Women of Change – Actors and Activists at the Alliance

Tova Feldshuh walked on stage a well-dressed, attractive, 50’ish woman. At the lectern she greeted the audience with, “I’m in menopause; not the musical.” She continued amidst the laughter, “Menopause is God’s way of saying, ‘thanks for the children, now bye-bye!’”

Then, right in front of our eyes, she pulled her stylish shoulder-length brown hair into a pony tail at the nape of her neck and became—yes became—Golda Meir. It was amazing to see! Hair, wardrobe and makeup didn’t change. The voice, accent, eye contact, facial expressions, and demeanor transformed.

Golda’s Balcony, a one-woman show about Golda Meir, Prime Minister of Israel (1969-1974) is the longest running one-woman play in Broadway history. I can tell you why in two words. Tova Feldshuh.

According to her website, Ms. Feldshuh has earned four Tony nominations for Best Actress, won four Drama Desk Awards, four Outer Critics Circle Awards, the Obie, the Theatre World Award and the Lucille Lortel Award for Best Actress.

After a short scene from Golda’s Balcony, Ms. Feldshuh joined the other panelists who were already seated onstage.

Pearl Cleage, Author, Playwright and Civil Rights Activists served as moderator. Other panelists included Lois Frank, Community Volunteer and Advocate and Elizabeth Omilami, Civil Rights Activist.

The conversation meandered through topics including acting, Golda Meir’s position as a world leader, motherhood, balancing leadership with family, world politics, war, gender stereotypes, theatre and love.

Often when questions were asked about Golda Meir, Ms. Feldshuh would answer in character with direct quotes from the Prime Minister. It’s clear that she has not just studied but has embodied the world leader and knows quite a bit about global politics and history. In addition to her acting accolades Ms. Feldshuh, a graduate of Sarah Lawrence College, has taught at Yale, Cornell and New York Universities and was awarded an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters. She is the recipient of the Eleanor Roosevelt Humanities Award and the Israel Peace Medal. This is clearly the role she was born to play.

Golda’s Balcony, starring Tova Feldshuh is at the Alliance Theatre October 12^th through 30^th. You can call the box office at 404-733-5000 or visit http://alliancetheatre.org.

Get your tickets now and bring your daughters to see this woman world leader brought to life on stage!