About The Festival

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Welcome From The Artistic Director

While we are rising up and reaching for the future, I would like to look back at the past and thank everyone who has played their part in supporting Chutzpah's journey. In particular I would like to acknowledge the late Annette Rothstein whose vision and love for her husband Norman, and respect for his leadership in both the Jewish and cultural arts communities, led to her endowment of the Norman Rothstein Theatre. This gift to the Jewish Community Centre of Greater Vancouver has and continues to engage and invite people from all backgrounds into the world of performing arts. Our 10th anniversary is also a time to reflect on the memory of Lisa Nemetz, who our festival is named in honour of. Both Annette and Lisa were inspirational in their multi-faceted commitment to arts and culture.

It is an honour working with such talented music, dance and theatre artists from around the world and our own back yard, both on Chutzpah! 2010 and in all my previous years with the festival. I am continually moved by the inspiration, dedication, talent and years of hard work that all the artists bring with them. Like a balloon, every year the energy that the actors, musicians and dancers give, lifts us up that little bit further, and in our landmark 10th year of the Festival, I believe Chutzpah! audiences are going to soar.

Chutzpah! continues to spread its wings by partnering with arts organizations and venues to extend the reach of the Festival and offer Vancouver audiences a dynamic, eclectic range of shows. 2010 artistic partners include The Dance Centre, the Cultch, Caravan World Rhythms, Vancouver 2010 Cultural Olympiad, Congregation Beth Israel, and the Chan Centre for the Performing Arts, where our opening night with The Idan Raichel Project will be held. Chutzpah! in partnership with Felix Culpa, will be presenting the world premiere of internationally renowned Vancouver playwright Tom Cone's play Donald & Lenore. To set the mood for this production, and for the duration of the festival, the Wosk Auditorium will be transformed into a Tahiti Lounge Cabaret, complete with a Tiki inspired décor. Chutzpah! is also venturing into Vancouver's latest live music room and dance club on Granville Street, The Venue for two events; the return of the internationally popular Balkan Beat Box and our closing night 10th Anniversary Party headlined by Les Yeux Noirs.

It is the support from these many avenues that should remind us how important art and culture is to our community. The Arts strengthens our society in so many ways and it should not be something forsaken lightly. Across Canada the arts and entertainment sector employs thousands and thousands of people whose creativity we must not take for granted or take advantage of. Nations are judged by their culture, and even imagining a Canada without music, singing, film, theatre, dance and visual arts would be very grey indeed. Engaging in and exploring community through artistic expression as performers, audience or even as a casual observer is incomparable. The resulting vision and inspiration spilling into our everyday lives is contagious and allows us to understand who we are.

To help ensure a bright future for the arts here in BC, Chutzpah! and the Norman Rothstein Theatre are proud to have a Creative Residency Program. This year our guests are MOVE: the company with Andrea Gunnlaugson spearheading the project that brings past works of some of British Columbia's most respected and loved choreographers that have not been seen in many years, brought back to life by remounting them and showcasing the "next generation" of talented dancers. Nurturing young artists is critical in the growth of a healthy arts-base for the future, and who in turn nurture the community around them.

Finally, a special thank - you to you, our audience. I am tremendously proud to see how the Festival has grown and matured over the past ten years, and look forward to sharing this special year with you.



Mary-Louise Albert (MLA)...don't forget to write yours to stop further cuts to the arts and culture sector!
Chutzpah! Artistic and Managing Director

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Chutzpah! & Norman Rothstein Theatre Artistic and Managing Director

Mary-Louise Albert is now in her sixth year as the Artistic and Managing Director of the Norman Rothstein Theatre and the acclaimed international performing arts festival Chutzpah!. She is a highly respected former professional dancer and teacher. She has over 20 years experience working locally, nationally and internationally as a solo dance artist and as a company member with the Judith Marcuse Dance Company, Anna Wyman Dance Theatre, Karen Jamieson Dance Company as well as working with Les Grands Ballet Canadiens. She has performed work by choreographers Mark Morris, Lar Lubabvitch, Robert North, Serge Bennathan, Allen Kaeja, Crystal Pite, Judith Marcuse, Peter Bingham, Joe Laughlin, Grant Strate, Tedd Robbinson, Judith Garay and Christopher House, to name a few. Her teaching background includes ten years at Arts Umbrella, Simon Fraser University's School for the Contemporary Arts, Harbour Dance Centre, Goh Ballet as well as adjudicating for dance festivals throughout Western Canada. She is the recipient of numerous Canada Council and BC Arts Council production and professional development grants and won the Eric Bruhn Memorial Award from the Dancer's Transition Resource Centre to attend the British Columbia Institute of Technology's (BCIT) School of Business. Mary-Louise is a graduate of Capilano University's Advanced Arts and Entertainment Management Program, and graduated from the BCIT School of Business with a Post Diploma of Technology in Business Administration where upon graduation she received the BCIT School of Business Dean's Award. She was recently awarded personal professional development grants from the Canada Council and BC Arts Council to attend international dance festivals in Poland and England in the summer and fall of 2009.

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Remembering
Lisa Nemetz

March 31, 1955 -
May 17, 1997
Lisa Nemetz was a dancer, a lawyer, a lover of the arts and a tireless advocate for the treatment of women with breast cancer. She was also active in promoting the arts as a member of the Community Arts Council. Lisa was a devoted wife to her husband David Levi, mother to children Yoni and Miri and shared her love with her sister Laurie, extended family and many close friends. Chutzpah! The Lisa Nemetz International Showcase of Jewish Performing Arts is named in her memory to celebrate her love and dedication to the performing arts.

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How exciting it is to find us celebrating our 10th anniversary. Having been with the festival from the very beginning I can say for all of us at Chutzpah! how appreciative we are for all the generous support we have received over the years from our donors, sponsors and volunteers. We are proud to continue to bring Chutzpah! 2010 to our Vancouver audiences. My dear friend Annette Rothstein (z'l), recently deceased, was also my mentor and will be sorely missed. Her memory is a blessing as is the memory of David Freeman Q.C. (z'l), a long time Chutzpah! supporter.

Harriett Wolfe
2010 Chutzpah! Committee Chair and
Fundraising Chair

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On behalf of the Board of Directors of the Vancouver West Side Theatre Society (NRT) and the Jewish Community Centre of Greater Vancouver it is a pleasure to invite you to celebrate Chutzpah!'s 10th Anniversary. We have a vibrant line up of local, national and international artists, new and on-going partnering arts organizations and the Vancouver 2010 Cultural Olympiad all coming together to celebrate music, theatre and dance. The exciting ongoing growth of Chutzpah! and the Norman Rothstein Theatre here at the "J" is a tribute to the tireless dedication and professionalism of Mary-Louise and her multi-talented staff. Thank you also to our gracious volunteers and to all those who love and support the performing arts!

Esther Chetner, President, VWSTS
Alvin Wasserman, President, JCCGV

2010 Chutzpah! Committee

Harriett Wolfe - Chair and Fundraising Chair
Dr. Marty Braverman
Sandy Chernoff
Claudia Bolotin Givon
Kathie Folk
Sima Godfrey
Anne Lerner
Joe Markovitch

Vancouver West
Side Theatre Society Board of Directors

Esther Chetner,
President
Lloyd Baron
Anita Winestock
Sol Casseres
Alex Christall
Gabor Elias
Barry Glotman
Melanie Samuels
Brett Sandler
Zev Shafran
Nancy Stern
Alvin Wasserman
Executive Director
JCCGV, Rick Nelson

Chutzpah Staff