ABUNDANT 'HAVEN' RUTH GRUBER'S HEROIC HOLOCAUST STORY GOES FROM MINISERIES TO MUSICAL.

Byline: Evan Henerson Theater Writer

Stephanie J. Block was all set to move to New York City where - the gods of stage permitting - a successful Broadway musical theater career awaited her.

That was before the Sept. 11 attacks threw the theatrical landscape into a frenzy. Block, who had moved out of her Studio City apartment, decided to stay put. For now.

``I'm kind of an acting nomad,'' the Brea-born actress says. ``Just saving my pennies, living between my boyfriend's house, my parents' house and a friend's house, waiting for the appropriate time to get out there. Perhaps in spring.''

A nomad, yes, but one with a ``Haven.''

Block will play Ruth Gruber, the Department of the Interior special assistant who brought 1,000 Holocaust refugees to the United States, in the new musical ``Haven,'' which opens Thursday at the University of Judaism's Gindi Auditorium.

That title might sound familiar in what is fast becoming the year of the ``Haven.'' Gruber's 1983 memoir, ``Haven: The Dramatic Story of 1,000 World War II Refugees and How They Came to America,'' was reprinted last year, and, in February, a two-part miniseries broadcast on CBS told the same story, with Natasha Richardson playing Gruber. (Anne Bancroft is up for an Emmy on Sunday for playing Gruber's mother, a character who doesn't appear in the musical.)

Not 'The Producers'

Common sense and good taste would seem to dictate that a producer faces a hard sell when he makes a musical out off Holocaust-related events - unless, of course his name happens to be Mel Brooks. But ``Haven,'' which was optioned for a film several years ago, survives multiple adaptations for one reason, says Block: Ruth Gruber.

``Within 20 minutes of talking with her on the phone, just in the first three sentences, you know this woman has lived five lifetimes within her life,'' says Block, sitting in the Gindi's empty auditorium on a day off from rehearsals. ``It's just amazing the millions and millions of lives that were lost because some people thought they were superior. This one woman had the strength and she felt the need to save 1,000. What a great story to be told.''

``Haven'' the musical - like the miniseries, made with now 90-year-old Gruber's blessing - has a score by William Goldstein (``Fame''), lyrics by the late ``Man of La Mancha'' lyricist Joe Darian and a book by Jerome Coopersmith. Michael Unger is the director.

Even with a cast of 27, the play's leading lady is in practically every scene. Which is fine with Block, a stalwart of Reprise! shows and in civic light opera companies around the southland.

``When you get to originate a role, a lot of who you are and your experience gets to come forward, '' says Block. ``This is such a huge piece. I like to undertake these fabulous strong women and bring them on stage.''

Her epic story

They don't get much stronger than Gruber. The Brooklyn native earned a Ph.D. at age 20 and, three years later as a correspondent for the Herald Tribune, became the first Westerner allowed into the Soviet Gulag and Siberia. As a special assistant to Secretary of the Interior Harold Ickes during World War II, Gruber traveled to Italy at President Roosevelt's direction to accompany the 1,000 Jewish refugees back to a safe haven in America.

Arriving in Oswego, N.Y., in 1944 after a difficult passage on the Henry Gibbins, the refugees were essentially quarantined at Fort Ontario. Gruber fought tirelessly to allow them to remain in this country once the war ended. Gruber is now called ``Mama Ruth'' by the refugees and their descendents, who now number more than 30,000 and include the man who developed the CAT scan and one of the creators of the Polaris missiles.

``Psychiatrists, business people, lots of doctors, they've really done very well,'' Gruber said of her ``family'' during a separate interview. ``I don't know whether it was in their genes or just their love for learning. They were so hungry for education, and we gave it to them.''

With each new retelling, the story of ``Haven'' changes slightly. In ``Haven'' the musical, Gruber has a love interest where one didn't exist. The miniseries, which stared Natasha Richardson as Gruber, spiced up a relationship with a German student as well.

Gruber says she can overlook dramatic license. She is pleased that the story is being retold - often with an aim of educating people about the Holocaust.

``A lot of schools are now showing the miniseries,'' said Gruber, who lives in New York. ``A teacher in Georgia divided it up into five days and teaches all the sixth graders. I've gotten all of these wonderful letters from 10- and 11-year-olds who found something about their lives in the miniseries.''

Remaining vital

Gruber, who will see the performance at the University of Judaism, has made herself available as a resource. She bonded with Richardson and spoke to Block. Even via a phone connection, Block found herself impressed.

``One of the last things I asked her was, 'Could I call you if I have more questions,' '' said Block. ``She said, 'Oh, Darling, I'm only home five days this month.' So she's traveling, giving speeches and accepting awards.''

Before they spoke, Block knew that Gruber had asked whether the actress playing her was Jewish. ``Which I'm not,'' says Block, laughing. ``Because of my last name, I'm often mistaken for Jewish. I'm Italian Catholic, but I play a lot of Jewish characters,''

Several years ago, when the movie was being considered for a feature film, Gruber envisioned Sophia Loren playing her. Loren was interested, says Gruber, but funding for the project never came through.

And, yes, Gruber finds it slightly bemusing that none of the actresses who have played her, either in television or in earlier workshops of the musical, have been Jewish.

``Isn't that interesting?'' said Gruber. ``Apparently, the Jewish belles don't fit their needs.''

Perhaps for ``Haven'' the opera?

``What a fantasy!'' Gruber says with a laugh. ``Somehow I don't believe that's going to happen.''

``HAVEN''

Where: Gindi Auditorium, University of Judaism, 15600 Mulholland Drive, Los Angeles.

When: 8 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, 8:30 p.m. Saturday, and 2 and 7:30 p.m. Sunday; through Nov. 20.

Tickets: $25 to $55. Call [phone].

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Photo:

Stephanie J. Block assumes the role of Holocaust survivor Ruth Gruber in the musical ``Haven'' at the University of Judaism.

Andy Holzman/Staff Photographer