i ,141, 1. 4 I Arts & Entertainment ON THE COVER Chai-Lighting from page B11 18 Years & Going Strong Elizabeth Applebaum Special to the Jewish News j Terri Stearn and Hillary Fisher in the gallery office, "a bit of fun chaos." him for a holiday dinner — at the home of her in-laws. Usually, though, it's up to Steam and Fisher to curate, which they like to do after tossing off their shoes and considering everything with an artist's eye for order (items on a similar theme might be placed together) and beauty. Janice's longtime friend Silvio Benvenuti helps, as does volunteer Marilyn McCall. Natalie and Manny Charach and the gallery's entire steering committee often assist at openings. The result is that any gallery proj- ect is always a collective effort from a color- ful and diverse group of men and women. Because the gallery operates on a generous endowment from the Charach family and with patron donations, mak- ing money is not a necessity — though the gallery does make money. Thanks to a small gift shop, the sale of artwork and occasional silent auctions, the gallery is now earning more money- in one year than it did in a decade not long ago. Profits are used for gallery programming. As one exhibit — on Israeli posters from 1930-1960 — draws to a close, and "Chai-Lighting 18 Years" opens, Terri and Hillary often are on the phone, getting organized and meeting with artists. The office is a bit of fun chaos; and work con- tinues late into the evening until the dark embraces the edge of the sky, then creeps closer, slowly, gently. Sometimes on these late nights, visitors and staff report hearing "a pat-pat-pat" in the gallery, as though someone is walking in flip-flops. Janice often wore flip-flops. So perhaps, some suggest, Janice has come back to see the art she helped bring to life. She stays for a while, strolling up and down the quiet aisles, seeing the whimsical paintings and the fine-line drawings and the sculptures. And then she is gone. ❑ Elizabeth Applebaum is a marketing specialist at the Jewish Community Center of Metropolitan Detroit. The Janice Charach Gallery is locat- ed in the Jewish Community Center of Metropolitan Detroit, 6600 W. Maple Road, in West Bloomfield. It is open from noon-4 p.m. Sundays, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Mondays-Wednesdays and 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Thursdays. For information: www.jccdet.org or call (248) 432-5579. anice Charach's dream to help young artists exhibit their work came true when her parents, Natalie and Manny, established a gallery in her mem- ory. The Janice Charach Gallery's upcoming exhibit, "Chai-Lighting 18 Years," will feature works by many such artists and celebrate the gallery's 18th year. The exhibit opens 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 7, with many of the featured artists attending, and runs through Sunday, Jan. 25. Additionally, at 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 11, a number of the artists will be on hand to give demonstrations and speak about their work. More than 40 artists are par- ticipating in the event, including Eileen Aboulafia, Robert Schefman, Linda Soberman, Katrina Ruby, Jay Lefkowitz, Albert Young, Monty Nagler, Terry Lee Dills, Jo Strausz Rosen, and Janice's brother, Jeffrey. Edie Simons of Bloomfield Hills will have a number of pieces on exhibit. "Because I am a full-time work- ing woman - and not a full-time artist - this is a wonderful oppor- tunity for me to be able to show at the gallery," Simons says. "I have a special style that seems to be appreciated within the Detroit Jewish community, so what better place to show my work?" ❑ Edie Simons will exhibit paintings (like the one shown) in "Chai- Lighting 18 Years." On Stage from page B15 Broadway production about New York- area newlyweds and their ex-es, who don't approve of the unions. The music is by composer Henry Krieger (Dreamgirls), presently working on a musical score for a show based on the 1984 film The Flamingo Kid. Through Dec. 14. At the City Center, Stage I, 131 West 55th St. (212) 581-1212. Streamers Tensions rise in this dramatic revival as four soldiers just out of boot camp in 1965 Virginia await deployment to Vietnam. Cast members include Hale Appleman. B16 November 27 • 2008 Streamers was written by David Rabe and first premiered in 1976. Through Jan. 11. At the Laura Pels Theater, 111 West 46th St. (212) 719-1300. with English and Russian supertitles. Through Dec. 28. At the ICC in Manhattan, 334 Amsterdam Ave. (800) 595-4849. Gimpel Tam Presented by the National Yiddish Theatre- Folksbiene, Gimpel Tam is a new Yiddish musical based on Isaac Bashevis Singer's story about a gullible, unlucky man beset by misfortune as a result of believing the bizarre lies told him by the townspeople in his shtetl. When given the chance to revenge those who have exploited him, he refuses because of his faith. Performed in Yiddish Mountain Jews Presented by the Jewish Theater of New York, this "play with music" tells the story of Isaac, a Jewish Orthodox man from Brooklyn who travels with his new bride to Israel to consummate their marriage below the "Gate of Paradise" located, he is certain, on a sacred mountain in Hebron. When Isaac encounters problems and sees a man calling himself Prophet Muhammad demanding the bride for himself, Isaac prays that the Holy Land will come to his help. At the Triad Theater, 158 W 72nd St. (212) 352-3101. Sessions In writer-composer-lyricist Albert Tapper's new musical, a psychiatrist and his patients reverse roles so they can help him through some of his own difficulties. Through Dec. 31. At the Algonquin Theater; 123 E. 24th St. (212) 868-4444. ❑