Teatron Theatre Presents HARD LOVE, 1/5-1/16.

TEATRON Toronto Jewish Theatre presents the Canadian Première of HARD LOVE a romantic drama
by award winning Israeli playwright Motti Lerner at the Toronto Centre for the Arts - Studio Theatre 5040 Yonge St., Toronto January 5-16, 2011. HARD LOVE stars two-time Dora Award nominee Tara Nicodemo and Masques Award Winner Howard Rosenstein

In this fiercely romantic drama, Hannah (Tara Nicodemo) and Zvi (Howard Rosenstein) are reunited after divorcing twenty years earlier. Raised in Jerusalem's ultra-Orthodox Mea Shearim, the couple ended their marriage when Zvi turned his back on Judaism and Hannah did not. Now the teenage children from their second marriages have become romantically involved, forcing Hannah and Zvi back into each other's lives.

This powerful drama has played in Israel in the United States and around the world to great reviews. "I fell in love with this play when I saw it in New York last year," says Ari Weisberg, founder and artistic director of Teatron Theatre. "HARD LOVE is a romance and love is in the centre of it, the love of Hanna and Zvi for each other and their different love-hate relationships with the divine. The tension of the play centres around the dilemma, would Hannah and Zvi's contradicting views of God and religion interfere with their desire for each other or can it be overcome? This is what keeps us at the edge of our seats for the entire show."

The show stars two very fine actors. Tara Nicodemo was twice nominated for a Dora Award for her role in Cringeworthy at TPM and as Ophelia in Necessary Angels' latest production of Hamlet. Howard Rosenstein* comes to us from Montreal and is the winner of the Masques Award.

This is TEATRON's second show in its eighth season of fine Jewish-themed plays. It will be followed this season by A HAMBURGER IN A PITA, a world premier by Nina Shenhav, a local playwright and journalist. Season subscriptions are still available offering savings of 20%.

TEATRON Toronto Jewish Theatre is a professional theatre producing plays from Canada and the world's communities, unveiling the treasures of Jewish tradition, enriching and inspiring the Jewish experience of all theatregoers, leading to better understanding and harmony, while maintaining Jewish values.

Artistic Director Ari Weisberg has a rich and varied career in theatre and television. His directing and design credits include THE MELVILLE BOYS, MURDER AMONG FRIENDS, THE AFFECTIONS OF MAY, THIS NIGHT, THE CHOSEN, THE SISTERS ROSENSWEIG, HOME OF THE BRAVE, THE TENTH MAN, THE GOD OF ISAAC, CONVERSATIONS WITH MY FATHER, A GLIMPSE OF THE LIGHT, THE DYBBUK, BRIGHTON BEACH MEMOIRS, BLUISH and KOSHER LUTHERANS. A graduate of Queen's University, Ari spent 18 years directing and producing for television in Kingston, ON.

Performances:
Preview: Wednesday January 5, 2011 at 1 p.m.
Opening night: Wednesday January 5, 2011 at 8 p.m.
Runs Tuesdays to Thursdays, Saturdays and Sunday at 8 p.m.; and Sunday and Wednesday matinees at 2 p.m. (dark on Friday) till January 16, 2011.

Ticket prices Adult Student/Senior Premium seating
Preview $19 $19 N/A
Mid-week and matinees $31|$26|$37
Saturday night $36|$30|$48
Taxes and all charges included.
Subscriptions still available for the last two shows at 20% savings