Podcast With DAMASCUS SQUARE Playwright SHAI BAITEL

One of my favorite people in the world, Tovah Feldshuh, who wowed us in Chicago as Kathering Hepburn in Tea at Five at the Northlight Theatre  (click here for my review and interview) is among the concert cast of a new musical based on the life of famed  spy Eli Cohen.  A concert of the new musical “Damascus Square” will be performed at the United Nations on Thursday, September 6, 2012 at 5:30 pm

“Damascus Square” is inspired by the story of Eli Cohen, the famous Israeli spy who worked for the Mossad in Syria in the 1950s and 1960s. It asks to whom we owe our loyalty – our country, our family, or ourselves?

Tovah Feldshuh, Brad Oscar, Etai BenShlomo, Adam Overett, Laura Shoop and Robert Stearns will be performing at the United Nations.

The Old Vic Tunnels in London, England has also announced it will be the first presenting venue of “Damascus Square” during its Autumn 2012 calendar. The Old Vic Tunnels is the sister theater company to The Old Vic Theatre, whose Artistic Director is philanthropist Kevin Spacey.

Shai Baitel has conceived “Damascus Square” and co-written the book, lyrics and music  together with Oran Eldor and Sarah Hirsch. The concert at the United Nations will be directed by Austin Regan and will feature videos by Video Art Director Guy Romem.

THE OLD VIC TUNNELS

Hidden beneath Waterloo Station in London, lies 30,000 square feet of unused railway vaults – a labyrinth of mystical tunnels. Fast becoming London’s leading underground Arts venue, The Old Vic Tunnels has seen indie phenomenon Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros create 5 nights of the Wild West on Mars; the legendary New York Dolls perform; Secret Cinema transform the space into an Algerian market town; a 5 day festival of comedy and improvisation; a season with the decadent Boom Boom  Club, a summer term from the National Youth Theatre of Great Britain; Universal’s Yellow Lounge and a Michelin Star pop-up restaurant. Veuve Clicquot recently sponsored the build of a brand new piano bar which opened outside The Screening Room in March and Bloomberg continue to provide support as The Old Vic Tunnels Volunteers Partner. www.oldvictunnels.com