Paris Portraits
Jewish Arts and Bookfest
Magnes Collection of Jewish Art and Life
2121 Allston Way, Downtown Berkeley
Laura Sheppard, Yiddish Theatre Ensemble artistic director, performs her signature solo piece, Paris Portraits, a dramatic reading about the life of writer Harriet Levy in Paris. Directed by Suzanne Stassevich.
In 1907 Harriet Lane Levy, a celebrated San Francisco writer and theater critic, moved to Paris with her friend Alice B. Toklas and suddenly found herself immersed in a strange and vibrant world. Levy tells of her initiation into the Parisian lifestyle and salons of the Steins (Gertrude and brother Leo, Michael and wife Sarah), the rivalry between Picasso and Matisse, wild nights in Montmartre, and her own discoveries as a single woman abroad, painting a picture of Paris that is simultaneously grand and intimate.
This performance was developed for the exhibition, Seeing Gertrude Stein featured at the Contemporary Jewish Museum. A companion book, Paris Portraits: Stories of Picasso, Matisse, Gertrude Stein, and Their Circle was published by Heyday.
Laura Sheppard is the Artistic Director of Yiddish Theatre Ensemble (YTE), producer and a professionally trained actor. She was co-producer and cast member of YTE’s musical production, Di Megileh of Itzik Manger (2014, 2015). She was producer of their award-winning online production of God of Vengeance (2021), Between Worlds (2023) and a staged reading of On the Road to Zion (2024). In 2022 Yiddish Theatre Ensemble co-produced Indecent with the San Francisco Playhouse which the Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle awarded the Best Bay Area Show and Best SF show. Laura also served as a cultural consultant for the acclaimed production of Indecent at CenterRep.
Her original theatre work includes Still Life with (Gertrude) Stein which toured internationally and was awarded two NEA Grants for Solo Performance. Her recent theatre piece, Paris Portraits about the life of writer Harriet Lane Levy was featured at the Contemporary Jewish Museum, San Francisco and Marine’s Memorial Theatre.
About Laura Sheppard
In addition to her theatre work, she has served as a board member of KlezCalifornia promoting Klezmer music and Yiddish culture since 2003. She is the Senior Producer at San Francisco’s historic Mechanics’ Institute, San Francisco where she presents ongoing author events and cultural programs.