Donna DeBenedetto Barwald

Dear Activity Director:

As you are planning your Activity Calendar for 2015, Id like to introduce myself and offer my
services as an entertainer, instructor and activity leader. With a background in musical theater,
teaching, event planning and Jewish studies, I can fill in your schedule with:

Cabaret Shows featuring songs from Broadway and the Great American Songbook
Shabbat Services, Jewish Music and Jewish Holiday Celebrations
Karaoke Sing-a-longs
Themed Dinners with Entertainment
Happy Hours / Piano Bar / Hosted Parties
Theater Parties and Day Trips
Film Discussions
Classes
o Great American Songbook
o Drama & Improv Games
o Old Time Radio Hour
o Jewish Studies
o Computer and Social Networking Skills
o Current Events

In addition to performing at senior communities throughout Los Angeles with AGVA (American
Guild of Variety Artists), I have led Passover and Jewish High Holiday services at Sunrise Senior
Living in Woodland Hills and worked as an Activities Assistant at the Village at Northridge. I am
an active member of Temple Aliyah in Woodland Hills and assist Hazzan Mike Stein producing
concerts and special events.
Please give me a call at 818-635-1824 to discuss your needs for the upcoming year, and visit my
website www.donnadebenedetto.weebly.com for more detailed information. I look forward to
working with you!
With warm regards,
Donna DeBenedetto Barwald

www.donnadebenedetto.weebly.com
7024 Keokuk Avenue, Winnetka, CA 91306
818-635-1824 * donnabarwald@gmail.com

Donna DeBenedetto Barwald

ACTIVITY DESCRIPTIONS

Cabaret Show featuring songs from Broadway and the Great American Songbook
Come to the Cabaret: The best of Broadway and the great American songwriters
of the 20th century (Irving Berlin, Cole Porter, Rodgers & Hammerstein, Harold
Arlen, George & Ira Gershwin, Jule Styne, etc.) combined in a dynamic, highenergy show featuring props and audience participation. 45-60 minute show can
be booked as a solo performance by Donna using background tracks, with a
piano accompanist, or with special guest artists upon request.
Stage Door Canteen: USO-style show featuring a combination of singers,
dancers, comedians and characters, with musicians ranging from a three piece
combo, to a klezmer band, to a full 16-piece big band.

Shabbat Services, Jewish Music and Jewish Holiday Celebrations

Kabbalat Shabbat: The smell of freshly-baked challah, the sight of softly glowing
candles (real or LED), and the taste of sweet grape juice or wine fill the room
during this 30 minute Friday afternoon service, bringing in the peace and joy of
Shabbat with songs and blessings in English, Hebrew and Yiddish.
Healing Service: A meditative Saturday morning Shabbat service performed a
cappella, including prayers for refuah shlemah a complete healing of body,
mind and spirit, combined with Torah study of the weeks parasha. 45 minutes.
Jewish Music: A 60 minute program featuring the history and variety of recorded
Jewish music, including traditional, cantorial, klezmer, Yiddish, Ladino, Israeli and
modern songwriters like Debbie Friedman and Hazzan Mike Stein.
Jewish Holiday Celebrations: 45-60 minute program designed around the holiday
featuring music, food, activities and/or a service for Rosh Hashana, Yom Kippur,
Sukkot, Hanukkah, Purim, Passover and Shavuot.

www.donnadebenedetto.weebly.com
7024 Keokuk Avenue, Winnetka, CA 91306
818-635-1824 * donnabarwald@gmail.com

Donna DeBenedetto Barwald

Karaoke Sing-a-longs
Golden Oldie Karaoke: Bring out your inner crooner and sing the songs of Frank
Sinatra, Dean Martin, Bing Crosby, Judy Garland, Rosemary Clooney, Ella
Fitzgerald, etc. with me. Requires karaoke machine, big screen TV with AV input
and sound system.
Holiday Sing-a-longs: For Christmas, 4th of July, Easter, whenever I supply the
song sheets, and we sing a cappella, to tracks, or with a piano. You provide the
sound system.

Themed Dinners with Entertainment

Event Planner: Collaborate on the theme and the menu; decorate, hire the
entertainment and host the event. For example, Meet Me at the Casbah with
belly dancers; A Night in Spain with flamenco; for Valentines Day, Thats Amore
with Dean Martin & Jerry Lewis; End of Summer Luau with hula dancers.

Happy Hour / Piano Bar / Hosted Parties

Hostess with the Mostess: Provide the entertainment (with bartender and
alcoholic/non-alcoholic drinks upon request) and create a party atmosphere with
hats, props, mingling and music.

Theater Parties, Outings and Day Trips

Tour Guide: Plan and promote trips to shows, movies, museums, sport events,
restaurants, casinos, wineries, parks, etc.; arrange transportation, coordinate
ticket sales, and chaperone the group.

Film Discussions
Curator & Moderator: Select, promote, introduce and show weekly or monthly
film series; provide popcorn and water; and lead discussion after the film. Works
best theater-style with sound system, laptop, projector and screen; or big screen
TV with DVD/Blu-Ray player and/or streaming WiFi.
www.donnadebenedetto.weebly.com
7024 Keokuk Avenue, Winnetka, CA 91306
818-635-1824 * donnabarwald@gmail.com

Donna DeBenedetto Barwald

CLASS DESCRIPTIONS

Great American Songbook

Each week focuses on an American 20th century songwriter or singer whose
songs became the standards of American popular music. Using biographies,
recordings and YouTube videos, learn about the creators of the Great American
Songbook and the soundtrack for our lives. Requires Wi-Fi access for my laptop,
a sound system, and big-screen TV or projector with screen.

Drama & Improv Games

Get ready to play! Fun theater exercises and improvisation games designed to
free your imagination and tickle your funny bone. No acting experience required.

Old Time Radio Hour

Brought to you by Lux, Swan and Lucky Strike, each week features a new script
from your favorite radio shows from the 30s, 40s and 50s. We assign parts and
do a table read, complete with sound effects, commercials, and a lot of laughter.

Jewish Studies
Learn more about Jewish history, holidays and wisdom, discuss the weeks Torah
portion and learn a little Yiddish. Have a nosh and join us. All faiths welcome.

Computer and Social Networking Skills

Do you Email or Gmail? Can you Google? Ever Skype or Twitter? If you dont
know Facebook from FaceTime, this class is for you. Individual lessons are also
available. Requires computer and internet access for each participant, along with
a projector, screen and Wi-fi access for my laptop.

Current Events
Whats happening in the daily news? Bring todays paper and the news of the
day from CNN, FOX and MSNBC and together well discuss hot topics.
www.donnadebenedetto.weebly.com
7024 Keokuk Avenue, Winnetka, CA 91306
818-635-1824 * donnabarwald@gmail.com