A Woman of the World TheatreWorks opens the captivating portrait of Golda Meir in ‘Golda’s Balcony’ June 8

NEW MILFORD, CONN. (May 29, 2012) – On June 8, TheatreWorks New Milford proudly opens GOLDA’S BALCONY by William Gibson, the dynamic one-woman production centering on the first female prime minister of Israel. The curtain rises at 8:00 p.m. for a four-week run.

As Golda Meir, New Milford actress Sonnie Osborne reveals to audiences why Ms. Meir was one of the most fascinating and complex women of our time. From Russian immigrant to American schoolteacher to a leader of international politics as the fourth Prime Minister of Israel, this tight-knit story of war and peace opens in 1973, on the eve of the Yom Kippur War, and uses flashbacks as Golda recounts the story of her life. She describes her role as a socialist Zionist, her emigration to Palestine in 1921, the birth of her two children, and the breakup of her marriage. These details form an intriguing backdrop for a dramatic look at idealism, power, and the strength it takes to shape the destiny of a nation.

“To portray one of the most influential women in modern history has been both a daunting task and humbling experience,” Ms. Osborne said. “Her commitment to the creation and preservation of a Jewish state transformed Middle Eastern politics that still fuel and define relations today. You need only to listen to the news of the day to realize how little has changed in Mid East politics in more than 70 years. I think audiences will find this show not only informative and timely but, as a multi-media piece, entertaining as well.”

“I’m simply over the moon as to how perfectly Sonnie [Osborne] is portraying Golda and how the show works as an art form,” said director Jane Farnol of Gaylordsville. “Sonnie goes full out with Golda in crisis mode during the Yom Kippur war, and then pulls back into the exploration of memories as historical projected images give context to her words. Yet she never remotely breaks from her character or the power of Gibson’s words. It’s simply spellbinding to watch her ‘become’ Golda Meir.”

Besides Farnol, the show’s crew includes assistant director Laura Gilbert, set designer Richard Pettibone, lighting design by Pettibone and Scott Wyshynski, projection design by Pettibone and Tom Libonate, sound design by Libonate, and costume design by Renee Purdy.

GOLDA’S BALCONY made its Broadway debut at The Helen Hayes Theater on October 15, 2003 and ran for 493 performances, making it the longest-running one-woman show in Broadway history. The New York Daily News called the play “Extraordinary! …Gibson has done an amazing job with GOLDA’S BALCONY:he gives us a great understanding of Golda’s personal and public life in a little over 90 minutes.”

GOLDA’S BALCONY runs June 8,9  15,16  22,23,24  29,30. Curtain time is 8:00 p.m. Fridays & Saturdays, with a 2:00 p.m. Sunday matinee on June 24. Tickets for all shows are $20 for reserved seating.

On Thursday, June 7, senior citizens are invited to a free dress rehearsal at 8:00 p.m. Thursday, June 14 at 8:00 p.m. is TheatreWorks’ Pay-What-You-Want night. At this performance, you name the price for your ticket.

Reservations can be made online at WWW.THEATREWORKS.US or by calling the box office at (860) 350-6863.

TheatreWorks is an award-winning, regional theatre company located on 5 Brookside Avenue, just off Route 202 (next to the CVS), in New Milford, Conn.