senior year was the genesis of her love
multi-ethnic heritage. Global sounds,
of fiddle playing.
stories, skills and traditions high-
James used to be known as Elana
light the annual festival, which runs
Fremerman when she played and sang
Friday-Sunday, Aug. 10-12, in down-
on the five albums released by her
town East Lansing.
former trio, the Hot Club of Cowtown.
Five music and dance stages will
When the band broke up at the end
feature more than 70 performances
of 2004, she was hired as a member
throughout the weekend, includ-
of Bob Dylan's band.
ing appearances by
Following two tours with
the Cajun music group
Dylan, she launched
Balfa Toujours, African-
her solo career with a
American old-time
new name, though the
string band the Carolina
Kansas-born, New York-
Chocolate Drops, blue-
trained, Austin-based
grass group David Davis
musician still leans heav-
and the Warrior River
ily on the gypsy swing of
Boys, Acadian songstress
Django Reinhardt and the
Dominique Dupuis,
Texas swing of Bob Wills.
Latin dance ensemble
Admission to the Great
Grupo Fantasma, reggae
Lakes
Folk Festival is free.
band Roots Vibration
Elena James
Festival hours are Friday,
and Texas swing fiddler
Aug. 10, 6- 10:30 p.m.;
Elana James.
Saturday, Aug. 11, noon-10:30 p.m.;
As a child, James learned clas-
and Sunday, Aug. 12, noon-6 p.m. For
sical violin, the instrument of her
more information, call (517) 432-4533.
mother, a concert violinist. In college,
A performance and activity schedule
she switched to viola and played in
can be found on the festival Web site,
chamber groups. Her summer as a
ranch hand in Colorado just before her greatlakesfolkfest.net. Il

Main Stage Musical I Sept. 7 - 30, '07

Thoroughly Modern Millie

...the lives.

...the characters.

...the choices.

...

the music

2nd Stage Satire I Oct. 12 - 21, '07

Working Stiffs

Main Stage Drama/Comedy I Nov. 2 - 18, '07

Crimes of the Heart

Youth Theatre Drama I Dec. 7 - 16, '07

Its a Wonderful Life

Main Stage Musical I Jan. 18 - Feb. 10, '08

.

Cabaret

2nd Stage Drama I Feb. 29 - March 9, '08

Frozen

Main Stage Musical I March 28 - Apr. 13, '08

Urinetown - The Musical

2nd Stage Drama I April 25 - May 4, '08

String of Pearls

Main Stage Musical I May 23 - June 15, '08

Disney's Beauty and the Beast

Call us for a Season Brochure or to learn more about our FLEX PASS option!

415 S. Lafayette Ave.
Downtown Royal Oak

ST. GECRAFTE

;G.

248-541-6430

Visa & MC, All Seats Reserved

FYI: For Arts 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.

Of Note
Clive Davis, 75, the legendary

music mogul who is still on top of
his game, recently was given the
United Jewish
Appeal "music
visionary award"
at a New York ban-
quet.
The money from
sales of banquet
tickets went to
a UJA initiative
Clive Davis
to support music
programs in the public schools.
Serenading Davis at the banquet
was Oscar-winner Jennifer Hudson
(Dreamgiris).

Brawny Braun
Ryan Braun, 23, a rookie third

baseman for the Milwaukee
Brewers, has had an incredible
start since being called up from the
minors on May 25. As of July 30, he
had hit 18 home runs, had 50 RBIs
and had stolen 9 bases.
A 2005 first-round draft pick,
Braun hit well during spring training

with the Brewers but was sent down
to work on his fielding skills. His
fielding still needs work, but there's
no chance the Brewers will decide
to go without his bat again in the
foreseeable future.
Braun's father, who is Jewish,
was born in Israel and moved to the
States when he was 7. He settled
in Southern California and eventu-
ally wed Ryan's
mother, who isn't
Jewish. While Ryan
was not raised in
any faith, he has
told interviewers
how proud he is of
his Jewish back-
ground.
Ryan Braun
Braun is also
proud of his odd connection to
Jewish slugger Hank Greenberg,
a member of the Baseball Hall of
Fame who spent most of his career
with the Tigers. For the last 40
years, Ryan's maternal grandfather
has lived in a Southern California
house once owned by Greenberg.

teen 2 teen

ftbt
for teens by teens

Once a month in the JN

Want to know more?

Contact Keri Guten Cohen at (248) 351-5144 or kcohen@thejewishnews.com

August 9 a 2007

55