Becoming Dr. Ruth runs from January 14 through February 26 at the B Street Theatre on the Mainstage. I saw Becoming Dr. Ruth this past weekend – and loved it.
The play was written by Mark St. Germain, an American playwright, author, film and television writer.
Actress Anne O’Sullivan, who performed the role of Dr. Ruth previously on the East Coast, reprises the role at B Street Theatre.
O’Sullivan is a long time professional actor who has performed both on stage and in films. O’Sullivan’s portrayal of Dr. Ruth received a rave review in the New York Times in 2015.
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Dr. Ruth Westheimer (born Karola Ruth Siegle in 1928) is a psychosexual therapist who was a pioneering radio and television sex therapist. It all started in 1980 with a fifteen minute taped radio show of frank talk about sexual matters that aired on Sundays – after midnight.
From that modest beginning Dr. Ruth moved on to a radio show where she answered callers questions, followed up by a series of television shows. Her other endeavors to share her expertise include print advice columns read around the globe as well as a lengthy list of books she has authored. The list of her accomplishments goes on and on. Dr. Ruth is truly a renaissance woman!
Today Dr. Ruth has her own website , you can follow her on Twitter, and you can subscribe to Dr. Ruth’s YouTube Channel.
In the one-woman play the 5’2” O’Sullivan, in her role as Dr. Ruth, relates a series of events as she reminisces about her life while packing up her apartment after the death of her third husband. The year is 1997.
I had not been familiar with Dr. Ruth’s back story – and found it to be most interesting. A few facts:
- As a child Karola Ruth Siegle fled the Nazis in the Kindertransport. She was one of 300 Jewish children shipped by rail from Nazi Germany to safety in Switzerland where she was raised in a Swiss orphanage.
- As a teen she went to Israel where she joined and fought with the Haganah, the Jewish freedom fighters. Only 4’7” tall she was trained as a sniper.
- She immigrated to the United States in 1956 where she struggled to succeed as a newly arrived single mother as she pursued her education.
Her story is one of grit and determination – to both succeed and enjoy life. What an inspiring story! If you have the opportunity to do so I highly recommend you see Becoming Dr. Ruth.
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Reading “Becoming Dr. Ruth” on Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn? Have a comment? Comments submitted on the SacramentoRevealed.com website are greatly appreciated. Thanks!
It was a phenomenal one woman show. I was riveted to my seat. The show was an hour and a half but when it was over, I felt like only five minutes had passed.
Thanks Maureen. I am in full agreement.
My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed the show. It was funny, touching and interesting to hear about Dr. Ruth’s early life. The actress’s portrayal seemed spot on.
Thanks for commenting Karen!