Celebrity Jews

ARTS&LIFE CELEBRITY JEWS

NATE BLOOM COLUMNIST

WONDER WOMAN AND TOM TO THE RESCUE

Wonder Woman 1984, the sequel to the 2017 mega-hit Wonder Woman, is arguably the biggest film release since the pandemic began. It starts streaming Dec. 25 on HBO Max at the same time it is released to theaters. AT&T owns WarnerMedia and HBO and it decided that getting more streaming subscribers was more important now than anemic theater revenues. Warners will release 17 new movies in 2021 in the same way.

Many filmmakers are not pleased with this decision. However, Israeli actress Gal Gadot, 35, offered another perspective in a recent Digital Spy interview: “The truth of the matter is we just didn’t have other better options. We felt like we were sitting on this movie for such a long time, we shot the movie in 2018, we started promoting the movie in 2019, we pushed [rescheduled] the movie four times. We felt like the movie was so relevant to what’s happening in the world right now that you come to a place at a certain time where you’re like, ‘OK, I just want people to watch the movie.’”

Gadot said she was open to doing another sequel. She also recalled how she felt when she first saw the opening sequence of the first film: “I got so emotional … I felt like Gal, the 8-year-old, watching another 8-year-old doing something out-ofworldly and being so good

Wonder Woman 1984

IMDB

at it … it moves me so deeply and so much that I just, you know, I got emotional.”

Tom Hanks’ first Western, News of the World, opens in theaters Dec. 25. He plays a former Confederate officer who agrees to return a white girl, taken by the Kiowa tribe years before, to her family, even though the girl wants to remain with the Kiowa. He and the girl travel hundreds of hard, eventful miles.

The film’s score is by James Newton Howard, 69, an eight-time Oscar nominee. Howard’s father died when he was 10, and 25 years later, he found out his father was Jewish. He later became a practicing Jew. Actress Mare Winningham, 61, has a large supporting role (“Jane”) and, like Newton, an unusual Jewish story. Raised a Catholic, she decided to take a Judaism class in 2001. Two years later, she converted to Judaism. Her conversion was not associated with having a Jewish romantic partner. A talented musical performer, Winningham likes to refer to herself as a Jewish country singer and issued a “Jewgrass” album in 2017. Last March, she got good reviews for her performance in Girl from the North Country, a hit Broadway musical that features many Bob Dylan songs. It had to close after a few weeks because of COVID-19.

DANCING FORWARD continued from page 35

“That intersectionality in my identity sparked interest in the personal narrative and the personal story.” She especially focuses on gathering stories from people of color, which are portrayed in both her interview project and through her choreographed dance. “Creating these platforms and making those PHOTOS COURTESY UM connections, I’m trying to figure out how we can get a seat at the table,” she continues, “to make change in the performing arts, to be a more diverse and inclusive community.” Kepler choreographed various pieces while at Michigan that tied her identity to her personal narrative.

To shine a light on the current U.S. and Mexico border crisis that has separated children from their families, she gathered 15 interviews from various news sources that featured her Latino friends on campus reading them, then reacted to those sound bites through dance moves. This powerful solo show was selected to be performed at the eastern conference of the American Dance Festival in 2019.

“Showcasing that solo on stage is a solid example of how the performing arts can show emotion that touches people in a different way,” Kepler says. Afterward, she explains, numerous students went up to her and told her how the story of the crisis hit them in a different way when viewed through art. “The performing arts can open people’s minds and hearts.”

Now, Kepler is working on continuing to build awareness for the performing arts community through the COVID-19 pandemic while also helping performing arts organizations with marketing and development. She hopes that in 2021, Broadway will be able to reopen and that dance companies will once again hold auditions so she can continue to pursue her career as a performing artist and choreographer.

“The performing arts need a lot of love and attention right now,” Kepler says, who believes a deeper appreciation for the field is quickly developing. “A lot of people are turning to the performing arts for their entertainment and to be uplifted during this hard time.”

ON THE GO PEOPLE | PLACES | EVENTS

WIMEE’S WORDS DIA FOR KIDS - 1 PM, DEC. 26

HISTORY AT BEDTIME 8 PM, ONGOING

The Detroit History Club is offering short, nightly, history lessons presented as a bedtime story. History Bedtime Stories will be posted nightly on its Facebook page, and on its website the following morn- WIKIMEDIA ing, detroithistorytours.com.

DIA FOR KIDS 1 PM, DEC. 26

The Detroit Institute of Arts is proud to present a free special edition of Wimage LLC’s engaging and live online show for kids — Wimee’s Words. Wimee is a fun, lovable robot that inspires kids to learn through creativity. Each special DIA episode will feature interactive songs, wordplay and more inspired by exhibitions and works at the DIA. This episode will deal with Frida Kahlo and Salvador Dali. Check the DIA website.

FILM SCREENING THROUGH DEC. 31

The Detroit Film Theatre through the Detroit Institute of Arts presents this Film at Home. Mayor is director David Osit’s compelling new documentary: a portrait of the second term of Musa Hadid, the affable mayor of Ramallah, the historically Christian city that serves as the administrative center of the Palestinian Authority. Hadid has day-to-day concerns to handle, from increasing tourism and planning the annual Christmas celebrations, to repaving sidewalks, but the darker realities of life under occupation are never too far away. Cost; $10. Tickets available through DIA website.

ZOA GALA 7 PM, DEC. 27

This will be an evening of superstars. Info: 212-4811500 or ionfo@zoa.org.

COPING DURING COVID 3:30-4:30 PM, JAN. 6

JFS will present this Zoom meeting with psychiatrist Dr. Jeffrey London. He will provide an introduction to anxiety disorders and discuss how to cope in this difficult time. Register: jfsdetroit.org/ drlondon.

Compiled by Sy Manello/Editorial Assistant. Send items at least 14 days in advance to calendar@thejewishnews. com.

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