Page 5 - Jewish News | November 2021

FEDERATION NEWS November 2021 5A

Sharon Geller...continued from previous page
recently shot a national TV commercial four more times to appear on SNL, and Jewish comediennes. It dates all the
for Colonial Penn Life Insurance, the each one was just as thrilling. way back to those rabbis in ancient
day before the Covid lockdown. Talk “On another occasion, right before times who would tell jokes before they
about timing! What a blessing that was. 9/11, Cuba Gooding Jr. was in New would lecture their rabbinical students
Established 1971 I also teach comedy and improv at the York to promote a new movie, and one on serious Torah-related topics. They
PUBLISHER Walnut Street Theatre, which I think is of the segments in the movie involved would open with a joke. Even back
The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee the country’s oldest theatre school.” a busload of Lucy impersonators. So then, the rabbis understood that humor
The Larry & Mary Greenspon Sharon also teaches improv classes the folks at the Today show decided to would uplift their students and open
Family Campus for Jewish Life to neuroscientists at the University of do this great segment with Al Roker their hearts and minds to learning,”
Klingenstein Jewish Center Pennsylvania. “I teach them improv, and five Lucy impersonators sprinkled said Sharon.
580 McIntosh Road
Sarasota, FL 34232-1959 which basically means good com- throughout the audience. I was one of “Ten years ago, an orthodox syn-
Phone: 941.371.4546 munication skills. All of those skills those impersonators. And we all sang agogue asked me to address its mem-
Fax: 941.378.2947 that made Tina Fey and Amy Poehler Lucy’s famous theme song.” bership dinner. It was my sister who
E-mail: jewishnews@jfedsrq.org famous are really just great commu- For the last 10-12 years, Sharon suggested I focus on Jewish humor,
Website: www.jfedsrq.org nication skills that teach you how to has been in the national touring com- and that led to the creation of this
Published Monthly think on your feet and think outside pany of the off-Broadway hit, Old Jews show. It’s a combination of stories
Volume 51, Number 10 of the box. Improv also develops your Telling Jokes, a tribute or homage to from the Talmud and the Torah, along
November 2021 self-confidence.” our Jewish comedic traditions, dating with a tribute to Molly Goldberg, the
56 pages Sharon was hired as artistic direc- back to the Borscht Belt. It’s like a first woman to win an Emmy Award (in
USPS Permit No. 167 tor at Temple University’s Full Circle vaudeville show, in a way, with funny 1951) for her sitcom, The Goldbergs. I
December 2021 Issue Deadlines: Intergenerational Theatre, a group of songs and funny jokes. intersperse that with stories and jokes,
Editorial: October 29, 2021 50 actors ranging in age from 18-93. “I “I love everything that I do. But and have added a tribute to Ruth Bader
Advertising: November 1, 2021 would train them in improv skills and nothing is more invigorating than tell- Ginsburg. It’s a lot of fun. Audiences
CHANGE OF ADDRESS: then we would go out in the communi- ing a funny joke or story and hearing really enjoy it,” Sharon said.
Inquiries can be sent to Bonnie Souther ty and do improv shows,” Sharon said. 500 people laugh and applaud at the Collaborating on this event with
at bsouther@jfedsrq.org
or call 941.371.4546 x0 “I love teaching. It’s very close to per- same time. I have missed that so much The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-
forming, and I always learn something since Covid began,” Sharon said. Manatee are Tampa JCCs and Fed-
PRESIDENT from my students,” she said. She looks forward to performing eration, the Jewish Federation of Lee
Randon Carvel Just over 10 years ago, Sharon “Knock. Knock Jews there? A Talmu- and Charlotte Counties, and The Roth
attended a workshop with the casting dic Take on Comedy” for the Jewish Family JCC of Greater Orlando.
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Shep Englander director of Saturday Night Live. After Federations. “It is all about where our To register, go to jfedsrq.org/
the workshop was over, students were sense of humor comes from as Jews, events. For more information, contact
SENIOR DIRECTOR OF given the opportunity to audition. “Who and why there are so many funny Jeremy Lisitza at jlisitza@jfedsrq.org.
COMMUNICATIONS & MARKETING didn’t want to be on SNL? I did a mono-
Marty Katz logue, and when I was done, the casting
director and I struck up a conversation.
MANAGING EDITOR I was shocked when, a couple of days L’Chayim
Ted Epstein
later, at 11:00 p.m. on a Friday night,
ADVERTISING SALES my phone rang and I saw it was a 212
Adam Kaplan – 941.552.6307 area code. I just knew it was NBC. He
got on the line and said, ‘Hey, we just
PROOFREADERS got done writing the opening sketch for
Edward D. Cohen, Rhonda Kaplan, tomorrow night’s show and I wanted to Here’s “to Life” on the Gulf Coast
Elliot Ofsowitz, Jeff Sherman, know if you wanted to be in it.’ Believe
Jill Simons, Linda Stern, it or not, I was already booked to do a Committed to the Jewish Community for over 20 years,
Bryna Tevlowitz Stacy is passionate about real estate and strives
murder mystery in New Jersey. I’m so
MISSION STATEMENT: The Jewish News of honest, I said to him that I was already to build ever-lasting relationships based on exceptional service,
Sarasota-Manatee strives to be the source of booked for that Saturday night and I uncompromising values and a strong work ethic.
news and features of special interest to the asked him if he would mind if I tried to
Jewish community of Sarasota-Manatee, to
provide a forum for the exchange of ideas find a replacement and would call him 941.266.0529
and opinions in the Jewish community, and back in 20 minutes. He was lovely and StacyHanan@michaelsaunders.com
to communicate the mission, activities and told me that would be fine. Anyway,
achievements of the Federation and its Jew- I found a replacement, so there I was
ish community partners. in the opening skit with Amy Poehler. 1605 Main Street • Sarasota, FL 34236 • 941.951.6660
OPINIONS printed in The Jewish News of Sara- It was a United Nations sketch. Chris
sota-Manatee do not necessarily reflect those Parnell played Colin Powell, and Amy
of The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Mana- Poehler and I were Icelandic delegates.
tee, its Board of Directors or staff. So, there we were on stage when I hear, Give Yourself More
SUBMISSIONS to The Jewish News are sub-
ject to editing for space and content, and ‘Live from New York, it’s Saturday Time to Enjoy the
may be withheld from publication without Night.’ Well, the band kicked in and I
prior notice. Approval of submissions for got chills up and down my spine. It was
publication in either verbal or written form an amazing experience. I was invited
shall always be considered tentative, and
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