14th St Y to Stage Premiere of KALEIDOSCOPE

Through extensively crafted, deeply personal stories, Kaleidoscope will delve into the ever-popular question "What does Jewish look like to you?" The diverse and talented cast includes performers of a wide range of ethnicities including Moroccan, British, Jamaican, Ethiopian, Libyan, and Puerto Rican.

The World Premiere of Kaleidoscope, a multi-media project and monologue showcase sparked by a desire to highlight Jews of diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds and observance levels, will be presented at The Theater at the 14th Street Y, 344 E. 14th Street, on July 15th and 16th at 8pm, and on July 19 at 3pm.

Performers: Morr Mazal Barton, Israel Bitton, Cecilia Copeland, Corey Hennig, Jessica Gumora, MaNishtana, Gulienne (Shoshana Ne'orah) Rishon, Ahuva, Avi A. Amon, , Leemore Malka, Candice Edwards-Marchrones, Malaika Martin.

Cecilia Copeland (Cast) is a Writer and the Founding Artistic Director of New York Madness. Copeland is a Kilroy's List Honorable Mention for her play "R Culture", a Member of the League of Professional Theatre Women and the Indie Theater Hall of Fame.

Leemore Malka (Cast) is an actress who has been seen onstage at the Flea Theater in The Mysteries and onscreen in the hit series, High Maintenance. Thanks a million to Vanessa, Kendell + of course my fam. www.leemoremalka.com

Avi Amon (Cast) is a composer for theater, film, and dance. His work has been featured at the Eugene O'Neill National Music Theater Conference, Yale Rep, La Mama, Dixon Place, and the 52nd Street Project.

Israeli born Ethiopian, Ahuva (Cast), is an international make-up artist, actress and model living in New York City. She brings commitment, versatility and a multi-ethnic approach to her projects.

Israel Bitton (Cast) is a NY-based writer, performer, drummer, aspiring philosopher and director of marketing & design at a Jewish newspaper.

Malaika Martin (Cast) is an artsy, bohemian-ish, less-than-conformist type masquerading as a suited-up real estate professional. She is a returning New Yorker after having sojourned in Boston and Tel-Aviv.

MaNishtana (Cast) is an Orthodox Jewish blogger, public speaker, and author of "Thoughts From A Unicorn: 100% Black. 100% Jewish. 0% Safe". When not addressing heady issues of race and religion in American Judaism he can be found pursuing other lofty goals, mostly to the end of avoiding having to take out the garbage, much to his wife's chagrin.

Jessica Gumora (Cast) is a native New Yorker and yoga instructor. She also teaches art and design history at the New York School of Interior Design and Parsons/The New School.

Morr Mazal Barton (Cast) grew up in two worlds - born in America and educated in Ashkenazi schools while raised in a Sephardic home, always traveling between two countries just by opening her front door. Morr Mazal is now mother to a son who encompasses the many shades of Judaism.

German Jewish mom + Black Catholic dad = Gulienne (Shoshana Ne'orah) Rishon (Cast), a biracial advocate, interracial & inter-religious family adviser, general race conversationalist. Gulienne is a blogger, public speaker, and runs classes for interracial families on socio-racial identity development (or, how to make sure your kids are secure in themselves without sacrificing your own identity).

Candice Edwards-Marchrones (Cast) is a British Actress hailing from Manchester, UK, studying at The Michael Howard Studios. Her favourite role so far has been the 'Countess de Lage' in 'The Women' by Clare Booth Luce.

With more than 20 years in the entrepreneur game, Corey Hennig (Cast) has developed some strong opinions on art, business, restaurants and, well, pretty much everything. When he is not sharing these opinions, he enjoys relaxing with a good book or film, and a good red; his two young children, however, have a different agenda.

Vanessa Hidary (Director-Producer) began her spoken word career at the legendary Nuyorican Poets café. She has aired three times on "Def Poetry Jam" on HBO. She was featured in the short film "The Tribe", at SummerStage NYC, and developed and directed in conjunction with Birthright Israel NEXT, a show called "MONOLOGUES": An evening of solo performances by 15 young adults, exploring their Jewish Identity.Vanessa received an M.F.A. in Acting from Trinity Rep Theatre Conservatory. She is the author of a collection of poems and stories titled "The Last Kaiser Roll in the Bodega." Special thanks to Kendell Pinkney, Rachel Hodes & UJA Federation of NY, Lacey Schwartz & Bechol Lashon, Shayna Kreisler, Becky Skoff, Ashley Thaxton, Kyrssy Wright and the 14th street Y.

Kendell Pinkney (Associate Producer) is a Brooklyn based theatre writer and Jewish life/Jewish education professional. Kendell's work has been performed and/or developed at venues such as 54 Below, Two Rivers Theatre Company, Goodspeed Opera House, the 52nd Street Project, Musical Theatre Factory, and Joe's Pub, to name a few.

"The Kaleidoscope Showcase has fostered a creative forum for Jews-of-color and diverse ethnic backgrounds to wrestle with their experiences," says Associate Producer Kendell Pinkney.

"The result is an evening of breathtaking monologues that probe what it means to be Jewish in a multicultural world. Our cast really challenges the implicit and explicit assumptions of others who might claim, as one cast member said, that by their very existence they are somehow 'doing Jewish wrong.'" The audience will be seated cabaret style for this intimate performance, and wine will be served.

Tickets are $18 and are available at 646-395-4310 or www.14streety.org/kaleidoscope.