The Bay Area Welcomes The Braid Production “Hold Me; Heal Me”

It was reading the review of Hold Me; Heal Me that inspired me to take a long drive to see it myself, hoping for an antidote to what I see and hear each day. In a world full of brokenness, these true stories of kindness will make you laugh, cry, and want to do good. Hold Me, Heal Me, performed by a cast of professional actors, brings these inspiring stories to life in the Salon Theatre style pioneered by The Braid, the world’s leading center for Jewish storytelling. As a counter-narrative to the shocking news feed seen daily, Hold Me, Heal Me shares surprising moments of kindness that serve as a bolt of hope and inspiration. 

The artists and staff at The Braid (formerly Jewish Women’s Theatre) recently established their own brick and mortar roots in Santa Monica. And now that they have this space, their programming, classes and performances have a base of operations in the city where it all began.

For 17 years, The Braid has carefully innovated a new theatrical art form, turning true contemporary Jewish stories into captivating performances at the intersection of storytelling and theater.

San Francisco Splash Magazine had the opportunity of a Q&A with both Sheri Sprung Morrison of The Braid’s Bay Area Advisory Council and Shelley Hebert is a Bay Area Jewish community leader, co-founder of the Stanford Jewish Alumni Network, and a member of The Braid’s Bay Area Advisory Council. We appreciate the opportunity to learn more about the Bay Area and The Braid.

Interview #1 Sheri Sprung Morrison of The Braid’s Bay Area Advisory Counci

While the play HOLD ME; HEAL ME is playing at the newly opened Braid Theater in Los Angeles, two performances are scheduled to be performed in the Bay Area on March 29th and 30th.

Can you tell me more about how this came about?

The Braid has been coming to the Bay Area for many years, performing at the OFJCC in Palo Alto as their main venue. Two years ago, the OFJCC informed The Braid that it wouldn’t be able to host the shows any longer. A small group of dedicated subscribers from various synagogues in the South Bay brainstormed with The Braid staff and scrambled to figure out a way for them to continue to come here. When it became clear that we could proceed with the planning, we only had 6 weeks to pull it together. And we made it happen!

While the Braid performances take place all over the US and on Zoom all over the world, how is it connected to the Bay Area?

They’ve built an avid following here over the many years they’ve brought their shows to the Bay Area. And we’ve been able to expand that group over the past 2 years.

How often are the productions performed in LA also performed in the Bay Area?

The 3 shows that comprise their season are performed in the Bay Area for 1 weekend per show.

Is there a plan to increase the presence of the Braid in other parts of the Bay Area and other parts of California?

I know that they’re thinking about adding an East Bay performance to the Bay Area weekends, but details haven’t been worked out yet.

How does your audience generally learn about the Braid productions?

The shows are publicized through local synagogue newsletters; calendar listings (and sometimes a story) in the J. Northern CA magazine; and through personal email lists and word of mouth. We reach out to non-Jewish audiences as well.

What is the easiest way to purchase tickets for one of the Bay Area performances?

Subscriptions or single tickets for the Bay Area performances can be purchased on The Braid website.   https://the-braid.org/bayarea  Usually tickets are also available at the door, but not always. It depends on which synagogue is hosting the performance.

Interview #2 Shelley Hebert is a Bay Area Jewish community leader, co-founder of the Stanford Jewish Alumni Network, and a member of The Braid’s Bay Area Advisory Council

While the play HOLD ME; HEAL ME is playing at the newly opened Braid Theater in Los Angeles, two performances are scheduled to be performed in the Bay Area on March 29th and 30th. Can you tell me more about how this came about?

The BRAID has been performing in the Bay Area for more than 10 years, at JCCs as well as synagogues, and has a loyal audience that looks forward to each new season.  For the second consecutive year, three Palo Alto synagogues (Beth Am, Kol Emeth and Etz Chayim) are each hosting a show this season, and there is a second performance in Los Gatos at Shir Hadash.

While the Braid performances take place all over the US and on Zoom all over the world, how is it connected to the Bay Area?

The Bay Area has the fourth largest Jewish population in the United States, along with some distinctive characteristics.  According to the 2018 Portrait of Bay Area Jewish Life and Communities, less than a third of the study’s survey respondents were born in the Bay Area.  Because of Silicon Valley and the leading universities located here, there is also a significant Israeli population.  This creates a dynamic mix–reflecting the Jewish sensibilities, identities and cultural connections of Jews from very diverse backgrounds.

How often are the productions performed in LA also performed in the Bay Area?

Each regular BRAID season brings its performances to live audiences in the Bay Area as well as in L.A.

Is there a plan to increase the presence of the Braid in other parts of the Bay Area and other parts of California?

There is certainly great potential to expand to other synagogues in the East Bay and beyond.  Hillels on college campuses could also host BRAID shows, as well as Jewish high schools.  Usually that happens because someone new has seen a show, fallen in love with the BRAID, and taken steps to bring their unique approach to Jewish storytelling to their own community.

How does your audience generally learn about the Braid productions?

Enthusiastic audiences often spread the word, invite others, forward emails from the BRAID and post on social media.

Is there any thought of developing a Bay Area branch with local actors and classes following the Model in LA?

A passionate Bay Area-based producer could possibly make that happen, understanding that the L.A. model would likely need to be adapted for the Bay Area rather than duplicated.

Photos provided by The Braid

How The Braid began- THE DREAM: A kitchen table. A pot of coffee. A plate of bagels. Three women came together in an ordinary way to realize the extraordinary dream of creating a new theatre to give voice to Jewish women.  Their dream expanded into something even bigger and more impactful than anything they could have dreamt of.