Meet Beth Criscuolo, the Creative Force Behind "Grief: A Love Story," Bringing Depth and Emotion to the Stage.
Beth Criscuolo has a B.A. in Theater from DeSales University, where she won the Theater Award in her graduating year and an M.A. in Theater from Villanova University where she received a full scholarship for her acting. Some of Beth’s favorite theatrical work includes: a featured role in National Public Radio’s The Door in The Wall with Colleen Dewhurst; playing Mencha in New Kid, a show which represented the U.S.A. at the International Children’s Theater Festival; and performing in the premiere productions of two plays by Bruce Graham, Top of The World and Devious Means. She was an actress in touring companies, choreographed The Medicine Show for the N.Y. Fringe Festival, and has directed 70+ productions throughout her career. Other artistic projects include the co-writing of two educational musicals, Clean Getaway and All Washed Up, which ran for extended periods of time at The Franklin Institute, The Philadelphia Zoo, and Sesame Place. Beth held the position of Theater Department Head at a private school for girls for 15 years. Her students won prizes in contests all over the country for plays written under her guidance. More recently, she directed the annual musical theater productions and was an Adjunct Professor of Theater at Delaware County Community College. This is Beth’s second collaborative play-making project with Larry Hirshhorn.
The setting is a New York City Jewish neighborhood in 1951. Jacob and Eva are holocaust survivors who must adjust to “America.” They belong to an orthodox synagogue. Jacob struggles with his demons as he encounters both native-born American Jews and fellow refugees and survivors. The play’s twists and turns lead Jacob and others to consider experiences of God and forgiveness in a post-holocaust world. The play highlights the heretofore unexplored tensions and misunderstandings between Holocaust survivors and refugees and American-born Jews.
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