The thirtieth annual San Diego International Jewish Film Festival has passed, closing on Sunday, Feb 23rd, 2020. There was a good variety of films including indies, documentaries, histories and comedies. I wish I could have seen more, but what I did see did not leave me disappointed. [Eric George Tauber]
Serious comedy: Reflections on the 2020 SDIJFF Read More »
Eric George Tauber, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
By Carol Davis SAN DIEGO — Playwright Sylvan Oswald identifies as a transmasculine interdisciplinary artist. That’s a mouthful for those of us just getting used to the words ‘trans’ or ‘transitioning’ or ‘transgender’, gender nonconformity, transsexual, gender reassignment, queer gender or labeling ones self as we/they or us. In the words of other mortals, “Get
Diversionary premieres ‘A Kind of Weather’ Read More »
Carol Davis, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
Rami Margron enters in purple robes and a golden garland. Dionysus has been reborn as Diane, who prefers the personal pronouns “they, them, and theirs.” Diane is a landscape artist with the chutzpah to ‘follow their own vision, not their clients’. With a crocodile haircut, workboots and guns most men would envy, Margron gives Diane a brash, butch androgyny that makes them compelling. Diane’s vision is to “re-wild” the suburbs with permaculture, taking it from manicured lawns and rose bushes to producing food, herbs and medicine “off the grid.” But Carol (Liz Wisan) is not having it. A chatty suburbanite who clips pictures from HGTV Magazine, she cares too much about resale value, “curb-appeal” and what “the girls” will think. [Eric George Tauber]
Swept up in ‘Hurricane Diane’ Read More »
Eric George Tauber, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
Before long the historic port city of Akko, Israel, will become headquarters for a search for sunken treasures of the academic kind in a project that brings together scientists from UC San Diego and the University of Haifa.
“Along the coast of Israel, submerged settlements, ancient harbors and sunken ships tell a unique story of 11,000 years of human resilience and adaptation,” explains Assaf Yasur-Landau, director of the Leon Racanati Institute for Maritime Studies at the University of Haifa. “I am very excited for this tremendous opportunity in which both partners – the University of Haifa and UC San Diego – join forces to create pathbreaking underwater and coastal research as well as a joint training program on the Carmel Coast.” [Donald H. Harrison]
Haifa, San Diego scientists to probe Israeli coastal waters Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Middle East, Obituaries & memorials, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA
Composer Engelbert Humperdinck’s 1893 storybook Opera, Hansel and Gretel, based on The Grimm Brother’s tale of the same name is the current fare at the Civic Center on Feb. 14th and 16th. This is the third time in the opera’s history producing Humperdinck’s work. [Carol Davis]
Puppets, opera combine in ‘Hansel and Gretel’ Read More »
Carol Davis, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
The 2019 Craig Noel Awards By Eric George Tauber SAN DIEGO — It’s rather unusual to get all fepitzed for a black tie and evening gown affair on a Monday night. But that’s the one night when all live theatres are dark. So on Monday, Feb 10, the San Diego Critics Circle hosted the 2019
Eat Your Heart Out, Big Apple Read More »
Carol Davis, Eric George Tauber, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
Notwithstanding Sunday’s rain, various celebrations in honor of Tu B’Shevat, the birthday of the trees, were held throughout San Diego County, kicking off a week of observances of what some call “Jewish Arbor Day.” [Donald H. Harrison]
Tu B’Shevat celebrated throughout S.D. County Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish History, Middle East, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, The World We Share, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA
Think of my predictions as the Oscar version of Real Clear Politics. I compile the predictions made in key Hollywood trade publications to determine the likely winners. These reflect what insiders know about voting trends among members of the Academy. I list the favorite and the second most likely if the favorite loses. Since I have been doing this, my predictions have been right 90 % of the time. [Laurie Baron, Ph.D]
Oscar Predictions for 2020 Read More »
Lawrence Baron, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
Other items in today’s column include: * A graveyard film inspired the SDIJFF chair * Political bytes * Coming our way * Recommended reading By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO – You can tell a lot about any of the 35 movies to be shown at the 30th annual San Diego International Film Festival
The making of an international Jewish film festival Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish History, Middle East, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
urder For Two by Joe Kinosian (Book and Music) and Kellen Blair (Book and Lyrics) stars Tony Houck as all the suspects (count about 12) in a killing we don’t see. Marcus Moscowic co-stars as JD Dumas, the wannabe detective who wants to solve the who-dun-it. Both enter. Marcus starts playing a four handed overture that ends with a BANG. Yup! A murder, maybe two, has been committed at the residence of Arthur Whitney, The Grand American Novelist. [Carol Davis]
1 actor plays 12 of the play’s 13 characters Read More »
Carol Davis, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
Just as the Oscars have a category for “Best Supporting Actor,” I think the NFL might want to consider an award for Best Supporting Player. In this game, to my mind, there was none better than offensive tackle Mitchell Schwartz, who so far as I know was the only Jewish player in the contest. [Donald H. Harrison]
Nobody gets past the Schwartz! Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, San Diego County, Sports & Competitions, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA
Young Israel of San Diego, located in a small shopping center at 7291 Navajo Road, is exploring the possibility of erecting an eruv, which under halacha, Jewish law, extends the area of people’s homes, enabling Shabbat-observant Jews to carry packages or push baby carriages with the eruv’s boundaries. [Donald H. Harrison]
Planning for San Carlos neighborhood eruv Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Middle East, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA
Coronado Playhouse is presenting through Feb. 23 Broadway’s Matilda The Musical with book by Dennis Kelly and music and lyrics by Tim Minchin. It is certain to be one of the all-time family entertainment productions here as it hits all the high notes while pointing out that wisdom is not necessarily reserved for “adults only.” [Carol Davis]
‘Matilda The Musical’ hits high notes Read More »
Carol Davis, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
By Carol Davis CHULA VISTA, California — In my growing up years, heaven was a place other people’s religions believed in. The one thing I knew for certain was Jews did not believe in heaven or hell. My friends and I talked that one to death – pardon the pun- when we got into philosophical
Roberta meets her Angel at the OnStage Read More »
Carol Davis, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & Broadcast