Brigadoon in The Bible Land

Having grown up on classical musicals, mostly in movie media, these winter morning mists in the mountains surrounding Shiloh remind me of Brigadoon, an all-time favorite of mine.

Considering that so much of Ancient Jewish History took place in this very location, and in the past forty plus years, we've turned an empty wilderness into vibrant cities and communities, there must be a connection. It's obvious that the curse of Brigadoon has become a blessing.

Not Quite Broadway, But Fun, Rothschild & Sons

Last night I joined a few hundred people in the packed Beit Shmuel Auditorium, Jerusalem, to see Rothschild and Sons.

It's a lovely production based on the true story of Europe at the time and of course the Rothschild Family. There are Hebrew and English subtitles shown throughout the show for those who need. They are on top of the stage, so they don't distract from the action and dancing.

I'm rushing to post this today, because there are still a few more performances.

Thursday, Jan. 9, 2020 – 7:30 pm
Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2020 – 7:30 pm
Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2020 – 6:00 pm
Thursday, Jan. 16th, 2020 – 7:30 pm
Location:
Hirsch Theatre, Beit Shmuel, 6 Shama’a Street, Jerusalem
To Order tickets call: (054) 578-9006

You can order tickets by clicking the link or calling (054) 578-9006.

Enjoy!

PS My friends and I were especially impressed by the live music and how they managed to place the little, though totally excellent orchestra in such a small space between the stage and row 1.

Very Off, Off, Off, Off-Broadway West Side Story

Last night a couple of friends and I went to the final performance of Beit Hillel's West Side Story, which was a super treat. We and the rest of the standing-room-only audience loved every minute of it.

Sorry, that we can't tell you to see the show, because it was only a limited run. But now we'll be on the alert for future productions. The performance level, sets etcetera were are on a very high level, and I was extremely happy that they had live music. Unfortunately live music is much too rare nowadays.

West Side Story is one of my all time favorite musicals. Yes, of course, I know all the lyrics by heart, and I'm proud to say that I controlled myself only mouthing them instead of singing out loud and annoying everyone around me.

Standing Ovation for Hidden-The Secret Jews of Spain

Photo by Batya Medad

that's me

As I had written yesterday, last night I was one of the lucky ones to have attended Opening Night of Hidden - The Secret Jews of Spain.

Opening night excitement was in the air. Multiple generations of women came to watch what we consider a "Sharon Katz Production." Sharon's shows have gotten better every time!

A few years ago, after hearing too many times that women who don't live in Gush Etzion also want to perform with her, she established The Women's Performance Community of Jerusalem. The Women's Performance Community of Jerusalem does more than grand musicals. When there isn't a big show in the works, there are monthly events where women perform for women, mostly to music. Though last year in the Yom Aliyah event, I performed stand-up.

Standing Ovation, Photo by Batya Medad

Last night, there was a rousing standing ovation for Hidden-The Secret Jews of Spain.

Hidden-The Secret Jews of Spain is based on the book “The Family Aguilar” by Rabbi Marcus Lehmann. Katz, her daughter Bati and Avital Maccles, who also starred, brought the story to life.

Music, production, sets, costumes, acting, singing etcetera were so professional, I had to keep reminding myself that The Women's Performance Community of Jerusalem is only an amatuer company.

An added bonus for me was seeing so many friends in the audience. There were many I've known for over half a century, newer ones I've met more recently in Matan and even facebook friends whom I had never met f2f until last night. Women came from all over the country to see Hidden-The Secret Jews of Spain.

There are only a few more performances, so get your tickets now. Click here to order.

The auditorium was packed. Photo by Batya Medad

Photo by Batya Medad

Photo by Batya Medad

Photo by Batya Medad

Hidden! Opening Night Tonight!!

Tonight's the night! Yes, even though I'm not one of the performers, B"H, I'll be attending the grand opening of Hidden - The Secret Jews of Spain, and I'm so excited. This is an original show by Sharon Katz and company. Produced by Women’s Performance Community of Jerusalem and the OU Israel Center. By women for women.

All the tickets have been sold for opening night, but there are still some left for the other performances. For ticket information click here. If you're at opening night, please look for me, and say "hello."

Let's Go To The Show!!! HIDDEN - The Secret Jews of Spain

My great disappointment is that I'm not acting/singing/dancing in  "HIDDEN - The Secret Jews of Spain." I ended up suffering severe hip pain the week of my audition and had to cancel. By the time I began feeling much better it was too late. I took that as a "sign" that being in a musical show was really too much for me.

Opening night is November 11, so get your tickets now!

Join us for "HIDDEN - The Secret Jews of Spain," an epic historical musical about an outwardly Christian, secretly Jewish family who struggles to keep its true identity amidst the ever-watching, merciless eyes of the Spanish Inquisition. Based on the beloved historical novel The Family Aguilar by Rabbi Marcus Lehmann, with permission of Feldheim Publishers.
Recommended from age 10 and up ~ For women and girls

For ticket information click here.

What's Your Favorite Movie?

The other day, I had a few hours at home for cooking and simple chores. Now that I'm finally finished with the year of mourning for my father, I'm enjoying music and watching musicals on the TV's DVD. I pulled out one of my long time favorites, "Five Pennies."

Loring "Red" Nichols is a cornet-playing country boy who goes to New York in the 1920s full of musical ambition and principles. He gets a job playing in Wil Paradise's band, but quits to pursue his dream of playing Dixieland jazz. He forms the "Five Pennies" which features his wife, Bobbie, as vocalist. At the peak of his fame, Red and Bobbie's daughter, Dorothy, develops polio...

I first saw the movie on television when I was a kid and found it very moving, besides the fantastic music. I love corny movies, and I love musicals. This is the type of movie that can easily bring tears, and I'm not the crying type at all. It's not a musical in the sense that Guys and Dolls, Brigadoon or Dreamgirls are but the music and storyline are so amazing. Even though I've seen it dozens of times,  we do have the DVD now, I hate missing a second of it and press pause if I have to leave the room.

I have a large collection of DVDs, and some I've seen numerous times. This is one of them!

What is your favorite movie and what do you like about it?

Fun and Funky Passover Music!

To keep me sane while cleaning I watched some of my favorite musicals on the DVD Guys and Dolls, Dream Girls and Phantom of the Opera.  I think I had also watched--sang along with another one but can't remember the name. If I remember I'll edit it in.

Which is your favorite this year?

Here's the Maccabeats:


And here's from aish.com

"Almost Like Being in Love"

When I was in the states I mentioned to a cousin and his friend that I buy movies on DVD and I'd really like "Brigadoon."

Guess what my parents brought me! A present from that cousin, "Brigadoon!" What a lovely movie. Nothing beats those old musicals. The dancing is better than I remembered it, and so is the story.

And coincidentally, what word did the "word a day" service just send, Brigadoon, what else could it be?

This week's theme: toponyms -- words derived from the names of places.
brigadoon (BRIG-uh-doon) noun
An idyllic place that is out of touch with reality or one that makes its appearance for a brief period in a long time.
From Brigadoon, a village in the musical of the same name, by Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe, based on the story Germelshausen by Friedrich Gerstacker. Brigadoon is under a spell that makes it invisible to outsiders except on one day every 100 years.