago. She can be seen in Deal of a Lifetime, starring David Cross, on Omeleto.

About the Director

Bruce Bierman is co-artistic director of the Yiddish Theatre Ensemble and has directed all their productions. He has also directed shows at Odyssey Theatre Ensemble and Celebration Theater in LA; and at the Contemporary Jewish Museum, the New Conservatory Theater, and Phoenix Theatre in San Francisco. Bruce is a leading presenter of Yiddish dance and his work has been featured at several prominent klezmer festivals, including KlezCalifornia and KlezmerQuerque.