00
years of
partnership

Goldberg, who spent time in
Michigan early in his career as a sports
producer for ABC, went back to Israel
in March with Mischer, and the two
locked into technical plans, such as
how to set the stage and how to put in
a monitor wall so the Israeli audience
— thousands are expected to congre-
gate outside the tower — could see
the Los Angeles segments. They also
met with performers.
"We're going to have the Israel
Philharmonic Youth Orchestra, and
they're absolutely first rate," Goldberg
said. "They're pre- recording the
music Jessye will sing at the top of
Masada.
"We have a wonderful choir — the
Ankor Choir. They've put out CDs,
and they've sung with the Israel Phil-
harmonic as well as the Israel Youth
Orchestra."
Award-winning TV, film and the-
ater writer Larry Gelbart
("M*A*S*H*" and A Funny Thing
Happened on the Way to the Forum)
heads up the three-person writing
team.

La
Matters

To L i fe" he writer

Larry Gelbart re cts
on his own life in a
new books

hortly before T a rry Gelbart
began working on the script
for "To Life! America Cek-
brates Israel's 50th Anniver-
sary," he was contacted about anoth-
er script by a Dearborn organiza-
tion.
Members wanted Gelbart's per-
mission, as playwright, to translate
Sly Fox into Arabic. They planned a
community performance for the
work about a con man, and he gave
his approval.
The theater piece, an adaptation
of Ben Jonson's Villpone, stands
alongside the writer's many other
hits, including TV's "M*A*S*H"
Broadway's A Funny Thing Happened
on the Way to the Forum and Holly-
wood's Footsie.
"It was certainly a novel experi-
ence for me," said Gelbart, 72, who
spoke Yiddish exclusively until he
was 4 and still uses the language

"Our tour will be a lyrical tour
that's sort of magical," said Goldberg.
"It will relate to biblical references and
show the countryside, coastline, cities,
mountains, deserts and greenery that
has been achieved there."
As an American celebration of
Israel's successes, the production also
will focus on the similarities between
the two countries.
"The people of both countries value
the land and developed the land. We're
both made up of immigrants. We have
a great feeling for democracy and free-
dom, and we have been friends for
many years," said Goldberg.
"Harry Truman was the first gov-
ernment official to recognize the state
of Israel in 1948, and we feel it's very
important that this show represent all
of the best of America and Israel, not
just Jewish culture but all of American
culture." ❑

"To Life! America Celebrates Israel's
50th Anniversary" will be broadcast
from 9-11 p.m. -Wednesday, April
15, on CBS, Channel 62.

when surrounded by others who
speak it as well.
As Gelbart heads up the writing
team for the special on Israel, he will
use his talents w emphasize the suc-
cesses of the country and its people.
"It's meant to be a birthday party,
America's party to celebrate Israel's
50th year, Gelbart explained.
"Toward that end, we're ryi.4 to
a very outstanding c
them material that's s
ed musically and dance
"I was inJ43e1 back
and to me, ' .seems
.
weeks ago. y te#1,V.: 1
and being a Jew start 4-
I wake up in the morning
ence whatever I do, whether it'
specifically about Israel or any other
project.
Gelbart's projects, before an ,` , •4•`\k
after he became a writing success
story, are outlined in his new book,
Laughing Matters, a series of essays
that capture the highlights of his life
and people he has known.
Early chapters briefly cover his
youth, first in Illinois and then in
California. The narrative moves on
to a piece about getting a break
through his barber-father's customer
--- Danny Thomas.
Vignettes recall developing ideas
and dialogue for TV's "The Bob
Hope Show," "Caesar's .Hour" and

Peter, Pau
& Mary

a

SUNDAY

"

11-

g:

Tickets: $10 $20 $30 $40

Patron Tickets: $500 — includes
box seat and afterglow
For Tickets: Ticketmaster (248) 645-6666
or Detroit Opera House (313) 961-3500

.

$1.50 Detroit Opera House restoration charge will be added to ticket price

Israel

t 50 Hotline: 1-888-481-5943

