STN Entertainment

The .

Renaissan

T

Zalmen
Mlotek

Of Yiddish

his Sunday afternoon, the Maple-
Drake Jewish Community Center
(JCC) will rock with a different beat.
As the grand finale of its 1995-96 En-
core Series, the JCC will present Pearls of
Yiddish Songs, a program highlighting the
talents of Zalmen Mlotek and Joanne Borts.
It's no secret that Yiddish music is expe-
riencing a renaissance. And in this world of
music and entertainment, Zalmen Mlotek
ranks among its stars. Mlotek is regarded as
one of the world's foremost authorities in Yid-
dish folk and theater music. A native New
Yorker, Mlotek has redefined the genre with
numerous Broadway and off-Broadway hits.
His show Those. Were The Days was nomi-
nated for two 1991 Tony Awards and received
a Drama Desk Award.
Pearls of Yiddish Song is billed as "a sur-
vey of the role of Yiddish music in Jewish life
in Europe and America."
"A lot of American music is music that was
created here by immigrants trying to assim-
ilate to American culture. Much of the Yid-
dish music was a precursor to American
music style," said Mlotek. "People used to go
from uptown to downtown to see what was
going on. Gershwin and Berlin wrote of their
roots."
Mlotek's show. combines narrative with
music. As part of his. program., he discusses
the role of song in the everyday life:of the
shtetls and towns of Eastern Europe, as,well
as in the social upheavalsslf the late 19th
and early-20th centuries. His arrangements

include newer songs as well'as the stan-.
dards.
In general, Jewish songs are songs that
tell stories. "Yiddish songs reflect life — love,
unrequited love, motherhood, childhood, his-
torical experiences and joy," said Mlotek.
Joining Mlotek is theater and cabaret artist
Joanne Borts. A renowned chanteuse, she
has received accolades for her work around
the world and appears on several musical
recordings. Most recently, sheperformed on
Broadway in the 25th anniversary produc-
tion of Fiddler on the Roof starring Topol.
Mlotek has a musical mission: "I try to pre-
sent Jewish music to a younger crowd ... to
give a taste to another generation," he says.
(In Europe, many of the audiences are under
age 30.) "They come as if they'rdoing to a
rock concert. The energy is 'ainazin
. g."
You don't have to understand Yiddish to ap-
preciate Pearls of Yiddish Songs. "All my
shows are accessible to non-Yiddish speaking :.
audiences. I like to help people listen with an-
other set of ears," Mlotek says: "I liape that all
my performances are informative as well as
entertaining."
— Annabel Cohen

e Zalmen Mlotek and Joanne Borts will
perform Pearls of Yiddish Song at 2 p.m.
Sunday, June 9, in Shiffman Hall at the
Maple-Drake JCC. Tickets are $10-$28,
with student and senior discounts avail-
able. Reserved and general admission
seating. Call (810) 661-1000.

Big Apple
Circus

Jewish
Ensemble Theatre

Elephants and ac-
robats and clowns,
oh my. It's all that
Jazzmatazz under
the big-top tent at
Oakland Mall.
Through June 16,
(810) 645-6666.

We gave it 3 1/2 bagels. Social
Security, JET's comedy season
finale, has been extended
through June 16. Maple-Drake
JCC. (810) 788-2900.

Daily

Wed. & Thurs.,
8 p.m.;
Sat., 8:45 p.m.;
Sun., 2 & 7 p.m.

Rocky Horror
Picture Show

Red Scare
On Sunset

Let's do the time warp
again. Susan Saran-
don and Tim Curry in
all their splendor at
the Magic Bag in
Ferndale.
(810) 544-1991.

It's opening weekend of

Wed., 9 p.m.

Charles Busch's comedic

look at Hollywood's

blacklisting of the '50s.

1515 Broadway, Detroit.

(313) 965-1515.

Thurs., 8 p.m.
1,....,,ii......&- i...- .....;. .ai...iiiiiiiir.„
---- -

Detroit Zoo

Better than Tony
Orlando and Dawn, its
Toni, Cora and Sunshine ,
the zoo's first gorillas in 15
years. Woodward Avenue
and 10 Mile, Royal Oak.
(810) 398-0903.

Daily,
10 a.m.-5 p.m.