Somewhere around 5000 B.C.E. (Before the Common Era), a group of people living in Mesopotamia discovered the fine art of irrigation and turned what had been an arid plain into the Fertile Crescent. Thus began the first civilization and one of the greatest, most innovative empires the world has ever known.

By the time this story takes place, about 2000 B.C.E., the Sumerians had developed a highly urbanized, specialized society based on extensive international trade. Sumerian government alternated between a centralized empire and a collection of city-states, one of the most powerful of which was Ur. Sumerian religion consisted of a pantheon of literally hundreds of gods, with the Moon the ruling deity in Ur.

The Sumerians invented, among other things: the wheel, the sailboat, the plow, canals and reservoirs, the ziggurat, the heroic epic, astronomy and astrology, a calendar, the arch and buttress, a decimal-based number system, the division of the hour and the circle into sixty units, smelting and bronze, beer, schools, and writing.

The fact that they accomplished all of this in temperatures over 100 degrees, wearing clothing made of wool, is perhaps the most astounding achievement of all.

Linda Kaufman, B.A., is a Music Speicalist at Temple Beth-El and co-director of the Beth-El Players, a resident theatre production company that presents original plays based on Jewish folktales and Midrash. Ms. Kaufman composes the music and serves as Musical Director of the troupe's productions.

Carla Silen, M.A., a former English teacher with both on and backstage experience in the theatre, is co-director of the Beth-El Players. Ms. Silen writes the scripts and directs the company's productions which range from musical comedies to Hanukkah revues to serious productions for the High Holy Days.

The script of Out of Ur is available for rental. Contact Linda Kaufman at (210) 493-3910.

Production Staff
Stage Manager: Bryan Keith Pierce
Set Design: Aaron Goldberg
Choreography: Judith Clement Gani
Choreographer's Assistant: Maureen Casper
Costumes: Anna Catalani
Make-Up: Shari Blaine
Vocal Coaches: Brian Billings and Rebecca Moses
Set Artist: Steve Montalvo
Props Artist: Jason Shearer
Publicity: Eleanor Kamataris and Ursula Kaplan
Business Manager: Phyllis Mulder
Props Mistress: Sheila Pierce
Technical Crew: Ricky Mendez and Phyllis Mulder
Set Pieces: Sid Pierce
Shlepping and Stage Construction: Brian Billings, Jenna Hardy, Michael Hardy, Alan and Kathi Kardon, Jenni Klein, Peter Moon and family, Bryan Pierce, Sid Pierce, Jason Shearer, John Sokora and Brian Teeters

Cast
The Lord: Sanford Katz
Gabrielle: Jenna Hardy
Michael: Brian Billings
King Nimrod: Ed Kaplan
Queen Shamhat: Diana Shapiro Samuels
The High Priest Anoko: Daniel Laser
Zar: Lewis Richmond
Priestess: Rachel Kardon
Attendants: Amanda Catalani, Greg Escobedo, Aftynn Moon, P.J. Moon and Sydney Purcell
Terah: Michael Hardy
Amtelai: Audrey Brians
Abram: Brian Teeters
Sarai: Lisa Callan
Ora: Marcia Katz
Lot: Peter Moon
Idit: Marilyn Weinstein
Pelotit: Victoria Garza
Siduri: Brittni Pierce
Sumerians: Milton Arbetter, Kathi Kardon, Jenni Klein, Eleanor Kamataris, Sydnie Moon, Skylar Moon, Jordan Purcell and Jason Shearer

Special Thanks To:
The Sidney M. Levyson Memorial Dramatics Fund Signs To Go
Sally Hardy
Kenny Kaufman
Frank Goodman
The Rabbis and Staff of Temple Beth-El

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