Theatre, Film & Broadcast

‘Hamilton’ reflects traditional U.S. values

By Rabbi Ben Kamin OCEANSIDE, California — Aaron Burr is glacial; Alexander Hamilton is overwrought; King George has skinny legs and a hilarious voice; Eliza Schuyler (Hamilton’s deceived wife) is heartbroken and enraged. The unprecedented and prize-winning musical, Hamilton has been touring far and wide—I finally had the chance to see and hear it here […]

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Steve Kramer, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA

How a Jewish story may link to others

© Oliver B. Pollak RICHMOND, California — Some observations suggest sharing. They may be intimate, personal, or idiosyncratic. The task is to make them meaningful for a wider reading audience. My mission is to identify stories by Jews and of interest to Jews. Three recent San Diego Jewish World stories appear to have threads. I

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Oliver Pollak, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Travel and Food

Mayim Bialik honored at JCT event

JERUSALEM (Press Release) — Friends of Jerusalem College of Technology, which rallies support for an academic institution that is at the forefront of empowering women in Israeli society, Sunday night featured “Big Bang Theory” star actress Mayim Bialik as the keynote speaker at its New York City gala dinner. Over 400 people gathered at Lincoln

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Middle East, Science, Medicine, & Education, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

San Diego Symphony begins salute to Bernstein today; A columnist remembers her encounters with ‘Lenny’

By Eileen Wingard SAN DIEGO — The San Diego Symphony, like many other orchestras throughout the world, is honoring the centennial birthday of Leonard Bernstein, the great 20th century American conductor, composer, pianist and educator, by including his works in all three Masterworks symphony programs during the month of May, as well as in a

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Eileen Wingard, Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Obituaries & memorials, San Diego Calendar, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA

Snippet of ‘Power’ performed at YAAANA

By Ren Feldman SAN DIEGO — This past Sunday, a group of bubbies, babies, and everyone in between gathered to celebrate the one year anniversary of YAAANA, Yiddish Arts and Academics Association of North America hosted by the group’s founder, Jana Mazurkiewicz Meisarosh. The intergenerational gala kicked off with a schmoozy cocktail hour, mingling among

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San Diego County, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Travel and Food

Natalie Portman is a fine actress, but …

First of two articles By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — Lately, it seems as though Natalie Portman has transformed herself into a human lightning rod. She created a storm of controversy and gave the Palestinians in Gaza far more respectability than they deserved by canceling plans to receive a prestigious Genesis Award

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Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, Middle East, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA

Jewish trivia quiz: Verne Troyer

By Mark D. Zimmerman MELVILLE, New York — Actor Verne Troyer, best known for playing Mini-Me in the Austin Powers movies, died last week. In 2011, he visited Israel. Besides visiting the Western Wall, what else did Troyer do in Israel? A. Troyer, a Catholic, was in Israel to speak at the Youth Summit for Peace, sponsored by

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Mark D. Zimmerman, Middle East, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Trivia, Humor & Satire

‘Noises Off’ brings you behind the scenes of a comedy

By Eva Trieger CORONADO, California — Noises Off, the British play-within-a-play, was conceived by writer Michael Frayn in 1970, as he watched Vanessa Redgrave from the wings, perform in a show he authored. What he discovered was that the play was much funnier from off-stage and so he created this clever idea for his British

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Eva Trieger, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

‘Evening with Groucho’ brings back funnyman Marx

By Eva Trieger SOLANA BEACH, California — A delighted North Coast Repertory Theater audience watched in amazement Tuesday night, as Frank Ferrante became funnyman Groucho Marx.  Before our very eyes, Ferrante painted on his mustache, donned rimmed glasses and adopted the familiar Noo Yawk accent in his lightning quick banter. The ninety-minute show recalled Marx

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Eva Trieger, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Trivia, Humor & Satire