The Klezmatics to Bring HAPPY JOYOUS HANUKKAH to SOPAC This December

The foremost and best-loved Klezmer band, The Klezmatics, offer a program from their Grammy Award-winning collaboration with Woody Guthrie's lyrics for Hanukkah. The Klezmatics bring their hip, East Village sensibility to the South Orange Performing Arts Center on Thursday, December 21 at 7:30PM.

On their Grammy Award-winning 2006 album Wonder Wheel, The Klezmatics set a dozen previously unsung Woody Guthrie lyrics to music, widening their stylistic base by largely diverging from Klezmer. They have also recently served as the subject of a feature-length documentary film, The Klezmatics: On Holy Ground.

Since their emergence more than 30 years ago, The Klezmatics have raised the bar for Eastern European Jewish music, made aesthetically, politically and musically interesting recordings, inspired future generations, created a large body of work that is enduring, and helped to change the face of contemporary Yiddish culture. Often called a "Jewish roots band," The Klezmatics have led a popular revival of this ages-old, nearly forgotten art form.

They have performed in more than 20 countries and released 11 albums to date-most recently the album Apikorsim (Heretics), produced by Danny Blume (who helped the band win a Grammy Award in 2006) and the first of the band's albums to feature only the 6 members.

During their third-of-a-century existence The Klezmatics have collaborated with such brilliant artists as violinist Itzhak Perlman, Pulitzer prize-winning playwright Tony Kushner and Israeli vocal icon Chava Alberstein, plus many other prominent artists working within multiple genres

There will be a Q&A session with The Klezmatics moderated by Budd Mishkin immediately following the performance. Budd Mishkin has been a broadcast journalist for almost forty years. He spent 25 years as an anchor/reporter for NY1, New York City's 24 hour cable news channel. He's interviewed countless artists and luminaries and is a longtime resident of South Orange, NJ.

Celebrate Hanukkah with The Klezmatics - Happy Joyous Hannukah on Thursday, December 21, at 7:30 PM. Tickets are $30-$45 and can be purchased online at www.sopacnow.org/klezmatics or by calling the box office at (973) 313-2787.

Since 2006, SOPAC has been serving as a premier performing arts center in the region. SOPAC offers innovative artistic and cultural experiences for diverse audiences in an intimate, inviting environment. The premier arts center hosts a variety of live performances, community events and education programs for all ages. To further expand its offerings, SOPAC has a partnership with the Juilliard School of Music to present Juilliard @ SOPAC-a series featuring upcoming musicians from the acclaimed conservatory. SOPAC is home for Seton Hall University Arts Council's performances, including Classical Concert Series, Jazz 'N the Hall performances and Seton Hall University Theatre productions. SOPAC also presents performances by its theater company in-residence, American Theater Group. For more information, visit SOPACnow.org.

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