lit he Elk Shoals Uniiederhodist Camp in M IS rural North- Carolinas Blue Ridge Mountains became an interfaith camp for one week in the summer of 2002 when it hosted 32 Je-wish, Christian'and Muslim 'boys ages 9 to '13,-Many of whomhad never met members of other before. - - Filmmaker Rob"Fruchtman's documentary _explains how the Rev. Pete Parrish came up with the idea post-9-11, and enlisted Rabbi Murray Ezring and Islamic Center director Shafiq Mohammed to recruit participants, many of whom arrived at camp with wariness and preconceived notions. wwvv.detroitmidtown.com . POP/ROCK/JAZZ/FOLK Northville's Marquis Theatre presents If you think Harry Connick Jr. plays a - The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, for chil- pretty believable Jewish doctor on TV's dren 3 and up, through Jan. 18. Call for Will Grace (though its reported his Show times. $8. (248) 349-8110. tenure on the show is coming to an end), . • Wild Swan Theatre presents the maybe it's because the versatile Russian folktale The Firebird Dec. 10- singer/actor's late mother was Jewish. In 14, at Towsley Auditorium, Washtenaw any case, Connick and his Big Band • Community College, 4800 E. Huron bring a show called Harry for the •Dr., in Ann Arbor. $7-$9. Call for show GAIL ZIMMERMAN Holidays to the Motor City 8 p.m. times. (734) 995-0530. Arts & Entertainmeni Monday, Dec. 8, at the Detroit Opera Editor House. $37-$77. (248) 645-6666. Bela Fleck, considered one of the best banjo players in the country, brings his group Bela Bloomfield artist Karen Halpern is the artist of the Fleck and the Flecktones, playing a mix of jazz, month for December at the Birmingham country and bluegrass, to Ann Arbor's Power Center Community House. In her exhibit in the upstairs 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 12. $25-$35. (734) 761-1451. gallery, titled "From Midwest to Southwest," she shows her paintings, including her interpretations of the Midwest's countryside and historic buildings, as well as her new focus on Southwest imagery. (248) The Yale Whiffenpoofs, the oldest a cappella group 593-6956. in the country, perform Sunday, Dec. 7, on NBC's The Woods Gallery in Huntington Woods hosts Weekend Today. This year's crop of singers includes its second annual Chair-Edible Charity Auction 7- Dan Freeman, a 2000 graduate of North Farmington 10 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6, in the lower level of the High School. The show airs 9-10 a.m. on WDIV-: Huntington Woods Library. A variety of artist-creat- Channel 4 in Detroit. Check your local listings. ed chairs, benches, stools, garden pieces, as well as Comedy Central airs Hebrew Hammer, a paintings, sculptures and photographs on chair top- "Jewxploitation" film in the vein of Shaft, 9 p.m. ics, will be auctioned (in live and silent auctions) to Monday, Dec. 8 (check local listings for additional benefit three area food banks — Yad Ezra, Capuchin shoWings). The comedy stars Adam Goldberg as a Soup Kitchen and Gleaners. An exhibit of the works handsome Orthodox stud who is called upon to save continues through Dec. 20. A wine and cheese Chanukah when a psychotic anti-Semite (Andy reception and music is included in the $10 donation Dick) launches a campaign to eradicate - theFestival _ at the door. (248) 543-9720. of Lights. The film will be released theatrically Dec. -= DIA Curator of Modern European Art MaryAnn 19; there is no date set yet for Detroit. Wilkinson offers a talk on Minimalism to the Max, the development of minimalism and its influence on contemporary art through examples drawn from the exhibition "On The Edge: Contemporary Art from 1.3uppetArt/Detroit Puppet Theatre presents- the- airnlerChrysler Collection" as well as the DIA's Chanukah.— Close the Window, adapted by own collection, 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 7, at the DIA. Corrine Stavish from by the I.B. Singer story "The: Freewith.rnuseum admission. (313) 833-7900. First Schlemiel," 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6. Filleci:With warm Yiddish humor and old klezmer music,:tfig: story is presented by two characters from Chelm, WHATNOT played by live actors, with table=top 'puppets and _..Featnring. hundreds of Jewish books for all ages, as small-scale scenery. For 8 years and older. $5- well AS'OS;-:yideos, calendars and other Chanukah $7/puppet workshop following performance: $8. gifts, the seventh annual Temple Israel Book Fair (313) 961-1777. runs 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday, 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Midtown Detroit's University Cultural Center Monday, -9 .- a.rn.-9 p.m. Tuesday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. hosts the 31st annual Noel Night, 5-9:30 p.m. Wednesday and 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 7-11, Saturday, Dec. 6, as the city celebrates the area's at the temple in West Bloomfield. diverse holiday traditions amidst the state's premier Featured speaker, at 7:30 p.m. arts and cultural institutions. There will be activities Tuesday, Dec. 9, is the author of for the whole family, including On a Clear Winter's more than 40 books for adults Night planetarium shows, 6 and 7 p.m. at Old Main and children, Leslea Newman, on the WSU campus; a show featuring more than 50 who will present Out of the Closet Michigan artists–at Detroit Artists Market; 6. Nothing to VPar. Newman will Chanukah and KWanzaa celebration with story- read from her fiction and poetry tellers, 5-8:30 p.m: at the Detroit Institute of Arts; and address issues of being gay the Kids Klez Band of Michigan, 7 p.m. at the Author Leslea and Jewish, followed by a book Newman speaks signing. Free and open to the Detroit Public Library; and much more. Shuttle at Temple Israel public. (248) 661-5700. buses run 5-9 p.m. For a complete schedule and on Dec. 9. more information, call (313) 577-5088 or go to THE ART SCENE THE SMALL SCREEN The -documentaryTrust Me"fbllows an inte aith camp experiment. Some, feeling homesick, wanted to go home. But through typical camp activities like hiking,, fishing, arts and crafts, and campfires, plus dis- cussions and observances, the boys became friends and learned how alike they were You are each taking a leap of faith," Rabbi Ezring, who leads Temple Israel in Charlotte, N.C., tells the campers in Trust Me. 'You may be the start of a miracle of understanding that can show the people who live around us that we really are the same. We may pray a little dif- ferently,,but we're all just human beings. Maybe What we learn this week we can take home with us and continue and help people make the same kinds of friendships in the future. If you do that the dream of thiS.camp will come true." The message of "Salaam, Shaloin, Peace"- emblazoned on the camp T-shirts made an impression. Many of the boys have remained in touch, and the guest list at Adam Eisner's bar mitzvah included many of his Christian and Muslim campmates. The Rev. Parrish, Rabbi Ezring and Director Mohammed have established a nonprofit , foun- dation to continue the interfaith camp. — Gerri Millet; special writer Trust Me premieres 10 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 9, on Showtime. 12/ 5 2003 78 FAMILY FuN • 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, 29200 Northwestern Highway, Suite 110, Southfield, MI 48034; fax us at (248) 304-8885; or e-mail to gzimmerman@thejewishnews.com Notice must be 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.