Metro Briefs April 14
The Waldman International Arts & Writing Awards reception will be held on Wednesday, April 19 at 7 p.m. at the Holocaust Center, at 826 Hazelwood Ave.
The student winners from the Pittsburgh area and from Israel will receive their awards, and artwork, films and writings from the winners about this year’s theme of Spiritual Resistance will be displayed.
All are welcome; there is no charge to attend this event. Contact 412-939-7289 or csahovey@hcpgh.org for more information, and visit jfedpgh.org/Waldman to register.
Temple Sinai will present a “Keep Your Eyes on the Road” brunch and discussion on Sunday, April 23 at 9:30 a.m. After brunch, a discussion of the effects of distracted driving will present three different perspectives: a victim, a personal injury attorney and a representative of the insurance industry. A question and answer session will conclude the event. WoTS and Brotherhood are hosting the program.
RSVP to Mimi Botkin, 412-519-5524, mimi.botkin@gmail.com by April 18. Online registration is $10 and $18 at the door.
The JFilm Festival, a program of Film Pittsburgh, and Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre present a screening of the award-winning Israeli documentary “Mr. Gaga” on Tuesday, April 25, at 7 p.m. at the Manor Theatre, 1729 Murray Ave. “Mr. Gaga” took home the Audience Award for Best Documentary at both the SXSW Film Festival and the Aspen Film Festival. This will be the film’s Pittsburgh premiere.
“Mr. Gaga” chronicles the story of Ohad Naharin, choreographer and artistic director of Israel’s Batsheva Dance Company, who has spent the past 25 years pushing the boundaries of physical and political expression through the language of body movement. Naharin developed “Gaga” – a singular choreographic style that emphasizes seeing and imagining over performing.
The screening will be followed by a conversation featuring Saar Harari, manager of Gaga USA., as well as Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre’s executive director, Harris Ferris, and director of education and community engagement, Christina Salgado. The discussion will be moderated by Kathryn Spitz Cohan, executive director of Film Pittsburgh. Tickets and additional information are available at FilmPittsburgh.org.
Pittsburgh Allderdice High School will be celebrating its second annual DragonSpirit Party on Saturday, May 13 at the Pittsburgh Golf Club. Invited are current, former, and future Allderdice parents, loyal alumni from all generations, teachers, staff and school supporters. The event will raise funds to help enrich the learning experience for students and support improvements at Allderdice. The evening includes heavy hors d’oeuvres, desserts, cash bar, entertainment and a silent auction and raffle.
Join the party and have a great time while playing your part in making Allderdice’s fundraising event a success.
Visit https://dragonspiritparty2017.eventbrite.com for tickets. Contact dragonspirit2016@gmail.com for more information.
Stage and screen legend Joel Grey will be celebrating the Art of Aging with the Jewish Association on Aging as part of its annual fundraiser on Monday, May 15 at the Heinz History Center. Grey won the Oscar and the Tony Award for his iconic performance in the film and stage versions of the musical “Cabaret,” and dozens of other awards during a career that has spanned more than 75 years.
Grey will be talking about his extensive and celebrated career and may even surprise with a few bars from a well-known musical number or two.
It is rare for a performer to be known by so many different generations for so many iconic performances. To Baby Boomers, Grey is immediately recognized as the emcee in the stage and film “Cabaret.” For Gen Xers, he may be best known for his television roles on “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” or the real-life father of “Dirty Dancing’s” Jennifer Grey. And for millennials, he is known for playing the Wizard opposite Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth in the Broadway hit “Wicked.”
In December, Grey was awarded the 25th Oscar Hammerstein Award for Lifetime Achievement in Musical Theater. He is also known today as a writer and an accomplished photographer, with one of his photos on permanent display at the Whitney Museum in Manhattan and four published books of photographs. His memoir, “Master of Ceremonies,” was released in February 2016.
The event will also honor longtime Pittsburgh volunteer and activist Joel Smalley.
Visit theartofagingpgh.com or call Beverly Brinn, director of development, at 412-521-1975 for tickets, sponsorships and general information.
The Diller Teen Fellows Program is accepting applications for its leadership development program for Jewish teens in grades 10 and 11.
Funded by the Helen Diller Family Foundation and, locally, by the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh, the program operates in 32 communities in the United States, Canada, South Africa, England, Argentina, Australia and Israel. It develops future generations of active, effective leaders with a strong Jewish identity, commitment to the Jewish people, respect for pluralism and love of Israel. Together with its counterpart, Karmiel and Misgav Diller Teen Fellows, teens explore the principles of Jewish identity, community service, leadership and Israel.
Contact the program coordinator, Chris Herman, at 412-697-3233 or at cherman@jccpgh.org. Visit jccpgh.org/children-teens-family/teens/diller-teen-fellowship for the schedule of upcoming information sessions.
The application deadline is May 21.
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