Born in 1911 in Krinek
(Krynki) and was raised in Amdur, Grodno Gubernia,
Polish Lithuania. Her father was a teacher, who gave her a
Jewish education. Possessing beautiful
voice as a child, she used to perform and sing at various
opportunities, and she also participated in main roles
at
a Hebrew children's production in the Hebrew school. She
also used to act in children's roles with arriving
Yiddish itinerant troupes.
In 1921 she came to her
mother in America, where she learned in Beit Sefer Leumi
(national), and in "Herzliya" in New York, completing
high school and performing at the same time in the
"Yiddish Art Theatre" in episodic roles.
In 1932-33 she was engaged
as a prima donna in Anshel Schorr's Arch Street Theatre
in Philadelphia under the direction of Julius
Nathanson.
1934-35 she acted in
Littman's theatre in Detroit as a prima donna and
participated in the productions during the guest
appearance of Jacob Ben Ami and Berta Gerstin, then
she toured with various troupes across the province. In the
crisis period of 1938-39, she participated in the Jewish
State Theatre (W. P. A.), where she acted, among others,
in the role of "Henny" in Odets' "Awake and Sing".
In 1943 she became a member
in the Yiddish Actors Union and acted with Ben Zion
Witler in the main role in his productions, and in the role
of Sarah" in "The Sacrifice of Isaac" with Michal
Michalesko. |