P hoto cou r tesy o f Li fetime
the door. 350 Madison Ave.,
Detroit. (313) 963-2366.
What would happen if the
wilderness came indoors? Pippin's
Puppets will provide the answer
12:45 p.m. Sunday, March 28, at
Temple Beth El in a program
titled "Welcome to Camp Living
Room." Part of the Loren B.
Fischer Cultural Arts Series for
Children, the performance teaches
an environmental lesson about
Billy, who doesn't want to come
home from camp, so brings camp
home with him. Geared to chil-
dren ages 2-12, and inviting lots
of audience participation, the pro-
Bella Abzug is profiled in a Lifetime special
gram is open to the community at
premiering Sunday.
no charge; reservations are not
necessary. (248) 851-1100.
A Nancy Gurwin and Tedd E.
Bear production of the musical Beauty
The Lifetime cable network cele-
& the Beast, starring David Sherline,
brates Women's History Month with
graces the stage of the Aaron DeRoy
Theatre in the D. Dan and Betty Kahn
Intimate Portrait: Bella Abzug, a fight-
er who showed women how to use
Building of the Jewish Center in West
their voices and voting power to change
Bloomfield 4 p.m. Sunday, March 28;
and 2 p.m. Sundays, April 4, 11 and 18.
the world. Her father's death when she
was just 13 led to one of Abzug's first
$10. (248) 661-7605.
acts of rebellion — insistence on saying
Kaddish for him in their Orthodox
synagogue. Later in life, she established
the "Women's Seder," inviting women
Professor Anthony Lee, of the his-
from all religious backgrounds to her
tory of art department at Mount
Passover celebrations. Abzug died last
Holyoke College, discusses Rivera's
year. Narrated by actress/director Lee
Detroit Industry murals in the con-
Grant, and featuring interviews with
text of Stalinist social realism and the
Gloria Steinem, Marko Thomas and
shifting fortunes of organized leftism
Shirley MacLaine, the special premieres
in 1930s Detroit at 2 p.m. Sunday,
11 p.m.-12 midnight Sunday, March
March 28, in the Lecture Hall of the
28. Check your local listings.
Detroit Institute of Arts. Free with
museum admission. (313) 833-4249.
More than 20 Detroit area artists
bring their interpretations of human
New playwright (and W.S.U. law
school freshman) Avishai Adiv collabo-
nakedness to detroit contemporary in a
multimedia show that includes photogra-
rated with musician Paul Kates on a
phy, painting, sculpture, installation art
work for children's musical theater that
and live performance. Meet the artists at
deals with issues of coming of age,
an opening reception 6-9 p.m. Saturday,
racism and acceptance of one's self.
March 27. Through April 11. 5141 Rosa
Titled Star Shine, it will be performed
Parks Blvd, in the Woodbridge Historic
7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, March 26-
District of Detroit. (313) 898-4278.
27; and 1 p.m. Friday-Monday, March
26-29, at Toronto's Poor Alex Theatre,
296 Brunswick Ave., at Bloor and
Bathurst. A special question-and-answer
A member of Blood, Sweat & Tears, a
session follows the matinees. $12
backing musician for the Rolling Stones
adults/$8 students. (416) 782-9917.
and a longtime veteran of the rock 'n'
Youtheatre at Music Hall presents the
roll music wars, songwriter/musician Al
antics of everybody's favorite monkey in
reads from his new memoir,
Kooper
a musical version of Curious George, a
Backstage
Passes and Backstabbing Bastards
New York Theatreworks/USA produc-
7-9
p.m.
Saturday,
March 27, at Shaman
tion running 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Drum bookstore, 311-315 S. State, Ann
Saturday, March 27; and 2 p.m.
Arbor. (734) 662-7407.
Sunday, March 28. $7 advance/$8 at
The Small Screen
The Art Scene
Family Fun
Author! Author!
Three klezmer bands — one from Ontario, one from Illinois and one
from Michigan — are about to mix the sounds of tradition and today.
Finjan from Winnipeg, the Maxwell Street Klezmer Band from Chicago
and the Klezmer Fusion Band from Ann Arbor will be featured at Klezfest,
the Harry Laker Memorial Concert planned for Sunday, March 28, at
Temple Israel. The event, co-sponsored by the Temple Israel Couples Club
and free to the community, gives out tickets
on a first come-first
served basis.
"`Finjan' actually
means sitting around a
campfire and has to do
with being sociable,"
says Myron Schultz,
clarinet player for the
six-musician group.
"We sound traditional
without being tradition-
al by the book."
Paying their first visit
to Michigan, Finjan musi-
cians are used to perform-
Maxwell Street
ing in festivals and espe-
Klezmer Band
cially enjoyed one in San
Francisco.
"These festivals allow audi-
ences to get different perspec-
tives of one genre," says
Schultz, whose group has per-
formed together for 16 years.
"It's an intense presentation,
and a good time for meeting
all sorts of people who play
the music. I think it's fun to
see and hear how lots of peo-
ple interpret the style."
Finjan has made three
recordings (Ship to Shore,
Where Were You Before
Prohibition? and Crossing
Selkirk Avenue) and is about to release a
Finjan
fourth, which is still untitled. At least
one original tune is included on each recording.
The Maxwell Street Klezmer Band, which has performed in the
Detroit area once before, captures the sound and experience of a
Chicago neighborhood from the past. The street was known for its open-
air Sunday marketplace crowded with Jewish pushcart peddlers at the
turn of the century. Besides drawing on the music of the immigrant cul-
ture, the group adds Russian and gypsy dance music, folk songs and
jazzy Yiddish pop.
The Klezmer Fusion Band, familiar to metro klezmer fans, blends jazz,
rock and Latin beats into the traditional sounds. Musicians use folk instru-
ments to play some original compositions and lend their voices to Jewish
themes and lyrics added to popular rock tunes.
— Suzanne Chessler
Klezfest begins 3:30 p.m. Sunday, March 28, at Temple Israel. For compli-
mentary reservations, call (248) 661-5700. People who want to attend
without making reservations will be seated on a first come-first served basis.
3/26
1999
Deiroii Jewish News
35