David Lehman, the author of seven volumes of poetry, examines what is Jewish about American popular song, and how Jewish songwriters “were reinventing themselves as American and changing America itself at the same time,” in A Fine Romance: Jewish Songwriters, American Songs (Nextbook/Schocken).
Inspired by both African-American blues and jazz and Jewish liturgical music, Irving Berlin, [...]
When one thinks of the Nazis and film, the name Leni Riefenstahl might come to mind. But the now largely unknown Veit Harlan was the most popular director in Germany during the Third Reich.
In a fascinating new documentary, Harlan: In the Shadow of “Jew Süss,” director Felix Moeller looks at Harlan’s career and plumbs the [...]
Dr. Sabina Zimering’s story of masquerade and survival is again brought to life at History Theatre through March 21
By DORIS RUBENSTEIN
It’s always hard to do a good job when your boss is looking over your shoulder. For the actors in Hiding in the Open, which premiered Feb. 25 at the History Theatre in St. Paul, it’s [...]
In a world premiere, choreographer Stuart Pimsler adapts an evocative children’s book for the stage
By MORDECAI SPECKTOR
In the first collaboration between Stuart Pimsler Dance and Theater and SteppingStone Theatre, choreographer and dancer Stuart Pimsler chose to adapt the children’s book Tales of a Gambling Grandma by Dayal Kaur Khalsa.
Pimsler says that “as a rookie father,” he [...]
From the production team that created Obsession: Radical Islam’s War Against the West, comes Crossing the Line: The Intifada Comes to Campus, a documentary about anti-Israel activism on college campuses. The rollout of the film — which is directed by Wayne Kopping and produced by Raphael Shore — comes ahead of Israel Apartheid Week events which [...]
Winners of the Keren Or – Ray of Light creative art and writing forum for Minnesota Jewish teens were presented with their award certificates and cash prizes on Sunday afternoon at Adath Jeshurun Congregation in Minnetonka.
The American Jewish World’s Feb. 19 edition includes an eight-page supplement with the winners’ photos, poems and stories. The winning [...]
First Minneapolis Jewish Humor Festival will run Feb. 25–March 7 at the Sabes JCC
By ERIN ELLIOTT BRYAN / Community News Editor
Theatre Or at the Sabes JCC has announced the first ever Minneapolis Jewish Humor Festival, a 10-day Fringe-like festival of one-act plays, one-person shows, music performance, stand-up comedy, improv, visual art, workshops, storytelling, film and events [...]
LONG AGO ON SECOND AVENUE — Zalmen Mlotek, artistic director of The National Yiddish Theater-Folksbiene, captivated the audience last Saturday night at the St. Paul JCC with his musical lecture about the history of the Yiddish theater in New York City, its stars and songs, and its influence on Broadway composers from Irving Berlin to [...]
Focus Features, the distributor of A Serious Man, have put up a Web site devoted to varied aspects of the Coen brothers’ film — now available in DVD and Blue-Ray formats for home viewing.
Amy Landecker stars as Mrs. Samsky, shown here with Michael Stuhlbarg, who plays protagonist Larry Gopnik, in writer/directors Joel and Ethan Coen’s [...]
To celebrate the 150th anniversary of Jewish humorist Sholem Aleichem, author Aliza Shevrin will speak 11 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 21 at the St. Paul JCC, 1375 St. Paul Ave. The event is part of the JCC’s Twin Cities Jewish Book Fair and co-sponsored by the Minneapolis Yiddish Vinkl.
Shevrin will offer new translations of Tevye the [...]
