photo/eric wells

Oh, brother

“The Black-Jew Dialogues” is a two-man play that takes a comedic, provocative and poignant look at shared Jewish and African-American experiences of identity. In the capable hands of performers Ron Jones and Larry Jay Tish, sensitive topics such as slavery, anti-Semitism and the Ku Klux Klan become fodder for jokes and offer insights on race, culture and the nature of prejudice. See if humor really is the best medicine for social ills.
7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 4 at the Addison-Penzak JCC, 14855 Oka Road, Los Gatos. $10-$15. www.svjcc.org/arts

friday/3

“Cordelia, Mein Kind.” Performance combining dance, theater and visual art, inspired by Shakespeare’s “King Lear.” Includes imagined dialogue between modern-day Cordelia and her late father, a Yiddish-speaking Holocaust survivor. At Marsh Theater, 2120 Allston Way, Berkeley. 8 p.m. Also Feb 4 at 5 p.m. and Feb. 5 at 3 p.m. $15-$50. www.themarsh.org.

saturday/4

Kirtan rabbi. Performance by Rabbi Andrew Kahn includes Hebrew chants, meditation, music. At Congregation Kol Shofar, 215 Blackfield Drive, Tiburon. 8 p.m. $18-$25. www.kolshofar.org.

thursday/9

“Rooms.” Reconstructed performance based on choreography of Anna Sokolow, Jewish feminist who explored anti-Semitism through dance. At Stanford University, Roble Studios Gym, 375 Santa Teresa St., Stanford. 5 p.m. Free. http://dance.stanford.edu.

“Gimpel the Fool.” Theatrical adaptation based on I.B. Singer story. Performed by Howard Rypp, founder and artistic director of the Nephesh Theatre in Israel. At Oshman Family JCC, 3921 Fabian Way, Palo Alto. 8 p.m. $15-$20. www.paloaltojcc.org. (see story, 24)

saturday/11

“Dance as a Weapon.” Martha Graham Dance Co. performs works by Jewish choreographers Jane Dudley, Eve Gentry, Isadora Duncan, Sophie Maslow and Martha Graham, who used dance to explore political and social issues. At JCCSF, 3200 California St., S.F. 8 p.m. Also Feb. 12 at 2 p.m. $48-$60. www.jccsf.org.

tuesday/14

“The Adopted Princess.” Jewish Study Network presents a theatrical production by girls in grades 4-8. At Cubberley Theatre, 4000 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto. 7:30 p.m. $5-$36. www.jsn.info.

thursday/16

“Jewish Identity in Russian Ballet.” Multimedia presentation by Janice Ross, president of the Society of Dance History Scholars. At BJE Jewish Community Library, 1835 Ellis St., S.F. 7 p.m. Free. www.bjesf.org.

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“Crossing Delancey.” Tabard Theatre Company presents the romantic comedy about a Jewish woman looking for love in New York. Through Feb. 19. At Theatre on San Pedro Square, 29 N. San Pedro St.,
San Jose. Times vary. $10-$35. www.tabardtheatre.org.

“Higher.” World premiere of American Conservatory Theater play about American architects competing
to design a memorial in Israel. Through Feb. 19. At Children’s Creativity Museum theater, 221 Fourth St., S.F. 8 p.m. $45-$65. www.act-sf.org.

“Ragtime.” Youth Musical Theater Company presents Tony Award–winning musical set in 1904 about tension between in American Jewish immigrants, African-Americans from Harlem and upper-class whites. Opens Feb. 10. Through Feb. 18. Special performance at 2 p.m. Feb. 12 benefits company’s tuition assistance program. At Julia Morgan Center for the Arts, 2640 College Ave., Berkeley. 7:30 p.m. $12-$24. www.ymtcberkeley.org.