"My First Sony," presented with a performance each in Hebrew and English

Hear the voices of love, turmoil and forgiveness of an Israeli family in the award-winning play, My First Sony, presented by Jewish Community Center (JCC) Chicago and the Consulate General of Israel to the Midwest. Audiences can experience this vivid story in two languages, a performance each in Hebrew and English, on Monday, July 1, at the Elaine and Zollie Frank Theater, Mayer Kaplan JCC, in Skokie. Both performances will feature conversation with the actor and an Israeli wine tasting after each show.

In My First Sony, Israeli actor and director Roy Horovitz portrays Yotam, an eleven-year old boy obsessed with documenting his life on his tape recorder. Through these recordings and Yotam’s narration, Horovitz paints a vibrant picture of Yotam’s parent’s tumultuous relationship and boyhood rites of passage. Yotam’s story, adapted from the novel by Israeli writer Benny Barabash, has captivated audiences in Israel, the US, Canada and Europe for over thirteen years. 

JCC Chicago promotes meaningful personal connections with Israel and Israelis as a vision for Israel education. Hosting My First Sony at the Elaine and Zollie Frank Theater is particularly exciting and relevant for the large Jewish and Israeli communities in Skokie and surrounding areas. “Since the actor is also able to do the show in Hebrew, it was a perfect opportunity to reach out to a community that is thirsty for arts and culture in Hebrew,” said JCC Chicago Jewish Educator Abby Ashkenazi. As part of a developing range of expanded programming and partnerships, My First Sony is the second external production to be staged at JCC this year with the goal of highlighting Jewish and Israeli arts and culture in our community. The Invasion of Skokie, about the 1977 attempted neo-Nazi march through Skokie, is running at Mayer Kaplan JCC through June 23.  

Experience My First Sony, Monday, July 1, in English at 6.30pm and in Hebrew at 8.30pm, at the Elaine and Zollie Frank Theater, Mayer Kaplan JCC, 5050 Church St., Skokie. Tickets are $12 in advance and $15 at the door. Purchase tickets at http://www.gojcc.org/content/view/1957. For more information about the performance, please contact Abby at 847.763.3627.

The Consulate General of Israel to the Midwest is an official office of the Government of Israel, responsible for coordinating relationships with national and local organizations in the Midwest Region. The Consulate Office presents and supports a wide range of artists whose work weaves a vibrant tapestry celebrating Israeli culture and style, with the mission to bring such work to cultural institutions throughout the Midwest.

JCC Chicago is a nonprofit organization dedicated to ensuring a strong and vibrant Jewish life and community for generations to come. Bringing Jewish values to life for more than 24,000 participants, more than 1.4 million times each year, JCC Chicago touches, engages and connects all segments of the Jewish community at all ages and at all stages of life.