Shorts: Art

By J. Correspondent | April 25, 2008

Russian benefit concert at Beth Am

A benefit concert to help Russian-speaking Israelis achieve success in Israel’s public service sector will be held at Congregation Beth Am in Los Altos Hills. The fundraiser’s beneficiary, Atidim Cadets for Public Service, works with Russian-speaking Israel Defense Forces veterans to develop career leadership skills.

The evening’s program includes performances from vocalist Sergey Zadvorny, pianist Ella Belilovskaya, accordionist Grigory Krumik, a children’s dance troupe and the vocal ensemble The 4th Voice is Off Pitch.

The event takes place 5 p.m. May 4. Congregation Beth Am is located at 26790 Arastradero Road, Los Altos Hills. Tickets: $50 in advance, $60 at the door. For more information, call (650) 964-6838.

‘Brooklyn Boy’ playing in Marin

The Ross Valley Players will present a new production of “Brooklyn Boy” by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Donald Margulies. The nostalgic family comedy opens for a five-week run on May 9.

Matthew Lai stars as Eric Weiss, a middle-aged Jewish novelist who returns to his Brooklyn family home to reconcile with his past. Phoebe Meyer is the show’s director.

“Brooklyn Boy” plays Thursdays through Sundays, May 9 to June 15, with 2 p.m. Sunday matinees, at the Barn Theatre, 30 Sir Francis Drake Blvd., Ross. Tickets: $16-$20. For more information, call (415) 456-9555 or visit www.rossvalleyplayers.com.

Sherry Glaser’s ‘Breast’ comes to S.F.’s Marsh

Actress-playwright Sherry Glaser will bring her latest one-woman show, “The Breast of Sherry Glaser,” to San Francisco.

The show reunites characters from previous Glaser productions, including Miguel de Cervantes, Mother Superior and Sam Slam. The show opens May 2 at the Marsh.

Glaser created “Family Secrets,” off-Broadway’s longest running one-woman show. Other stage works include “Oh My Goddess!” and “The Adventures of Super Activist Mother.” She also wrote and starred in “Coping,” which won Los Angeles’ Outer Critic’s Circle Award.

“The Breast of Sherry Glaser” plays 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, May 2 to June 14, at the Marsh, 1062 Valencia St., S.F. Tickets are $22 to $35. For information call (800) 838-3006 or go online to www.themarsh.org.

Bay Area musicians to compete in Holland

Local Jewish performing artist Ira Levin and his wife, Julia Bordenaro Levin (a member of the Bay Area women’s a cappella group Vocolot) have been chosen as one of 25 acts to perform at the International Jewish Music Festival in Amsterdam. The event takes place May 9 to 12.

An international jury will judge the competing artists, who represent the spectrum of Jewish music, including folk, pop, klezmer, classical and liturgical.

For more information, go to www.ijmf.org.

Babs bags anniversary performance in Israel

Barbra Streisand this week canceled her appearance at Israel’s 60th anniversary celebration.

Streisand was scheduled to perform the Hebrew prayer “Our Father Our King” at a star-studded convention hosted by President Shimon Peres in Jerusalem on May 13.

Peres’ office reportedly said the singer gave no reason for her cancellation. — jta

J. Correspondent