SCREEN SPECTACLE

Fantasia/2000 is an almost entirely
new film which, like the 1940 origi-
nal, gives Disney animators the oppor-
tunity to visually interpret classical
compositions. It's a delight.
In this new version, the first for-
matted exclusively for IMAX theaters,
Mickey Mouse returns in Dukas' The
Sorcerer's Apprentice. Seven new ele-
ments include animated scenes set to
Stravinsky's The Firebird, Gershwin's
Rhapsody in Blue, Beethoven's
Symphony No. 5, Shostakovich's Piano
Concerto No. 2, Respighi's Pines of
Rome, Saint-Saen's Carnival of the
Animals and Elgar's Pomp and
Circumstance.
James Levine conducts the Chicago
Symphony Orchestra and performers
include Yefim Bronfman on piano.
Among the hosts introducing the seg-
ments are Steve Martin, Itzhak
Perlman, Quincy Jones, Bette Midler
and Penn and Teller.
Fantasia/2000 premieres Jan. 1 and
runs through April 30 at the Henry
Ford Museum and Greenfield Village
IMAX Theatre in Dearborn.
The production, under the direc-
tion of Roy E. Disney, employs state of
the art technology. "My Uncle Walt
envisioned Fantasia as the ultimate in
sight and sound and the IMAX experi- V
ence clearly lives up to that ambition,"
3
says Disney. A recently launched Web
site, www.fantasia/2000.com , takes
browsers behind the scenes.
Fantasia/2000 is rated G. Screenings
are daily at 10 a.m., 11:50 a.m., 1:40
p.m., 3:30 p.m., 5:20 p.m., 7:10 p.m.
and 9 p.m. Tickets are $10 adults/8
seniors and children (under 12). Group
(15 or more) discounted tickets are $8
adults/$6 seniors and children. For
more information, call (313) 271-1570.

DISTINGUISHED
HONOREES

Walter Cronkite returns again this
year to host The Kennedy Center
Honors: A Celebration of the Performing
Arts, the 22nd annual gala tribute to
artists recognized for their lifetime

contributions to American
spoken tribute from
culture through the per-
Christopher Plummer, who
forming arts.
says, "With exquisite tim-
This year's honorees
ing, [Borge] juggles the roles
include comedian/pianist
of clown, raconteur, concert
Victor Borge, actor Sean
pianist and symphonic con-
Connery, dancer/choreog-
ductor. ... He's a consum-
rapher/teacher Judith
mate classicist touched by
Jamison, actor Jason
impish magic."
Robards and singer/song-
The Kennedy Center
GAIL ZININIERNIAN
writer Stevie Wonder.
Honors airs 9-11 p.m.
Arts Entertainment
Born Borge Rosenbaum
Wednesday, Dec. 29, on
Editor
90 years ago in Copenhagen,
CBS.
Denmark, Victor Borge
was one of the leading film and stage
ODE
JOY
personalities in Scandinavia when the
From Jan. 6-9, the Detroit Symphony
Nazis came to power. In 1940, he
Orchestra conducted by Neeme Jarvi will
escaped from Finland on the S.S.
stage four performances of Beethoven's
American Legion, the last American pas-
Symphony No. 9 ("Ode to Joy"), present-
senger ship to leave northern Europe
ing a unique version of the score as
before the escalation of World War II.
revised by the famed Jewish-German
In 1963 he helped to establish the
born composer Gustav Mahler.
Thanks to Scandinavia scholarship
The concerts mark the first time the
fund in gratitude to the heroic deeds
DSO has performed Mahler's edition
of Scandinavians who, risking their
of the celebrated symphony in nearly a
lives, saved thousands during the
century. Soprano Camellia Johnson,
Holocaust.
alto Eleni Matos, tenor Frank Poretta
The honoring of Borge begins with a

III, baritone David Pittman-Jennings
and the University Musical Society
Choral Union join the DSO in the
concerts, 8 p.m. Thursday and Friday,
Jan 6-7; 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 8;
and 3 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 9.
The Oklahoma-born, Paris-based
Pittman-Jennings will make his Detroit
debut with these performances. A noted
interpreter of contemporary music, he
has frequently performed the role of
Moses in Arnold Schoenberg's Moses
and Aron. Still, he resists classification as
a modernist. 'I don't mind at all that
people recognize my talent for modern
music," he has said, "but I feel the need
for a constant return to the entire library
of great music from other centuries."
Tickets are $14-$66. Call (313)
576-1111.

To

BROADWAY BLAST

As it has reinvented itself over the
past 17 years as a perennial favorite
of New Yorkers, Forbidden Broadway
has been hailed for its consistently
hilarious lyrics and versatile cast.
Forbidden Broadway Strikes Back, the
latest incarnation from creator
Gerard Alessandrini, takes up resi-
o2 dence at Detroit's Century Theatre
for six weeks, from Jan. 5-Feb. 13,
following successful.runs of the
recently staged Forbidden Hollywood
and Forbidden Christmas.'
The newest version of Forbidden
Broadway will lampoon the recent
failures and triumphs of the Great
White Way, such as The Lion King,
Footloose, Rent, Jekyll and Hyde and
Ragtime. Stars on the skewer include
Bernadette Peters, Mandy Patinkin,
Julie Andrews and many more.
Half-price preview tickets for
Forbidden Broadway Strikes Back, at 7:30
p.m. Jan 5 and 6, are $14.50. Regular-
price tickets, beginning Jan. 7, range
from $24.50-$36.50. For show times
and ticket information, call the Gem
and Century box office, (313) 963-
9800. Tickets also are available through
Ticketmaster at (248) 645-6666. For
group sales, call (313) 962 2913.
Dinner/theater packages are available at
the adjoining Century Club Restaurant.

O

kb;

Clockwise from top righ
Victor Borge: Kennedy Center honoree.
David Piti712411-Jennings per forms the
baritone solos in Beethoven's "Symphony
No. 9" in his Detroit debut.
A scene from the "Rhapsody in Blue" segment
of aFantasia/2000," opening Jan, 1 at the
LAAX Theatre at Henry Ford Museum and
Greenfield Village. Director/animator Eric
Goldberg was inspired by the line drawings
of legendary caricaturist Al Hirschfild.

-

Out 6 About returns on Jan. 7

FYI: For Arts and Entertainment related events that you wish to have considered for Out & About, please send the item, with a detailed description of the event, times, dates, place, ticket prices and publishable phone number,
to: Gail Zimmerman, JN Out & About, The Jewish News, 27676 Franklin Road, Southfield, MI 48034: fax us at (248) 354-6069: or e-mail to gzimmerman@thejewishnews.com Notice must he received at least three weeks before
the scheduled event. Photos are appreciated but cannot be returned. All events and dates listed in the Out & About column are subject to change.

64