By Toby Klein Greenwald EFRAT, Israel — More than twelve years ago, a friend of mine, Myra Gutterman, came to me with a creative new idea. She had decided to record and transcribe the experiences of balaniot (mikva attendants) and of women who use the mikva (ritual bath), to be performed as a show […]
Playwright tells story behind ‘Mikva’ Musical Read More »
Jewish Religion, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Toby Klein Greenwald
By Sheldon Foster Merel ENCINITAS, California — BlacKkKlansman, Spike Lee ‘s recently released film, covers the early years of the Black Power Movement in the 1970s , and most importantly exposes the Klu KLux Klan’s insidious agenda of racism, and Anti-Semitism in America. BlacKkKlansman is based on the life of Ron Stallworth who served as
High marks for Spike Lee film probing Klan Read More »
Cantor Sheldon Foster Merel, z"l, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USABy Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO – Holocaust survivor Abraham Bursztein (Miguel Angel Sola), the protagonist in the Spanish language, English-subtitled film The Last Suit, has a promise to keep before his children in Argentina move him out of his house and pack him off to a retirement home. Angry at their insistence that he
Holocaust survivor repays a debt in ‘The Last Suit’ Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Theatre, Film & BroadcastBy Oliver B. Pollak LOS ANGELES — Amazon Prime has started running a Canadian comedy drama series set in Toronto. Erica Strange, a thirty-two-year-old single, plucky and career frustrated, is played by Erin Karpluk and her middle age time traveling therapist, Dr. Tom, by Michael Riley. It is a bewitching and beguiling mix up. At
Amazon Prime series has Tikkun Olam theme Read More »
Oliver Pollak, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
“Not only was she a woman, but she was Japanese” – Glenn Scott Wright, director, Victoria Miro Gallery By Heather Z. Rothstain LOS ANGELES – I wasn’t interested in her work, then I watched this documentary. Move over Warhol, stand back Claes Oldenburg, Kusama’s time is now! Kusama Infinity – The Life and Art of
Talented artist Kusama overcomes prejudice Read More »
International, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Theatre, Film & BroadcastBy Dorothea Shefer-Vanson MEVASSERET ZION, Israel — The name of the author, the actress Simone Signoret, caught my eye and I bought Adieu Volodia for 50 cents (521 pages, hardback) last summer while browsing the stalls at a village brocante, a kind of flea-market in rural France where the locals bring out the items they wish
1985 novel by Simone Signoret still captivates Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, International, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
Love, Gilda, a CNN documentary by Lisa D’Appolito; to open Friday, September 21, at the Landmark Theatre in San Diego’s Kensington neighborhood. By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO – While growing up, Gilda Radner was teased unmercifully about being overweight. Her mother even put her on diet pills when she 10 years old. Knowing
If you’re an SNL fan, you’ll love ‘Love Gilda’ Read More »
Obituaries & memorials, Theatre, Film & BroadcastBy Pamela Pollack Fremd SPOKANE, Washington — I am a tough cookie, in my dreams, but Pick of the Litter, directed by Dana Nachman and Don Hardy, had me teary eyed from moment one in the documentary when different people talked about how their dogs had saved them. Equally warm and fuzzy moments followed when the
Pick of the Litter: A Canine Lover’s Treat Read More »
The World We Share, Theatre, Film & BroadcastBy Dan Wingard LOS ANGELES — I was saddened to read of the recent death of the great Neil Simon. I didn’t know him personally, but I felt like I did because I was lucky enough to perform in all three of the plays which form his autobiographical “BB” trilogy: Brighton Beach Memoirs, Biloxi Blues (in two
In memory of Neil Simon and his BB trilogy Read More »
Eileen Wingard, Obituaries & memorials, Theatre, Film & BroadcastBy Dorothea Shefer-Vanson MEVASSERET ZION, Israel — As ever, returning to Israel after two months of absence is something of a culture shock, particularly when it comes to driving a car. One is reminded with alarm that rules are no longer rules, the word ‘courtesy’ does not exist in the Hebrew language, and the overall feeling
Home again in Israel Read More »
Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, International, Middle East, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Travel and Food
By Mimi Pollack SAN DIEGO — Sandi Masori is like the song by the Rolling Stones, “She comes in color everywhere… She’s like a rainbow.” She wears many colorful hats in her life as an artist, businesswoman, and single mom. She was the owner of a balloon business, Balloon Utopia, and now owns a business
Sandi Masori: One Woman, Many Hats Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Mimi Pollack, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
By Eva Trieger SAN DIEGO — Cygnet Theater courageously performed a challenging one-man show that featured a less than popular topic. Not everyone wants to watch a show about mental illness or attempted suicide, yet, that’s just what Every Brilliant Thing introduces. This is not a show for the faint of heart, nor for
One-man play tackles depression, suicide Read More »
Eva Trieger, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
By Eric George Tauber CINCINNATI, Ohio — Last Sunday, on the same day that we lost Senator John McCain, we also lost a legend of the American Theatre: Neil Simon. I don’t think there’s a thespian in North America who hasn’t cut their teeth with his works. Other articles have hailed his many stage and
Neil Simon takes a final bow Read More »
Eric George Tauber, Theatre, Film & BroadcastBy Mark D. Zimmerman MELVILLE, New York — It was just announced that the hit sitcom The Big Bang Theory will be airing its 12th and final season beginning next month. The show stars Jim Parsons, Kaley Cuoco, Johnny Galecki, Kunal Nayyar, and Mayim Bialik, among others. Bialik, who plays neuroscientist Amy Farrah Fowler, has an
Jewish trivia quiz: Mayim Bialik Read More »
Mark D. Zimmerman, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Trivia, Humor & Satire