'All Things Equal — The Life and Trials of Ruth Bader Ginsburg' comes to Hoke Theatre

More than two and a half years after the passing of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the world in many ways is still coming to terms with the loss. That includes actress and singer Michelle Azar, who didn't have to think twice when asked to audition for a brand-new national touring production that celebrates the life of the beloved Supreme Court justice. "My manager said there's something about Ruth Bader Ginsburg's energy and the way I look that suits this show," said Azar, calling from Danbury, Connecticut. "I said, 'I'm not going to turn down any audition.' But as I was researching, I didn't know she comes from immigrant parents. My father was born in Iraq and my mom is from Brooklyn, but by way of Poland. "The other reason I wanted to take her on is to learn from her that we don't have to succumb to every hurt feeling. Her mother-in-law said to her on the day of her own wedding, 'Here's the secret for a happy marriage: It pays sometimes to be a little deaf.'" Written by Tony Award-Winning playwright Rupert Holmes, "All Things Equal — The Life and Trials of Ruth Bader Ginsburg" comes to the area for a March 21 performance at Lorain County Community College's Hoke Theatre. Whether it was her time on the Supreme Court, the 2015 biography "Notorious RBG: The Life and Times of Ruth Bader Ginsburg" or her 2018 biopic "On the Basis of Sex," the justice was cherished for always championing the underdog. "It's not that she comes into the world wanting to say 'no' or just be controversial or a megalomaniac," Azar said. "She came from a place of wow, things are deeply unfair for people of color, for women. She grew up at a time where Jewish women weren't welcome at a beauty salon. That's my story. That's everybody's story." That story is a 90-minute show staged in Ginsburg's cozy Supreme Court chambers, where she talks about growing up in New York City, being one of only nine young women studying law at Harvard and helping her husband, Martin, battle cancer. "Rupert Holmes did his research," Azar said. "He made it a beautiful mosaic of poetry and music and her own words. It's really astounding." While "All Things Equal" appears to be headed to Broadway, Azar didn't have much to say other than, "I hope I'm part of the structure of that. The future is unknown." Nevertheless, local audiences taking in the magical Ruth Bader Ginsburg lovefest are promised a special and empowering evening. "We want them to go out of the theater knowing that whether or not they're in public office or a student in junior high, they can make a difference," Azar said. "Everybody can find something to connect to and make a difference. Everybody has a right. Everybody has a voice." Contact John Benson at ndiffrence@att.net. IF YOU GO WHAT: "All Things Equal — The Life and Trials of Ruth Bader Ginsburg"WHEN: 7:30 p.m. March 21WHERE: Lorain County Community College's Hoke Theatre, 1005 Abbe Road N., ElyriaTICKETS: $40/Orchestra; $33/MezzanineINFO: (440) 366-4040 or stockerartscenter.com