Shlomo Moskovich

Shlomo Moskovitz (Hebrew: שלמה מושקוביץ; born April 19, 1961) is an Israeli playwright, screenwriter, dramaturge and translator.

Shlomo Moskovitz 2021


Biography

Shlomi Moskovitz grew up in Rehovot, in a house enriched by literature and music, his parents used to frequently take their children to the theater, opera and concerts. His parents immigrated from Romania to Israel and were members of the communist political party. His mother, Varda, worked up to her retirement, as a biochemist in an HMO laboratory. His father, Reuven, was a history teacher, who stopped teaching at some point and became one of the founders of Neve Shalom, a cooperative village near Latrun. He was involved with the relationship between Jews and Arabs. Moskovitz Was the secretary for The Peace and Security Movement after the Six-Day War. His older sister – Smadar Imor, manages the "Synapsa" school – a choreography developed by her, combining voice and movement.

In 1987 Moskovitz graduated from Tel-Aviv University, majoring in acting and directing. After finishing his studies, he directed these plays: “The terrible days for Boaz” (Acres festival, 1986) "Louis" (Hasimta Theater), "Four Cups of Tea and Half a Cup of Water" (Hasimta theater, 1990), "Insomnia" (first place in the Israel Festival, 1990), "Women at Night" (Acres festival and the Kibbutzim College). In the years 1988–1991 Moskovich taught acting in the "Thelma Yellin" school.

In 1991 Shlomo wrote his first play "A Jump Abroad", which was directed by Dedi Baron and presented over 600 times around Israel. In 1993 he wrote his second play "Motorcycle Trip", also directed by Dedi Baron, which was a success. At the time he started writing with Gil Kopatch. They wrote many episodes for the "Zehu ze!" show together, including "The Pole is Ours" column, starring Shlomo Bar-Aba and Moni Moshonov. The column is about two childhood friends named Yona and Berger who are trying to break the Guinness Record for the longest stay at the North pole, while living in an igloo.

In the early 90's Moskovitz has created, together with the conductor Ronny Porat, a series of family concerts turned into plays, including: “Wolfgang Pops By”, a show performing over 20 years, and around 1,500 times, with different orchestras (The Philharmonic Orchestra, HaBama Orchestra, Raanana Symphonette Orchestra, and more).

In 1996 Shlomo Moskovitz wrote the "Shut Up Show" sitcom, with Gil Kopatch. The show was aired for two seasons on the HOT Channel 3. Later Moskovitz wrote "Gil Kopatch’s Weekly Torah Portion" in association with Dov Elbaum, about different interpretations to the Judaism origins. At the time he also wrote the satiric play "An Integral Part", together with Gil Kopatch; the play was produced at the Yoram Levinstein's studio and continued to run as a private production. Following an invitation from director Dedi Baron, Moskovitz wrote arrangements for "Luna" and "They Shoot Horses, Don’t They?" which were both produced in Yoram Levinstein's studio (in the years 1999 and 2001, respectively). In 2013"They Shoot Horses, Don’t They?" was played again in the Cameri Theater, directed by Baron.

Since 2000 Moskovitz writes, translates and is a dramaturge for Habima. Since 2001 and to this day he has translated dozens of plays for the repertory theater in Israel (Habima, Beit Lessin Theatre, The Cameri, Beersheba Theatre).

In 2004 he founded "Revadim" – a "Beth midrash" for writing.

Moskovitz studied auto-racing in Europe and was a test driver for car magazines. He was a writer and editor for the "Auto" magazine during the years 1990–1994, and for the "Steering Wheel" magazine from 1998 and until 2005. At that time, he continued to excel in auto-racing in different schools across Europe.

In 2003, his play "Week", started playing at Habima, directed by Dedi Baron. In 2004 Moskovitz received the Nisim Aloni Original Play Award for this play (From the judges’ decision: “”Week” – one of the most shining and moving pearls in the crown of Israeli drama”). This play has also rewarded him with the Ora Goldenberg's award the same year. Shay Bar-Yaakov described the play in Yedioth Ahronoth as an "artistic miracle".[1] The "Week" play represented Israel at the Mediterranea Festival in Milano. Dedi Baron received several awards for the directing work on this play, including a commendation from "Piccolo" theater in Milan.

A short play by Moskovitz was arranged to "Revenge", a final work by Yoav Cohen for the Sam Spiegel Film and Television School and won first prize in the Soorya Festival in Spain, and also a IDB prize from the Sam Spiegel School.

In 2010, Moskovitz's play, called "A Star will Shine" has debuted in the national theater Habima, also directed by Dedi Baron, receiving praises from the critiques. In 2010, his musical "Sigal" has debuted in Yoram Levinstein's Performing Arts Studio. The play continued to run in the Habima Theatre, directed by Tzadi Tzarfati.

In 2014 Moskovitz worked on the "A Tasting Meal" play, which was produced by the Cameri Theater. The plot takes place one night, when a daughter of left-winged parents brins home a boyfriend from an Israeli settlement, whom she plans to marry.

In 2016 "A Tasting Meal" started to run in the Cameri theatre and quickly became a bestseller (over 300 plays) (Director: Dedi Baron).

In 2017 the “Simply to Love” musical started playing in Cameri theatre (Director: Dedi Baron).

In 2016 Shlomo's play “Ten Commandments” began playing in Kiel town theatre. The play was chosen by the "Theater der Zeit" magazine as one of the ten best-translated plays presented in Germany that year.

In 2021, Shlomo's play "Blood on Hands" was played in Salzburg State Theatre (Director: Dedi Baron).

All of Shlomo Moskovitz's plays are available for reading at the Israeli Dramatists website. Shlomi Moskovitz lives in a domestic partnership with the director Dedi Baron, who has directed most of the plays written by him, and some of the plays arranged by him. They raised four daughters: one common daughter, Omer Moskovitz – musician, singer-songwriter, and three daughters from Baron's previous marriage: Michal Blankstein, the eldest and Tal Blankstein – both are actresses in the Cameri theatre, and Dana Blankstein-Cohen is a television and film director.

Moskovitz's plays

A jump аbroad

Igal escapes abroad when his love Dana, a successful director, becomes pregnant with his child. Four years later he returns to visit Dana, who is married to Shauli, and they are raising their daughter together. Dana must choose one of them. The play initially debuted with the direction of Dedi Baron in Hasimta Theater in 1991. Cast: Ika Zohar, Neta Moran and Zvika Schwartz. The play was released again later, with the direction of Neta Moran in the Tmu-na Theater in 1991, starring Yaron Motola, Elhi Levit and Yael Abecassis.

Bike trip

Three childhood friends reunite in a studio owned by one of them, a painter. One of them brings along a girl he met on the plane. During their encounter they talk about the things they have missed in life, when the image that comes up is a motorcycle trip they planned on doing, but never did. Cast: Neta Moran, Yoram Yosefsberg, Shlomi Moskovitz and Zvika Schwartzberg.

Integral part

A satiric parody written by Moskovitz and Gil Kopatch about the world of theater. The play revolves around the ten-year-old son of the general industry Head of the worker's committee. This child determines the theater's repertoire, since his father has leverage with the theater's manager. The play debuted with the direction of Dedi Baron, first on SELA – Yoram Levinstein's Performing Arts Studio, and then as a private production in 1995.

Week

Tamar is married to Yotam, but he feels neglected by her. Tamar misses her love, Emanuel, with whom she broke up 18 years ago. Emanuel shows up in their house, trying to rekindle the love. Tamar and Yotam's daughter escapes from a religious observance seminar – upset and looking for a way to fix things. The play takes place during one week, matching the seven days of creation. The play combines poetic language and slang. Dedi Baron directed the play In Habima theater in 2003. Cast: Idit Teperson, Michal Varsai, Ofer Zohar and Mohammad Bakri. Moskovitz received the Nisim Aloni Prize for the Most Original Play of 2004. Panel of judges wrote in the reasoning:

“A craftsmanship of intertwining a complex and interspersed storyline, of characterizing the personalities in a profound and multi-subtleties manner, and combining supreme poetic exaltation with a variety of language styles in a theatrical imagery language, rare in its quality, and at the same time, the originality of the play shows, from using such a seemingly mundane, but in fact unusual plot, of a universal family drama, on the elements of the Jewish mythology. A secular family is exposed to the process of inauguration, self-acceptance and fixing, which leads, in a paradox manner, to a creative self-fulfillment through its dissolvement…moreover, in contrast to what was custom in the Hebrew drama in the past, enlisting the biblical verse to intensify the group ideology, the Book of books here is joining forces to support the revolution of the individual which is taking place in front of us today, and in the positive, exiting and optimistic, awakening side. Thus, this piece abridges so remarkably between our world and the popular values around the world, which was, again, proved by the enormous success of the play directed by Dedi Baron’s strong-willed hand… Shlomo Moskovitz has started a new era in the Hebrew play, basing on the biblical writings, that the late Nisim Aloni, has stated in ‘Crueler than Any King’, one of his unforgettable records”…

Astar will shine

This play is about a writer named Gabriel, who is living in a professional soldiers neighborhood and is suffering from a writer's block. One day he meets Julia, a nurse of a Russian origin, who tries to help him write. She spies on people in the neighborhood and uses their stories as an inspiration for the writer. In 2010 the play debuted in Habima theater, directed by Dedi Baron. Lead actors: Ana Dubrovitzki and Yigal Sadeh. Additional cast : Yuval Segal, Alon Neuman and Danny Leshman.

Awards

  • 1990 – first place in the Israeli festival for the play "Insomnia", directed by Shlomi Moskovich himself.
  • 2004 – Nisim Aloni's award for the original play "Week”
  • 2004 – Ora Goldenberg's award for the play "Week”
  • 2004 – Commendation from the Mediterranean festival, "Piccolo" theatre, Milano, for the play "Week”
  • 2007 – Keren Rabinovich's award for translating plays, in memory of Ada Ben-Nachum, for he's translation of the play "The History Boys" by Alan Bennett[2]
  • 2012 – Keren Rabinovich Fund award for translations of plays in memory of Ada Ben-Nachum, for his translation of the play "33 Variations" by Moisés Kaufman

Plays

PlayDirectorTheaterYear
A Jump Abroad Dedi Baron Hasimta Theater 1991
Bike trip Dedi Baron Hasimta Theater/Haifa 1993
An Integral Part (cowritten with Gil Kopatch) Dedi Baron Debuted in SELA – Yoram Levinstein's Performing Arts Studio, and later as a private production 1995
A Week Dedi Baron Habima Theatre 2003
A Jump Abroad Neta Moran Tmu-na Theater 2008
A Star Will Shine Dedi Baron Habima Theatre 2010
Sigal Tzedi Tzarfati Habima Theatre 2011
A Tasting Meal Dedi Baron Cameri Theatre 2016

Writing for television

Show/SeriesChannelGenreCreatorsDirectorYear
Shut Up Show Channel 3 Sitcom Shlomi Moskovitz and Gil Kopatch Dedi Baron 1993
Zehu Ze! (Column: The Pole is Ours) Comedy, sketch Moni Moshonov, Shlomo Bar-Aba 1994–1997
Weekly Torah Portion Gil Kopatch

Plays translated

PlayPlaywrightDirectorTheatreProduction Year
The Vagina Monologues Eve Ensler Dedi Baron Habima Theatre 2000
Everybody Loves Opal John Patrick Roni Pinkovitch HaBima Theater 2002
When You Say "No" Rebecca Gilman Ohad Ashkenazi Beersheba Theater 2002
Death of a Salesman Arthur Miller Roni Pinkovitch HaBima Theater 2003
The Full Monty (together with Yaron Frid) Terrence McNally Stephen Steven Dexter HaBima Theater 2003
Butterflies are free Leonard Gershe Tatyana Kenlis-Olier HaBima Theater 2004
Philomena Eduardo De Filippo Roni Pinkovitch Beit Lessin Theater 2005
The Retreat From Moscow: The tail of the Fragile Relationship William Nicholson Dedi Baron HaBima Theater 2005
Identity (together with Daniel Ganor) Stephen Belber Roni Pinkovitch Beit Lessin Theater 2005
Period of Adjustment (together with Yariv Gottlieb) Tennesy Williams Dedi Baron HaBima Theater 2006
The History Boys Alan Bennet Micah Lewensohn Beit Lessin Theater 2007
The Celebration Thomas Wittenberg, Mogens Rukov, Bo Her Hensen. English arrangement: David Eldridge Hanan Sneer HaBima Theater 2008
Rainman Barry Morrow and Ronald Bass (stage adaptation by Dan Gordon) Ronnie Ninio Beit Lessin Theater 2008
Uncle Vanya Anton Chekhov Dedi Baron Beit Lessin Theater 2009
Love isn't everything Barry Crighton Roni Pinkovitch Beit Lessin Theater 2010
They Shoot Horses, Don't They? Adapted from a play by Horace McCoy Dedi Baron Cameri Theater 2013
Tribes (translated together with Tom Avni) Nina Raine Roni Pinkovitch Beit Lessin Theater 2014
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof Tennessee Williams 2015
Lie of the Mind Sam Sheppard
The Odd Couple – Female Version Neil Simon Roni Pinkovitch Beit Lessin Theater 2017

Plays arranged

PlayPlaywrightDirectorTheaterProduction year
Luna Dedi Baron SELA – Yoram Lewinstein's Performing Arts Studio 1999
They Shoot Horses, Don't They? Adapted from Horace McCoy's novel Dedi Baron SELA – Yoram Lewinstein's Performing Arts Studio 2001
They Shoot Horses, Don't They? Adapted from Horace McCoy's novel Dedi Baron Cameri Theatre 2013
Kazablan Adaptation and editing of Yigal Mossinson's musical Cameri Theatre 2013

Dramaturg work on plays

PlayPlaywrightDirectorTheaterProduction year
Post-trauma Dedi Baron and Tal Brener Dedi Baron and Tal Brener HaBima Theater 2011

Plays directed

PlayPlaywrightTheatreYear
The terrible days for Boaz Adaptation by Shlomi Moskovitch of an archived play by A. B. Yehoshua Acco Festival 1986
Louise Dalia Hertz HaSimta
Acco Festival 1989
Four Cups of Tea and Half a Cup of Water HaSimta 1990
Insomnia First Prize in Israeli Festival 1990
Women at Night Acco Festival and Kibbutzim College

Writing linking passages

PlayDirectorTheatreYear
Bravo!!! Singing 90's Alon Ofir HaBima Theater 2009

References

  1. 1
  2. 2

1. Shay Bar-Yaakov, "Between Heaven and Hell", Yedioth Ahronot, May 18, 2003. 2. Tsipi Shokhat, Shlomo Moskovitz received the Rabinovitch Foundation Award for Translation of Plays, August 1, 2012.

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