By Carol Davis SAN DIEGO– “Oh what a night”! The San Diego Repertory Theater has joined forces with San Diego School of Creative and Performing Arts and is mounting, as the opening show of its 35th season, the Tony Award winning musical Hairspray. Based on the John Waters 1988 cult film (I happened to […]
San Diego Rep. rocks the house down with ‘Hairspray’ Read More »
Carol Davis, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
By Cynthia Citron BEVERLY HILLS, California – The actors are terrific and their characters are complex, varied, and funny enough to keep you entertained and engaged for two hours. Unfortunately, the play goes on for three… The play, written and directed by Allen Barton, is Engagement, now having its world premiere at the Beverly Hills Playhouse. And it starts off with a screaming tirade
Theater Review: 'Engagement' is, well, an engaging production Read More »
Cynthia CitronBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–More than two million overseas visitors arrived in Jerusalem during a recent year. The attractions are well maintained places linked to individuals and events featured in the Hebrew Bible and New Testament, and a functioning Old City enclosed by walls built in ancient times and last reconstructed in the 16th century. The
Jerusalem tourism waxes and wanes with international politics Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East, USA
By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO—The late Ed McMahon, a former colleague on NBC’s “Tonight Show with Johnny Carson,” might have introduced Shelly Cohen on Sunday afternoon, July 25, at the Tifereth Israel Community Orchestra’s pop concert, with a drawn out “Heeeeeere’s Shelly!” Such an introduction would have been in keeping with the show business
Tonight Show veteran gives afternoon concert some Pop Read More »
Donald H. Harrison
By Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. –JINSA has long expressed concern about military skills being transmitted by the U.S. to a Palestinian Authority military force while the Palestinian government remains openly hostile to Jewish sovereignty in the Middle East. The Israelis tell us, “The more they do against Hamas, the less we have to do.” The
Commentary: More worrying signs about U.S.-trained Palestinian army Read More »
Middle East, Shoshana Bryen, USA
By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO – In the Toy Story series of movies, toys wait for people to leave the room before they transform themselves into living, talking beings. But at the Comic-Con convention at the San Diego Convention Center, all such formalities are dispensed with. Toys become alive whether humans are present or
At Comic-Con, toys don’t wait for humans to leave before coming alive Read More »
Donald H. HarrisonBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–The sky is not falling. Today. After a week or so of panic following the encounter with the Turkish flotilla, nastiness from the peaks of the Turkish government, conventional censures from the United Nations and NGOs, and shrill comments of “We told you so” from J Street types, more conventional economics and
Commentary: Despite 'crises,' Israeli life remains on even keel Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East
By Cynthia Citron CALABASAS, California – Picture the Blue Man Group covered in mud. That’s a first impression of the Orto-Da Theatre Group, a sensational ensemble of actors from Israel making their American debut last week at the International Theatre Festival in Calabasas. Their presentation is called “Stones,” and, like the Blue Men, they work without words, completely in mime. “Stones” was created and directed by Yinon Tzafrir, who
Theater Review: A Monument Comes to Life Read More »
Cynthia Citron, Middle EastBy Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. — Andrew J. Shapiro, Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs, was dispatched last Friday to the Brookings Institution to advance the charm offensive that seeks to convince Israelis and American supporters of Israel that the Obama Administration is Israel’s best friend. He worked hard, but his bottom line was
By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM –Currently the most pressing religious war in these surroundings is not between Jews and Muslims or Christians, but among the Jews. As is typical of this recurring conflict, the weapons involved are not explosives. This round of conflict has not escalated beyond nastiness and disinformation. But those are sufficient to heat
Commentary: Reason for Israel's enemies to rejoice: Jews are fighting each other Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, USA
By Carol Davis VISTA, California– What’s not to like about Rogers and Hammerstein’s Oklahoma!? ‘Nuten Honey’, especially if you’ve been to Vista to catch Moonlight’s production of it. It’s upbeat, funny where it needs to be funny, rousing where it needs to be rousing and overall just plain damn solid entertainment. Moreover the
Moonlight’s “Oklahoma!” is OKLA… OK! Read More »
Carol Davis, Theatre, Film & BroadcastBy Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO–A friend of mine was considering a Mediterranean cruise. I suggested that he find another itinerary. One of the ports of call he had been considering was in Turkey. I can’t imagine a reason after the Gaza Flotilla incident why any member of the Jewish community would want to go
A pleasure cruise to Turkey? I think not! Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Middle East, USABy Natasha Josefowitz, Ph.D. LA JOLLA, California– It starts in the morning: Voice 1: “Get up!” Voice 2: “I’m still sleepy.” Voice 1 impatiently: “You’ll be late for work!” Voice 2, pleading: “Five more minutes.” It goes on at breakfast: Voice 1: “Whole-wheat toast and fruit!” Voice 2: “There’s a doughnut left in the fridge.” Voice
Inner Voices of Reason and Emotion Read More »
Natasha JosefowitzBy Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. –Thursday, July 15, was designated “Revolutionary Guard Day” by the Iranian government. The same day, two bombs exploded in a mosque in the city of Zahedan, in southeastern Iran. According to Iranian reports, two suicide bombers entered the mosque and detonated themselves, killing 30 and injuring more than 100 people. The
Jundullah movement terrorizing eastern Iran Read More »
Middle East, Shoshana Bryen