Jewish plays, Jewish authors, Jewish film fest opens, Jewish…apple picking? Yes! What a week!
Number 27, Comin’ Right Up! ($20-$32)
Sat. Oct. 17-Nov. 8; Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m.; Thursdays at 7:30 p.m.; Saturdays at 8:00 p.m.; Sundays at 1:00 p.m.; Sunday, October 18 has an additional performance at 7:00 p.m.; Highland Park Center Theater, 1978 Ford Pkwy, Saint Paul, MN
Set in1952—when an extra, unknown man (the 27th!) is thrown into a Soviet prison cell containing 26 of the biggest Yiddish writers, the plot thickens in this play directed by Kurt Schweickhardt and written by Nathan Englander. The play promises a “powerful examination of the slow suffocation of words, culture and, ultimately, truth that occurs under despotic rule.” I think I already saw this on an episode of HBO’s “Oz.”
Apple-ooza (*FREE!)
St. Paul Young Adults and Young Families Apple Picking
Sun. Oct. 18; 2 p.m.; Afton Apple Orchard; 14421 So. 90th St., Hastings, MN
It’s Fall! And that means it’s apple-picking time! Join St. Paul Federation Young Adults Division, Beth Jacob Congregation, Beth Jacob K’Tanim, Beth Jacob’s 20’s & 30’s Community, Mount Zion Temple, PJ Library St. Paul, TAXY Families, and Temple of Aaron for a fun-filled afternoon of picking apples as well as other festivities including getting lost in a maze and a hayride! Considering I’m allergic to hay and have no sense of direction, whatsoever, this sounds scary!
* FREE ADMISSION for those who register online at http://tinyurl.com/October18ApplePicking
The Double-Header ($5)
Twin Cities Jewish Book Series Presents Curt Brown
Sun. Oct. 18; 2 p.m.; Sabes JCC; 4330 Cedar Lake Rd S., Minneapolis, MN
Get your Klezmer on with Amanda Seigel, a newbie singer, songwriter, actor from New York City. Also performing will be Mark Stillman on the accordion. Seigel has performed with Folksbiene Yiddish Theater. European tour, Klez Kanada, and recently released A Toyznt Zamen, A Thousand Things. So, what? For that kinda dinero, they better damn-well play “Chava Nagila!”
A Novel Idea (FREE!)
Twin Cities Jewish Book Series Presents Assaf Gavron
Sun. Oct. 18; 7 p.m.; St. Paul JCC; 1375 St. Paul Ave, St. Paul , MN
One of Israel’s most acclaimed novelists is making his way to the TC area in order to promote his latest work, The Hilltop, which “grapples with violence, greed, and lust for power” as it examines modern life in Israel and the West Bank. Sounds like the pick-me-up story of the year!
La Chaim! ($10/advance; $14/same day)
To Life – Opening Night of the TCJ Film Festival
Thurs. Oct. 22; 6 p.m.; Sabes JCC; 4330 Cedar Lake Rd S., Minneapolis, MN
It’s that time again, kids!! The TCJ Film Festival is kicking-starting with “A La Vie” (“To Life”) about an Auschwitz survivor picking up the pieces of her life in postwar Paris, her journey to find some old friends and their reunion. The film, directed by Jean-Jacques Zilbermann, paints a portrait friendship that was inspired by the director’s mother and her annual vacation with the friends she made in the camps. I’ve got nothing! This sounds great!
Back Pocket…Events to Come! (Or…Events to Come, but we’ll schmooze about them more later!)
- Masquerade Murder Mystery; Beth Jacob Congregation; Oct. 24; 9 p.m. ($15)
- The Hadassah Chew; Waterstone Place Apts. Party Room; Oct. 25; 10:30 a.m. ($12)
- Journey of the Soul: An Exploration of Life, Death and What Lies Beyond; St. Paul JCC; Oct. 27; 7:30 p.m. ($80)
