Keefer Produces, Acts and Emotes
Born in Russia, Sasha knew very early on that she wanted a career in the theatre.
After 37 years with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and now with the AJT, , Jaffe’s focus is lifestyle, art, dining, fashion, and community events with emphasis on Jewish movers and shakers.
Sasha Gutkin Keefer emigrated from Russia in 1979 when she was 8 years old. She knew she wanted to act when she performed in the play, “Oliver,” in fifth grade. She also acted in high school plays and received a BA in theater from the University of Georgia.
She went to high school in Israel and took a yearlong Young Judea course there. Keefer said, “My mother is Russian, so I actually had to convince her to let me study acting since it was not a money-making career … I can sing but primarily consider myself a dramatic actress.”
Having taught early education for 25 years, Keefer is also a reading tutor.
Through Jan. 25, Keefer performed in the Cheryl Strayed play, “Tiny Beautiful Things” (based on the book by the same name), for the Authenticity Theatre she founded with husband, Scott, in 2021. Think of a very hip and eclectic off-off-Broadway venue or an intimate theatre in the East Village. They rent the 7 Stages Theatre in Little Five Points on Euclid (capacity 60). They chose the name, “Authenticity,” because of its implied meaning: “being true to one’s own personality, genuine and fully trustworthy.”
She explained, “I am the Authenticity artistic director, and Scott is the technical director. I pick all the plays, hire directors and tech crew. Scott also is the managing director and takes care of the business side. We work together as a team. I’m technically over him, but we don’t think of it like that.”
She, herself, only appears in one play per year. Leading up to production, they rehearse four times a week at night for six weeks.
“Tiny Beautiful Things” is available in unabridged book form (also read by the author in audiobook format) and is a highly recommended, life changing read. Strayed, who’s original claim to fame was writing the tale of her own travails, recovering from addiction and finding balance, resulted in the movie, “Wild,” starring Reese Witherspoon.
In the Atlanta play, Keefer was one of the “Tiny Beautiful Things” letter writer characters. She stated, “All the letters are real and heartfelt and encompass the human experience. My favorite lines of the play are, ‘Most things will be OK, eventually; but not everything will be. For the rest of your life, you’ll regret things you did not say, say thank you more.’”
The play was wonderfully produced with a dozen or so life lessons and explanations that cover a variety of usual and unusual hardships that most of us will face at one time or another. Strayed is “Dear Sugar,” an anonymous writer who responds to emotional queries from the tangles of real life. In one instance, Keefer is seeking a response from Sugar … she’s bored with her marriage and has been flirting with a man at work who shows her attention. “What’s the harm?” dishes Sasha. Not afraid to take a position, Sugar answers, “Would you get on a speeding motorcycle without a driver?”
The stage was orchestrated like an intricate matrix where different “letter writers” step forward with their travails. The loss of a child, whether to share past abuse with a new partner. It’s not all gloom and doom, as much as a salve for humanity — those seeking to move forward.
Scott describes Sasha’s emotional performance as “heartfelt, ashamed, embarrassed, excited … she’s perfect for this role because she is a versatile actress and able to embody different types of people.”
She has been in many plays over the years but is most proud of her role as Sister Aloysius in the play “Doubt.”
Authenticity received a grant last year from the Georgia Council of the Arts and thus was able to produce an entire season as opposed to one show at a time. They continue to search for backers/donors and a permanent venue.
She concluded, “The actors are paid a stipend. The tech crew is paid as well. Although we are unable to pay a lot, we feel that actors deserve to be recognized as professionals. We hope to pay more in the future.”
Next shows are “The 10 Minute Play Festival,” in April, and “Uncle Vanya,” in June. Tickets are available at www.authenticitytheater.org.
comments