AVI HOFFMAN (Johnny) is very proud to be making his Gablestage debut opposite his wife Laura in this challenging piece. As a stage actor he has performed in several Off-Broadway productions, including his highly acclaimed hit one-man shows Too Jewish? and Too Jewish Two!, for which he was named Performer of the Year '95 by NY Press Magazine and received the prestigious Los Angeles Ovation Award as Best Actor In a Musical 2001. He was also nominated for the NY Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle awards. Avi directed and performed in the Joseph Papp production of Songs Of Paradise at the NY Shakespeare Festival/Public Theater, which was featured at major festivals in Munich and Amsterdam. He was seen in the revival of Jerry Herman's Milk And Honey, the title role in The Rise Of David Levinsky (opposite Lawrence Luckinbill and Larry Kert), A Rendezvous With God (his other one-man show), The Golden Land and Finkel's Follies with the Emmy award winning veteran actor Fyvush Finkel (Picket Fences), where he met his wife Laura. Avi's Too Jewish? is currently being broadcast nationally on PBS, and he was seen in the PBS documentary, They Came For Good: A History Of The Jews In The U.S. He was featured as Teddy Wayne in the NBC series Law And Order. Avi starred in The Imported Bridegroom, which received critical acclaim nationwide and was featured at the Montreal and Boston Film Festivals. Regionally, he directed and starred in the English revival of Songs Of Paradise at the Caldwell Theatre in Boca Raton, and was seen as Tevye in Fiddler On The Roof at the Hollywood Playhouse (for which he received the Curtain Up award and was nominated for the Best Actor in a Musical Carbonell Award). He was featured at the Penguin Repertory Co. in Stony Point, NY, performing in The Immigrant, Only The Sky Was Blue and Epic Proportions. In Florida, he has been seen in Mishegas with Freddie Roman, Jack Carter and Tovah Feldshuh), Meshuggah-Nuns, Perfect Harmony - The Barry Sisters Story, Shakespeare's The Tempest, Awake And Sing, Fortune And Men's Eyes, Sly Fox and Dear World. In the music and recording industry, Avi was the lead singer of the 10 piece Don Byron Klezmer Orchestra (Elektra/Nonesuch). Playing the music of Mickey Katz, they have performed on Late Night with Conan O'Brien (NBC), at Avery Fisher Hall, Summerstage in Central Park, the Montreal, Quebec and JVC Jazz Festivals as well as two major European tours. Avi is very proud to be the founder and Executive Director of the not-for-profit National Center for Jewish Cultural Arts, Inc. Much thanks to Joe Adler for seeing beyond the facade, Peter Librach for all of his hard work and dedication and all my love to my wife Laura and our beautiful daughters, Arielle and Liana. www.2jewish.org
LAURA TURNBULL (Frankie) is thrilled to be making her Gablestage debut, not only under Joe Adler's direction, but also to be on stage again with her husband. Laura and Avi met twelve years ago when they worked together Off-Broadway in Finkel's Follies, starring Fyvush Finkel. They have only appeared together once since then when Laura played Golde (for only one week) opposite Avi's Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof at the Hollywood Playhouse. Avi also directed Laura in Lucid Moments at the Studio Theater in Ft. Lauderdale. Most recently Laura has been seen understudying a couple of the roles in Menopause The Musical at the 26th St. Theater. Immediately prior to that she appeared as Mrs. Johnstone in Blood Brothers, and earlier this season as Lenny in Crimes Of The Heart, both at the Shores Performing Arts Theater. She has had the good fortune of working on Broadway with Sid Caeser in Sid Caesar and Company, and the distinct honor and pleasure of touring nationally with Imogene Coca in Makin' Whoopee. In addition to commercials and voiceovers, some of her many credits include Marion Ames in Swingtime Canteen, Doris in Same Time, Next Year, Rita in Educating Rita, and Sister Amnesia in Nunsense. However the most demanding - and by far the most rewarding role has been that of Mommy to her incredible daughters, Arielle & Liana.
|
