EVELYN RUBENSTEIN JCC HOUSTON
ar ts& ideas 2018/2019
INSIDE
Patron of the Arts p. 8 2018–2019 Program Guide p. 9 Connecting You to Israel p. 34 erjcchouston.org Itamar Borochov Quartet
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literature
Rachel Kadish
Unorthodox Podcast Hosted by Liel Leibovitz, Stephanie Butnick, Mark Oppenheimer
Nell Scovell
Ann and Stephen Kaufman Jewish Book & Arts Festival November 3-13, 2018
Inspiring and entertaining, the Ann and Stephen Kaufman Jewish Book & Arts Festival annually delivers a variety of opportunities for the community to learn and experience Jewish literary, culture and performing arts. The Book Festival is one of the largest events of its kind in the U.S., attracting established and emerging writers from around the world, representing a myriad of themes. Not just for book lovers, Book Festival also includes films, theatre, concerts and Oliver Lapin Family Day featuring authors, interactive performances and activities for children ages 2-11.
HIGHLIGHTS OPENING NIGHT: Nell Scovell Just the Funny Parts: ‌And a Few Hard Truths About Sneaking into the Hollywood Boys’ Club COMMUNITY READ: Rachel Kadish The Weight of Ink
Live Unorthodox Podcast A smart, fresh, fun, weekly take on Jewish news and culture produced by Tablet Magazine and hosted by Mark Oppenheimer, Stephanie Butnick and Liel Leibovitz
Chapter and Verse Sundays | February 10, March 17, April 14, 2019 | 10:30 AM Merfish Teen Center
This new program offers Sunday brunch and conversation as we hear from contemporary Jewish authors on relevant issues of today. Check our website for updates and details. 2 erjcchouston.org/pota
theatre THEATRE SPECIAL EVENT*
The Actual Dance Written and Performed by Samuel A. Simon
Presented in partnership with Congregation Beth Yeshurun Sisterhood and Houston Chapter of Hadassah
Saturday, October 13, 2018 | 8:00 PM Sunday, October 14, 2018 | 3:00 PM
The Actual Dance is a moving, insightful one-act play performed by its author, Sam Simon, as he tells the story of his wife’s successful battle with breast cancer from a unique point of view – that of a husband and caretaker supporting his spouse and ultimate cancer survivor through her difficult journey. In his performance of “the dance,” Simon is accompanied by two, live, on-stage musicians. *Not included in Patron of the Arts offering
Jewish Plays Project November 2018
Be a “fly on the wall” at this discussion of the top 10 selections from this year’s Jewish Playwriting Contest, sponsored by the Jewish Plays Project (JPP). Featuring JPP artistic director David Winitsky, The J’s Theatre Committee members and leading Houston theatre professionals, the conversation provides a rare opportunity to learn more about Jewish theatre in America.
God of Vengeance Staged Reading with Live Music by Lisa Gutkin Written by Sholem Asch Saturday, November 10, 2018 | 8:00 PM
Photo by: D. Escobedo
Staged reading of Isaac Goldberg’s 1918 English translation of Sholem Asch’s controversial Yiddish play, God of Vengeance, whose initial 1923 Broadway run was closed due to charges of obscenity, and whose story inspired the Tony Award winning play, Indecent, by Paula Vogel. Lisa Gutkin, the Grammy winning composer of the Klezmatics and of the music of Indecent (whose story tracks the history of God of Vengeance) will perform her compositions and arrangements along with local musicians, Donald Jacobs and Velizar Shumanov, including additional new scoring composed especially for this event.
Moonlight and Magnolias Written by Ron Hutchinson
February 14, 16, 17 & 21, 23, 24, 2019
Gone with the Wind
It’s 1939 and hilarity abounds. From the memoirs of legendary screenwriter Ben Hecht comes this true story, now adapted for the stage. Movie mogul David Selznick has stopped production on Gone with the Wind. The screenplay is a disaster! Locked in his office with Hecht—one of the best script doctors in the biz— and director Victor Fleming, yanked from the set of The Wizard of Oz, the three have just five days to re-write the flop into one of the great films of all time – all while eating only bananas and peanuts! 3
film Film at the Ann and Stephen Kaufman Jewish Book & Arts Festival November 3-13, 2018 FEATURING Love Gilda: The Eternal Spirit of Gilda Radner Director Lisa D’Apolito uses rare personal recordings and journal entries to tell Radner’s story in her own words. Along the way, friends and admirers, including Amy Poehler, Cecily Strong, Lorne Michaels, and a host of others, offer their most cherished memories of this brilliant trailblazer. Gilda Radner as seen in the documentary Love Gilda
DocuJews The J is proud to partner with the National Center for Jewish Film to offer several rare and relevant documentary films throughout the year.
The Free Voice of Labor: The Jewish Anarchists
USA, 1980, 60 minutes | Directed by Steven Fischler & Joel Sucher
Wednesday, August 29, 2018 | 7:30 PM Evening Pre-Labor Day Film Intro with Rabbi David Segal
The Free Voice of Labor: The Jewish Anarchists
Cuba’s Forgotten Jewels: A Haven in Havana
USA, 2017, 46 minutes | Directed by Judy Kreith & Robin Truesdale
Thursday, December 20, 2018 | 7:30 PM Pre-Film Cuba Libre Happy Hour I 6:30 PM
Making Trouble: Three Generations of Funny Jewish Women USA, 2006, 85 minutes | Directed by Rachel Talbo Produced by the Jewish Women's Archive
Thursday, March 21, 2019 | 7:30 PM Pre-Film International Day of Happiness Happy Hour | 6:30 PM
Making Trouble: Three Generations of Funny Jewish Women
Houston Jewish Film Festival March 30–April 10, 2019
The Wedding Plan, 2017's Women's Night film
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New promising, entertaining and exceptional award-winning films are featured in this annual festival, which brings Jewish lives and stories to the big screen. The films of HJFF have won Oscars, Ophirs (Israel), Ariels (Mexico) and other prestigious awards from around the world. With venues across town, the Festival, now in its 15th year, shines the spotlight on Jewish and Israeli culture, art and history.
music
Itamar Borochov Quartet
Itamar Borochov Quartet
Saturday, February 2, 2019 | 8:00 PM Israeli-born, Brooklyn-based trumpeter & composer Itamar Borochov connects lower Manhattan to North Africa, modern Israel and ancient Bukhara, celebrating traces of the divine that he finds in elegant sophistication, Middle Eastern tradition and downhome blues. Borochov brings a unique sound with him wherever he goes. Deeply immersed in the jazz tradition, Borochov's search for his personal roots resulted in an ever-expanding love for Arab and Pan-African musical sensibilities – a natural palette for a trumpeter-composer raised in Jaffa, an integrated MuslimJewish-Christian city.
Hankus Netsky & Eden MacAdam-Somer Sunday, May 5, 2019 | 2:00 PM
Featuring a reading of Sholem Aleichem’s work to commemorate his Yahrzeit presented with Yiddish Vinkel Houston A multi-instrumentalist, composer, and ethnomusicologist, Hankus Netsky is founder and director of the Klezmer Conservatory Band. He has composed extensively for film, theater and television, and has collaborated closely with such artists as Itzhak Perlman, Robin Williams and Theodore Bikel. Eden MacAdam-Somer recently released her first solo album, My First Love Story, and maintains an active international recording career with such bands as Notorious Folk, the Sail Away Ladies and the Klezmer Conservatory Band.
dance
Koresh Dance Company
For over 38 years, the J has presented the best and brightest dance artists to Houston audiences. The dance program presents local, national and international artists showcasing all forms of dance and being instrumental in launching careers of many dancers, companies and choreographers, as well as mid-size dance companies who otherwise would not have a platform for performance in Houston. Plans are still underway for the 2018-2019 season, so stay tuned! 5
visual arts Deutser Art Gallery Our Deutser Art Gallery is a non-profit exhibition and education space created to promote awareness, appreciation and interest in visual arts, reflecting the diversity of the Jewish people.
Mike Kaplan | Gotta Dance Too: The Art of the Dance Movie Poster September 7–October 26, 2018 Artist Talk and Reception: Sunday, September 23 | 2:00 PM
As a young child, Mike Kaplan fell in love with theater ads, clipping them from The New York Times, and coloring them with paints or pastels. Becoming part of the film industry allowed him to collect current poster favorites while discovering the beauty of vintage posters from around the world. A respected and vocal advocate for movie posters as an art form, Kaplan's curated exhibits have exhibited at Lincoln Center and The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
Orna Feinstein | Recent Work In Cooperation with Anya Tish Gallery
October 30–December 28, 2018 Opening Reception: Sunday, November 4 | 3:00 PM Orna Feinstein is an internationally recognized artist and a printmaker fascinated with nature’s inherent abstractions. Her work gracefully visualizes the geometric complexities of nature on both the micro and macro scale Dendros #2 while expanding the classic two-dimensional format of monoprinting into the realm of sculpture and installation.
Get Cultured
Rona Lesser's Autumn Along the River
Rona Lesser How Great Are Your Works Oh God! January 4–February 14, 2019
This exhibit, timed for the holiday of Tu B'Shevat, features landscape and nature paintings by Rona Lesser alongside Biblical and other Jewish texts that include nature images. Cantor Diane Dorf worked with the artist to choose the texts.
J Teen Art Scene | Art Exhibition by Local Teens February 19–March 22, 2019 Reception and Awards Ceremony Sunday, February 24, 2019
Get Cultured offers arts, culture and education events and get-togethers exclusively for young adults in their 20s and 30s. The Get Cultured season consists of film screenings, author talks, culinary programs, comedy nights and other events. 6 erjcchouston.org/pota
and more 10th Annual Rice University Jewish Studies Lecture Series
Preserving Our Past: Stories from the Houston Jewish History Archive October 21, 23 & 28, 2018
Rabbi Dr. Jimmy Kessler, “You Mean There Really Are Jews in Texas?” Sunday, October 21 | 4:00 PM Dr. Joshua Furman, “Hidden Stars: The Beth Jacob Banner and Houston Jews in WWII” Tuesday, October 23 | 7:30 PM The Beth Jacob Banner, c. 1945, Houston Credit Jeff Fitlow/Rice University
Dr. Melissa Kean, “Rice Institute and the Jews, 1896 to 1946” Sunday, October 28 | 4:00 PM
Jewish CultureFest
Sunday, December 9, 2018 | 2:00 PM–6:00 PM Levy Park | FREE and Open to the Public Join us for an afternoon celebrating Jewish culture. Featuring live music, local crafts and Judaica, specialty foods, art and mitzvah projects and an amazing Summer Camp Fun Tent!
Friday Night Lights This new program invites participants to experience Shabbat dinner in a sophisticated setting along with some high quality entertainment. Join us for one, two, or all three evenings at restaurants around town. Menus will be kosher style with fish and vegetarian options, but not certified kosher. Friday, November 9, 2018 | 7:30 PM The Grotto | Westheimer Friday, February 1, 2019 | 7:30 PM The Tasting Room | Uptown Park Friday, April 5, 2019 | 7:30 PM Américas | River Oaks
Arts in the Afternoon
The Arts in the Afternoon program provides the unique experience for our community to enjoy film, literature, music, and dance. All programs are offered on a weekday at 1:00 PM.
Wednesday, August 29 FILM | The Free Voice of Labor: The Jewish Anarchists
Friday, March 8 DANCE
Friday, October 19 MUSIC | Opera to Go
Wednesday, March 20 FILM | Making Trouble: Three Generations of Funny Jewish Women
Thursday, December 20 FILM | Cuba’s Forgotten Jewels: A Haven in Havana Friday, February 8 MUSIC | Opera to Go
Monday, May 13 LITERATURE | Marc Agronin: The End of Old Age: Living a Longer, More Purposeful Life 7
PATRON OF THE ARTS | JOIN TODAY!
Patrons of the Arts are dedicated individuals and families who make Jewish arts, culture and education a priority in their philanthropic giving. Becoming a Patron helps the J continue to present a diverse and stimulating array of programs in arts, culture and education each year. Support from Patrons of the Arts allows the J to contribute to the vibrancy of Houston as one of the greatest arts cities in the United States. $3,600 | Emerald All benefits of Diamond Plus, plus… • Membership in the Continuity Society $2,500 | Diamond Plus All benefits of Diamond, plus… • NEW Exclusive Meet and Greet opportunities with special guests throughout the year • NEW Series Pass for DocuJews • Up to four family guests, under the age of 16, for annual family performance $1,800 | Diamond All benefits of Platinum, plus… • NEW Series Pass for Arts in the Afternoon • Reserved Parking for the Ann and Stephen Kaufman Jewish Book & Arts Festival and the Houston Jewish Film Festival • Sponsorship of a particular author, film or performance • NEW Priority Ticket Purchase options for select events • Concierge service for seat reservations $1,000 | Platinum All benefits of Gold, plus… • NEW Series Pass to the Performing Arts programs (Theatre, Music & Dance)
$600 | Gold • Season Pass to the Ann and Stephen Kaufman Jewish Book & Arts Festival • Season Pass to the Houston Jewish Film Festival • Two tickets to one of each of the Performing Arts (Theatre, Music & Dance) performances • NEW Two tickets to an Arts in the Afternoon program • NEW Advance Ticket Purchase options for select events • Reserved Seating for Opening & Closing Nights of the Ann and Stephen Kaufman Jewish Book & Arts Festival • Patrons of the Arts Kick-Off Event • Easy Online Registration Code for tickets • Exclusive email newsletter • Recognition on Patron of the Arts collateral • Program Membership $180 | Next Generation (For those 40 and younger) – AGE INCREASED TO 40 • Season Pass to the Ann and Stephen Kaufman Jewish Book & Arts Festival • Season Pass to the Houston Jewish Film Festival • Two tickets to one of each of the Performing Arts (Theatre, Music & Dance) performances
• Series Pass for Rice University Program in Jewish Studies Lecture Series and Chapter and Verse
• Two tickets to select Get Cultured events
• NEW 10% Discount to Laykie’s Café at the J during Arts & Ideas programs
• Reserved seating for Opening & Closing Nights of the Ann and Stephen Kaufman Jewish Book & Arts Festival
• NEW Advance Ticket Purchase options for select events
• Patron of the Arts Kick-Off Event
We’d like to thank our community partners for their generous support of the Arts & Ideas programs at the J. The Maurice Amado Foundation The Eleanor and Frank Freed Foundation City of Houston through Houston Arts Alliance Houston Marriott Westchase Lillian Kaiser Lewis Foundation RBC Wealth Management 8
• Easy Online Registration Code for tickets • Exclusive email newsletter • Recognition on Patron of the Arts collateral • Member pricing for all Arts & Ideas programs
BENEFITS FOR UP TO TWO PEOPLE Patron Benefits are non-transferable
All Patrons Gold level and above receive two program memberships with their contribution.
erjcchouston.org/pota
EVELYN RUBENSTEIN JCC HOUSTON
Non–Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Permit No. 6217 Houston, Texas
5601 S. Braeswood | Houston, TX 77096–3907 713.729.3200 | erjcchouston.org
2018/2019 ARTS & IDEAS HIGHLIGHTS Film | The Free Voice of Labor: The Jewish Anarchists August 29, 2018
And More | Jewish CultureFest December 9, 2018
Art | Mike Kaplan: Gotta Dance Too September 7–October 26, 2018
Film | Cuba’s Forgotten Jewels: A Haven in Havana December 20, 2018
Theatre | The Actual Dance October 13–14, 2018
Art | Rona Lesser: How Great are your Works Oh God! January 4–February 14, 2019
And More | Opera to Go October 19, 2018 & February 8, 2019 And More | 10th Annual Rice University Jewish Studies Lecture Series October 21, 23 & 28, 2018 Art | Orna Feinstein: Recent Works October 30–December 28, 2018 Literature | Ann and Stephen Kaufman Jewish Book & Arts Festival November 3–13, 2018 Theatre | Jewish Plays Project November 2018 And More | Friday Night Lights November 9, February 1 & April 5 Theatre & Music | God of Vengeance November 10, 2018
Music | Itamar Borochov Quartet February 2, 2019 Literature | Chapter and Verse February 10, March 17, April 14, May 19, 2019 Theatre | Moonlight and Magnolias February 14–24, 2019 Art | J Teen Art Scene February 19–March 25, 2019 Film | Making Trouble: Three Generations of Funny Jewish Women March 20, 2019 Film | Houston Jewish Film Festival March 30–April 10, 2019 Music | Hankus Netsky & Eden MacAdam-Somer May 5, 2019
erjcchouston.org