Theatre, Film & Broadcast

‘Write Out Loud’ Brings Joy of Storytime to Children and Adults

Who isn’t seduced by a great storyteller?  That enveloping sensation of being caught up in the creative, vibrant snare of a gifted word weaver transforms each of us into wide-eyed innocents, eager to share in the spinning of a yarn. Few raconteurs are as talented as the folks at Write Out Loud. [Eva Trieger]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Eva Trieger, Lifestyles, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

Israel Radio’s Assault on Classical Music

The much-loved Israel Broadcasting Association was disbanded (some say this was politically-motivated). Many of the familiar names and individuals vanished and a general shake-up of the tried and tested programming was introduced. Many new programs were introduced, but it was a relief to find that the classical music program could continue, albeit with set hours devoted to jazz and oriental music [Dorothea Shefer-Vanson]

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Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

A Feel-Good Black Family Christmas Story

With Chanukah just in the rearview mirror and Christmas and Kwanzaa on the horizon, New Village Arts has gifted us with one beautiful story about family, connection, and love. 1222 Oceanfront  A Black Family Christmas proves that regardless of ethnicity or faith we are all part of a family and all of the plusses and minuses that attend that structure. This sensitively written and supremely acted show is one of New Village Arts finest offerings to date.  [Eva Trieger]

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Eva Trieger, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

San Diego Rep’s Next Play Explores the World of a Neuro-Atypical Teen

In anticipation of San Diego Rep’s next mainstage production, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, I spoke by phone with Artistic Director, Todd Salovey. I had the magnificent opportunity to speak with him after the first reading as a company, and his insights and observations served as the basis for our call. [Eva Trieger]

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Eva Trieger, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

Movie review: Spielberg’s ‘West Side Story’ a dazzling update of classic musical

Published by Tribune News Service There is only one word to describe Steven Spielberg’s remake/revival of “West Side Story”: dazzling. As Janusz Kaminski’s wildly liberated camera swirls around the flying limbs of the Sharks, Jets and everyone caught in the middle, set to the familiar strains of Leonard Bernstein’s music, the cinematic spectacle is simply

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Theatre, Film & Broadcast

‘There Are Jews Here’ Documents A Dwindling World

There are Jews here. This can be a simple statement of fact, but it is often phrased: There are Jews here?! Small towns are not where we usually expect to find Jewish communities. Such small town shtiebels are the subject of a documentary film, There Are Jews Here through America Reframed and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. [Eric George Tauber]

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Eric George Tauber, Jewish History, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA

A YouTube Channel featuring Jewish Women Performers

The ATARA organization and Spotlight on Women have joined forces to create the Jewish Women’s Chanukah Playlist 2021 Channel on YouTube, featuring music videos exclusively from Torah-observant (Orthodox) female artists from around the world. [Toby Klein Greenwald]

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International, Jewish Religion, Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA

An Enjoyable ‘My Fair Lady’ at the Civic Through Dec. 5

If you haven’t seen the show, it’s based on George Bernard Shaw’s Pygmalion and is the story of a professor (Henry Higgens, played by Laird Mackintosh) who takes in a young woman who sells flowers in the street, (Eliza Doolittle, played by Shereen Ahmed) and makes a bet with his friend (Col Pickering, played by Kevin Pariseau), that he can turn her from a gutter rat into a duchess by teaching her to speak proper English instead of Cockney.  [Sandi Masori]

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Sandi Masori, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

Southern Belles Tolling Among Many Delightful Roustabouts Accents

If your objective is silliness and hilarity, you will be unable to escape both at the Roustabouts return to LIVE theater with “For Whom the Southern Belle Tolls.” This collection of skits was penned by Christopher Durang, legendary playwright and Tony award winner. The brilliant cadre of actors could only be improved by being complimented by Artistic Director, Phil Johnson. [Eva Trieger]

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Eva Trieger, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

Gaming Site, ‘Torah Live,’ Enlivens Jewish Education

Torah Live’s graphics, animation and film level are highly professional and their team of men and women includes over thirty scriptwriters, animators, video editors, and sound and special effects artists. While the world was in lockdown, Torah Live kicked in big time. Since Covid over a million and a half videos have been viewed, and the website has been accessed by 168,000 active users. It has hundreds of thousands of viewers from around North America and the world, including in Moscow, Paris, London, Australia, and South Africa, and including 117 in San Diego, a number the Torah Live people hope will continue to grow. {Toby Klein Greenwald]

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International, Jewish Religion, Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Toby Klein Greenwald, USA

‘She The People’ Comedy Heads West to San Diego

This cutting-edge comedy has been delighting audiences in Toronto, Boston, Washington DC, and Chicago over the past three years, and now the Lyceum will host this group of world-famous comedic stars.  The Washington Post described this show as a “funny, fiercely political comedy-sketch show.” This script is written and performed by an all-female troupe and pokes fun at the female experience, attendant stereotypes, and common experiences. [Eva Trieger]

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Eva Trieger, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA

Five Imaginative Teenagers Win Young Playwrights Honors

While so many dreams were dashed in this crazy pandemic period, Playwrights Project refused to succumb to any hurdles. The 37th consecutive annual California Young Playwrights Contest was held, and held vigorously, with great response! The actual in-person celebration won’t occur until January 22, 2022, but the cat was let out of the bag to a select few (ahem! this reviewer) last Saturday night.  And quite an evening it was. I was made privy to the top five young writers, aged 13-17. I have covered this competition in the past, and I am never left with a sensation anything short of amazed and humbled. [Eva Trieger]

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Eva Trieger, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & Broadcast