The Players Host A Dinner-Dance To Honor Sholom Aleichem 3/7

On Saturday, March 7 (2009), The Players in Gramercy Park will host an evening of laughter and song honoring the 150th anniversary of the birthday of Yiddish writer and humorist Sholom Aleichem (born March 2, 1859).

A black-tie dinner dance will be preceded by a program that will include loving reminiscences by Sholom Aleichem's granddaughter, 97-year-old writer Bel Kaufman (the last surviving family member to know and remember her grandfather, and author of "Up the Down Staircase" and other works); Theodore Bikel, currently performing in a touring production his "Sholom Aleichem: Laughter Through Tears. Accompanied by his wife, pianist Tamara Brooks as well as concert accordionist Merima Kljuco -- will open and close the program with scenes from the play; novelist and newspaper editor Pete Hamill, who will speak of Sholom Aleichem's experience as a journalist in New York; Sheldon Harnick, lyricist for "Fiddler on the Roof," who will recall the works of Sholom Aleichem that inspired him to create the legendary musical; and, throughout the event, audiences will be treated to performances by The Klez Dispensers, a contemporary group that plays Klezmer/jazz fusion.

The audience will also be present for the premiere of a short documentary film, Memories of My Grandfather, Sholom Aleichem: From Odessa to New York - featuring reminiscences by Bel Kaufman, rare footage of famed Yiddish actor Maurice Schwartz in the film "Tevya," and an interview with Sheldon Harnick - produced by eight-time Emmy Award-winning producer/writer/director Morton Silverstein with co-producer Patricia Millman, also an Emmy winner.

The evening's program will be recorded and compiled into an upcoming television documentary and DVD celebrating Sholom Aleichem's 150th birthday.

The gala evening begins with cocktails at 6 p.m., the program at 6:30 p.m., and dinner and dancing at 8 p.m. A benefit for The Players Foundation for Theater Education, tickets are $200; a portion of each ticket is tax-deductible. To order tickets and to pay by credit card, call 212-475-6116. The Players is located at 16 Gramercy Park South. Inquiries should be addressed to reservations@theplayersnyc.org.

 

To post a comment, you must register and login.