Bringing sex out of the shadows and into everyday conversation is the legacy that Dr. Ruth Westheimer will always be remembered for. But her early life was not easy and her struggles before notoriety make for an interesting one-woman show. Coming to The White Theatre this September is highly anticipated and raved reviewed Becoming Dr. Ruth.
When Becoming Dr. Ruth opened in December of 2014 at The New Jewish Theatre it was showered with glowing reviews for production and even more for the enchanting performance from actress Susie Wall.
Susie Wall, who will play Westheimer, is most well known for her magnetic performances throughout the St. Louis area. Wall has appeared on St. Louis stages for more than 30 years and has performed at Cincinnati Playhouse, Arrow Rock Lyceum Theatre, Totem Pole Playhouse in Pennsylvania, Okoboji Summer Theatre in Iowa and the Living Theatre in Turin, Italy.
Wall successfully pulls off the daunting challenge of a one-woman show as well as portraying a still-living and popular global personality. Most Americans are familiar with Dr. Ruth through her frequent appearances on late-night TV, talk shows and from her long-running, successful radio and TV programs. She comes across in her public persona as perpetually good humored, intellectually impressive, and one whose work in human sexual therapy and counseling places her in the pantheon of giants in the field.
“Susie Wall brings the diminutive dynamo to the stage in an impressive display that doesn’t play at all like a caricature. Wall utilizes Dr. Ruth’s familiar characteristics and vocal rhythms to deliver a fully realized performance that instead pays tribute to the role. Wall’s brilliant work engages us directly, and deftly communicates the sense of adventure and pluck that allowed Westheimer to overcome odds most people would never to be able to surmount.” – Broadway World
“Her life is so fascinating and Susie Wall so compelling that you sit back for a 90-minute peek- filled with humor and pathos- into how she became who she is in “Becoming Dr. Ruth.” – Stage Door St. Louis
“Wall is physically taller than Westheimer, but she manages to convince the audience that she is the real deal with her spot-on replication of Dr. Ruth’s German-Israeli-New York blended accents and her high-energy body language. By the time the 90-minute, one-act play is over, the audience gains not only a new appreciation for the multifaceted career of Dr. Ruth, but also for the actress Wall, who shares Dr. Ruth’s journey in a tour-de-force performance.” – St. Louis Jewish Light
Becoming Dr. Ruth, by Mark St. Germain, is a fascinating tour through the highlights and lowlights Dr. Ruth Westheimer dealt with on her rise to becoming a cultural icon. This remarkable story comes to life on stage under the direction of Jerry McAdams and tour director, Kansas City’s own, John Rensenhouse.
Becoming Dr. Ruth
When: September 10, 7:30 p.m. & September 11, 2:00 p.m.
Where: The White Theatre at the J, 5801 W. 115th Street, Overland Park, KS 66211
More info: thejkc.org/boxoffice, (913) 327.8054
