Yoram Gal

Biography

Yoram Gal was born in Jerusalem, son of Ephraim Roytenberg - Fima - a Jewish painter born in Harbin, China, and emigrated to Israel in 1949, and Naomi Margalit, born in Jerusalem, a teacher and economist. His parents divorced when Gal was a year old. When he was six, his mother married Yossef Gal, an economist, and the three moved to the center of Jerusalem. Three years later, his sister Aya, psychologist, was born, and when he was 11 the family moved to London, UK, where Yossef Gal represented the state of Israel as the economic attache's in the embassy. Gal began painting at age 12 when he underwent psychotherapy at the Anna Freud Clinic in London. In painting, he found catharsis for his soul's storms, and at age 15 he passed the A' Level exams in Art, which enabled him to enter Art College. His teacher Mr. Rhymer advised against it, and told him simply to paint and observe and self study works of masters like Van Gogh and Botticelli. He excelled in Maths and Physics and graduated from JFS - the Jewish high school, at age 17, returned to Israel and joined the IDF Nahal unit, ending his three-year service as a lieutenant. In Jerusalem, he worked in a photo store and exhibited his first one-man show in Beit Mori. The leading Israeli newspaper Yediot Ahronot published a favorable critique of the show, written by the renowned critic Miriam Tal.

In 1973 he served in the Sinai in the 1973 War, and then he studied Theater and Cinema at Tel Aviv University, graduated with Honors BFA majoring in Theater, began writing a Ph.D. on Jean Genet, and stopped, deciding to be an artist net. During his student years he published short stories in newspapers. Upon graduating from Tel Aviv University he began to write plays. His first play "Everyman" was performed at the Tel Aviv University Theater, directed by Prof. Edna Shavit, whom he married in 1978 and moved to live in Old Jaffa. In the following years Gal wrote dozens of stage plays, screenplays, short stories and novels. Among them about 15 plays for children and youth which were performed by his "Traveling Theater". His plays were produced in fringe theaters like Tzavta, Hasimta, Acco Festival of Alternative Israeli Theatre, and Haifa’s International Festival of children’s plays. During years Gal act sporadically in TV and cinema films, Israeli, American and British, directed some of his plays, designed sceneries for stage, painted and sold his paintings in one man shows.

Because he delved in diverse and many art forms simultaneously he was quite often nicknamed "The Renaissance Artist". and infuriated theater critics when he acted, directed, produced and wrote plays, garnering mocking critics like: "What does he think himself to be, Shakespeare?" Following one critic’s naming him "Pretentious" he wrote the play "The Rooster" (Originally "The Pretentious Rooster") 1988. For his theater acting he received many praises, as well as for his visual arts talents as painter and designer. From 1986 to 1994 most of his plays for children - some of which were co-written with Prof. Arie Sover - achieved high commercial success.

In 1996 he married Nili Dotan, playwright and screenwriter, and in 2000 their son Nimrod was born. In 1999 Nili produced the film "Wild" which Gal wrote and directed. "Wild" received enthusiastic critiques in the Israeli newspaper, was invited to ten international film festivals and received "Best Feature Film" award in the alternative independent film festival in Picciano, Italy, 2001.

Gal and Dotan got into debt, even though the film was distributed by the big "Golan-Globus Films" Theatres chain. Only at the end of 2002, when his paintings landed in the USA, the turn around occurred. The journey of coming free of debt while moving from theater and cinema to painting only, and the falling in love with America which brought him money, glory and satisfaction, he recorded in a semi autobiographical, illustrated novel which he published on Amazon.com as an E Book in 2009: "The Secret of America". Since 2002 Gal focuses on painting. He has a multitude of collectors and over a thousand buyers, mainly in the USA but also in Canada, Australia, Europe, China and Israel, he received dozens of awards, and began to show in China too. Gal lives in Old Jaffa, traveling abroad several times a year.

Exhibitions, Museums and Awards

Since 2003 Gal has participated in dozens of Art Shows across the USA, in what’s called "Art Festivals". Among the more prominent ones: Sausalito, CA, Belleville, IL, La Quinta, CA, Cottonwood - Richardson, TX, Bruce Museum - Greenwich, CT, Armonk, NY, Port Clinton - Chicago, IL, Woodlands, TX, Bayou City - Houston, TX, Boardwalk - Virginia Beach, VA, Brookside - Kansas City, MO, Bethesda Row, MD, Park City, UT, and many more. Outside of the USA he was invited to the Florence Biennale 2005, Beijing Art Expo 2011 and more… Gal was awarded about 40 times in the years 2004–2015 in American Art Shows. Best in Show and Best in Painting Awards and some Merit awards too. The Fu DzeNan Museum in Nanjing, China, run by and established by the famous Chinese painter Fu DzeNan acquired 12 major pieces from Gal in 2011. He has had 15 one man shows of his work since the first 1973 one in Jerusalem.

His Theater Plays

Everyman, The Tel Aviv University Theater, director Edna Shavit, 1978. Hanoch and Sophocles', Tzavtz 2 Theater, director Yoram Gal, 1980. Billy-Bull The Great, Acco Festival, director Edna Shavit, 1983. Outs, Hasimta Theater, director Yoram Gal, 1984 Isaac the Crybaby and his revenge on the Homeland, Acco Festival, director Aviel Hadari,1985 The Careerist, Tzavta Theater, director Dorit Yerushalmi, 1987 Bergman, Michael Almaz’s Theater in London, director Yigal Azrati, 1988, in English. The Rooster, Acco Festival, director Edna Shavit, 1989. Jacobo Hero of Goldonia, Acco Festival, director Edna Shavit, 1989.

Gal has written many plays which have not yet been produced, among them Psyche (1983), Spiritolini (1989), Professor Bergman (1982), Gabriella (1993), Hanita sets out on Life (1994), El Rais Is Coming (1994), The Egotist (1994), The Individualist and The Devil (1993), The Buick and The Caravan (1992), Shira from T (1990).

Plays for children and youth

Yaki Anaki, Hasimta Theater, director Agnes Poldash, 1980. The Old Man Walks, Hanita Erouim, director Edna Shavit, 1986. King of The Jews, Hanita Erouim, director Edna Shavit, 1988. Where did the Laughter go, co-written with Arieh Sover, co-directed by Gal/Sover, The Traveling Theater 1988. Anatoly’s Hope, co-written with Arieh Sover, co directed by Gal/Sover, The Traveling Theater, 1990. Drugs Lie, co-written with Arieh Sover, director Arieh Sover, 1990. David’s Violin, co-written with Arieh Sover, co directed by Gal/Sover, 1992. Maranos, Shema Israel, The Hour Theater, director Yaki Mecherez, 1992. Rutty Heroine of Jerusalem, director Yoram Gal, The Traveling Theater, 1993. Deddy and Lisa Salamat, director Yoram Gal, 1994. Let There Be Light, (Edison), director Yoram Gal, The Traveling Theater, 1995. Safely, director Yoram Gal, The Traveling Theater, 1995. Don Quixote, director Ednan Tarabshe, (translated into Arabic, Haifa Festival for Children’s Plays), 1994. The Old Man and I, adaptation of "The Old Man Walks" by Yoram Gal, co written with Nili Dotan, The Hour Theater, 2001. Yotam The Wild One, director Yoram Gal, Haifa Festival for Children’s Plays, 2003.

Theater Acting

The Family - by Ludwig De-Bear, directed by Ouriel Zohar, 1976 Everyman - lead role,1978 Billy-Bull The Great - various roles, 1983 Outs - various parts, 1984 Yehezkel Fireman’s Tales (The writer Y.H. Brenner), lead role, play by Danny Horowitz, director Yaakov Raz, Jerusalem Khan Theatre, 1986 Eliezer Ben-Yehuda - lead role in Eliezer The Dreamer by Hagit Rechavi-Nikkolevsky (also director), Orna Porat’s Theater for youth and children, 1982 Herzl - King of the Jews - lead role, director Edna Shavit, the Traveling Theater, 1987 The Miser - by Moliere, Harpagon, lead role, director Edna Shavit, 1994–2003 The Rooster - lead role, in play by Yoram Gal, director Edna Shavit, 1990 A gentle Spirit - one man show, by Dostoyevsky, translated and adapted by Yoram Gal, director Edna Shavit, Teatronetto Festival, 1993. And dozens of roles in show for children and youth in his traveling theater.

Directing

Hanoch and Sophocles, which he wrote, Hasimta Theater 1980 Outs, he also wrote, Hasimta Theater, 1984 The House is going to be empty again, with Bahat Kalachi, one woman show, Teatronetto Festival,1996 The Old Man and I - by Gal and Dotan, The Hour Theater, 2001’ The Game, producer Dov Keren, 2001

As well as directing plays in his traveling theater: Rutty Heroine of Jerusalem, Deddy and Lisa, Let there be Light and many more 1987–2003.

Cinema and TV

Wrote and directed the feature film "WILD", which was independently produced and upon completion received backing by Israeli FilmFunds, was invited to Film Festivals worldwide, got first prize for feature film in the Indie Film Fest "The Alternative Film Festival" in Picciano Italy 2001, was purchased by SBS (Australian TV channel) and YES in Israel and more. Created and produced (in co-operation with Opus, Gil Mitterani) the Israeli video cassette for toddlers "Wheels", director Nili Dotan. Distribution Hed Artzi 2001. partial filmography at the New York Times website.

TV and Film Acting

Under a black cloud’s shadow - lead role, Channel 1, Israeli TV, 1980 Remembrance of Love - lead Israeli part, NBC, kirk Douglas, 1982 A Dinner of Herbs- Nadav, lead, BBC full length drama, 1988 Friends of Yael - David, Channel 1, director Nadav Levitan, 1990 Nadav Leviatan Kamikaza - 1977 Black day in Sde Avraham - 1984 Shmita Year - 1986 The mirrors Scale - Amichai, leading roles, Educational TV 1991 The Revolutionary - Life of Jesus - role of St.Peter, parts I and II 1995-96 The Tale of the man who was silent - director Doron Nesher, feature film, role of Loya, 1998 Yes or No - Channel 1 - 2000 Minor roles in Israeli and American, and British films 1977–2002

Visual Design (stage)

Rubber Merchants by Hanoch Levin - design of stage, costumes and lighting. The Kamery Tel Aviv Theater 1978. And for many of his Traveling Theater shows.