Best Bets It's In The Cards U nlike the actors who've waited tables or parked cars to support themselves between roles, Jewish performer Josh Malina employed a different cash-making method: playing poker. "It carried me through some rough times," says the West Wing star. Now, in a way, he's paying back, via a six-week showcase on the Bravo cable network. Malina, along with co- executive producer Andrew Newman, conceived Celebrity Poker Showdown, which will award $250,000 Josh Malina in prize money to the play- ers' favorite charities. Malina enlisted West Wing cohorts, includ- ing Martin Sheen, Richard Schiff and Timothy Busfield; friends and poker buddies David Schwimmer and Hank Azaria; and used con- nections to snag stars like Ben Affleck, while talent bookers signed up the rest. Poker expert Phil Gordon and host and "chief tummler" Kevin Pollak give the play-by- play on the No Limit Texas Hold 'Ern games, which were taped at the Palms Resort in Las Vegas. "You play until you either lose all your chips or win everyone else's. The winners of the first five compete in the sixth, final episode," says Malina. Eliminated players are banished to the Losers' Lounge, to watch the rest of the game on closed circuit TV and root for — or taunt — those who remain. While comedians like Sarah Silverman, Tom Green and David Cross (who plays his first hour wearing a yarmulke) keep the proceed- ings lively, the stars quite seriously came to win," says Malina, citing the participants' competitive natures and the fact that the home audience can see their cards. Malina isn't in the tournament (he was a backup in case anyone scratched), but still plays occasionally in Azaria's weekly game. "Poker has been very good to me," says Malina, noting his significant poker-table friendships — most notably one with West Wing creator Aaron Sorkin that "led to a mil- lion jobs." He's already thinking about a second Showdown. — Gerri Miller Fridays and Saturdays Nov. 28-Dec. 27, at Ann Arbor's Performance Network. Acclaimed U-M pianist/professor Arthur Directed by Isaac Ellis, the cast features, Greene presents a Russian piano music among others, Gary Lehman and Kate concert, featuring works by some of St. Orr. $15. Reservations: (734) 663-0681. Petersburg's and Russia's great 19th-century The National Foundation for Jewish composers, 8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 4, at Culture presents the Fifth Annual Alan Rackham Auditorium in Ann Arbor. Free King Award in American Jewish Humor and open to the public. to social and political satirist Mort Sahl 6 www.umich.edu/stpetersburg. p.m. Thursday, Dec. 4, at a dinner at the GAIL ZIMMERMAN Belarus native Polina Khatsko, a student Mandarin Oriental New York in New Arts c.", Entertainment of Professor Greene at U-M and winner of York City. Alan King is master of cere- Editor the School of Music Concerto monies, and Al Franken and others are Competition, performs works by scheduled to perform. Tickets begin at Beethoven, Balakirev and Prokofiev during a $600. For more information, call (212) 629-0500. Cranbrook Music Guild concert 8 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 2, in the sanctuary of Christ Church Cranbrook in Bloomfield Hills. $30/$15 students. THE BIG SCREEN (248) 644-6352. The Anti-Defamation League presents Arabs, Muslims and Islam, a documentary film about four teenage Muslims from various regions of the world, including Dearborn, Mich., who explore what it is The Ark in Ann Arbor hosts WDET DJ Matt like to be Muslim in the current world climate, 7 Watroba, who performs songs and ballads accompa- p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 2, at the Emagine Theatre in nying himself on guitar, 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 28, Novi. A talkback with Sophia Begg, a political sci- $13.50; and blues duo Madcat and Kane, 8 p.m. ence major at the University of Michigan, and Thursday, Dec. 4, $11. (248) 761-1451. Wendy Wagenheim, director of communications for The Palace of Auburn Hills presents Grammy- the ACLU, follows. Free/donations to the ADL will nominated Best New Artist singer-songwriter John be accepted. (248) 646-2440. Mayer, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 29, $35.50; and The Girl with the Pearl Earring, a story set in veteran rockers Aerosmith and Kiss, 7 p.m. Sunday, 17th-century Holland about one of the painter Nov. 30, $55-$150. (248) 645-6666. Vermeer's most enigmatic paintings (scheduled to The three Jewish musicians who comprise the open in Detroit theaters in January) gets an advance alternative rock band Guster take the stage at screening 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 4, at the Detroit Detroit's State Theatre Friday, Dec. 5. Doors at 6:30 Film Theatre at the Detroit Institute of Arts. p.m. $21.75. (248) 645-6666. Proceeds from this special benefit screening go toward the purchase of new seats for the DFT. $10. (313) 833-3237. CLASSICAL NOTES POP/ROCK/JAZZ/FOLK ON THE STAGE Yes, it's called Forbidden Christmas, but the folks behind Forbidden Broadway and Forbidden Hollywood couldn't create a production about show . biz without a few Jewish faces, including Jewish pro- ducer John Freedson and Jewish performer Kate Willinger. The musical spoof includes actors imper- sonating co-host Barbra Streisand and singers Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme. The cast's Tevye does a rendition of "If I Were a Gentile." Running at Detroit's Century Theatre 8 p.m. Wednesdays, 2 and 8 p.m. Thursdays, 8:30 p.m. Fridays, 3 and 8:30 p.m. Saturdays and 2:30 and 6:30 p.m. Sundays, through Jan. 4. $28.50-$37.50. (313) 963-9800. Wayne State University's Bonstelle Theatre pres- ents a production of It a Wonderful Life, a play by James W. Rodgers adapted from the Frank Capra film by Jewish screenwriters Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett, 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays, Dec. 5-14. $8-$10. (313) 577-2960. LAUGH LINES Celebrity Poker Showdown premieres on Bravo 9 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 2. 11/28 2003 76 Project Pangea "messes with the holidays" in Improv to Eggnog, a late-night comedy show incor- porating games, skits and other zaniness, 11 p.m. FAMILY FUN Gemini, the acoustic duo of brothers Sandor and Laszlo Slomovits, performs a family show, with sing- alongs, hand motion tunes, folktales and music from around the world, 1 and 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 30, at The Ark in Ann Arbor. $7. (734) 761-1451. THE ART SCENE Lawrence St. Gallery, now located at 22620 Woodward Ave., in Ferndale, presents Celebrate Clay 2003, a juried exhibit of one-of-a-kind clay works by more than 50 area artists, Dec. 2-26. Opening reception: 7-10 p.m. Friday, Dec. 5. (248) 544-0394: Ann Arbor's Washington Street Gallery hosts Lynda Cole: Silver and Water, featuring the artist's clear acrylic sheets painted or worked with silver gilt, Dec. 2-24. Opening reception: 7-10 p.m. Friday, Dec. 5; artist's gallery talk: "Alternative Art Processes and Media," 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 11. (734) 761-2287. Oakland Community College holds its 28th Annual Potters Market 6-9 p.m. Thursday, Dec 4 ($10 preview and advance sale), with free admission 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, Notice must be received at to: Gail Zimmerman, JN Out & About, The Jewish News, 29200 Northwestern Highway, Suite 110, Southfield, MI 48034; fax us at (248) 304-8885; or e-mail to gzimmerman@thejewishnews.com 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.