Haven is Ruth Gruber's remarkable true story of the rescue of 1,000 souls from the nightmare of war-torn Europe… and her fight to keep them in America. This musical drama touches on some of the most difficult issues that the "civilized" world has ever faced --- and still faces.
......See excerpts from Haven featuring Mark Edgar Stephens, Stephanie Block & Richard Gould
Haven is an ultimately uplifting and inspiring story, that emotionally reminds us of the American dream. It tugs at our latent patriotism and reminds us that those of us who were born here are lucky indeed.
The shows creators are:
William Goldstein, Composer, was discovered by Berry Gordy, who brought Mr. Goldstein to LA, as a MOTOWN recording artist / composer and producer. He has received Emmy and Grammy nominations for his scores, which include Fame, Hello Again, & Shocker. His concert scores have been performed from Carnegie Hall to Symphony Hall, Boston.
From his recent score for The Miracle Worker, emerged a cello concerto which caught the ear of Peter Gelb at Sony Classical. His solo piano CD First Impressions garnered airplay on both classical and New Age radio.
Jerome Coopersmith, Book, is the prize-winning dramatist whose Broadway credits include Baker Street, which earned him a Tony Nomination for The Apple Tree. His many TV credits include Hawaii5-0 and Streets of San Francisco, as well as anthology dramas for Hallmark Hall of Fame, Armstrong Circle Theater and the Alcoa-Goodyear Playhouse. Jerry was able to make the quantum leap of reading Ruth Gruber's book Haven, and conceiving how to turn this troubling story into the musical Haven.
Joe Darion, Lyrics, Passed away at 90 in June of 2001. Mr. Darion worked in every field in which words are put to music. His Broadway credits include Shinbone Alley, Illya Darling and the classic Man of La Mancha. His oratorio opera's include Galileo and David Wept in collaboration with composer Ezra Laderman. Thanks to Mr. Darion we all Dream the Impossible Dream. Besides the Tony, he has received the Drama Critics Circle Award, the Gabriel Award, and the International Broadcasting Award.
Ruth Gruber's life reads like a novel. Youngest Ph.D. in the history of the world at age 20 (Ahead of Time). First westerner allowed into the Soviet Gulag and Siberia at 23 (1935) as a Herald Tribune correspondent. Special assistant to Secretary of the Interior Harold Ickes in WW II, she became General Gruber when Ickes sent her to Italy in 1944 to bring back 1000 refugees from the war (Haven). After the war she covered the story of the Exodus, having been chosen by the British to be the "pool" correspondent (Destination Palestine). Destination Palestine and Haven have recently been reissued.
Haven Opened in Los Angeles in November of 2001.
We are hoping that Broadway will be ready for Haven by the 2009 season. In the meantime look for Lady On A Carousel which will arrive in Broadway in the 2008 season