Jerusalem Update | Essay Contest | “Golden Age” Survey Course

Israeli citizen and Broadway Maven David Benkof is OK

Shalom, friends.

I have been so moved by the students and readers who have reached out to me as a teacher, writer, and friend at a time of great crisis for residents of my home country, Israel. I’d like to assure everyone that I’m all right.

I’ll be in North America through November 8, and after that I’ll return to Israel only when I feel it would be generally safe.

I pray for the victims, their families, and the soldiers who stand ready to defend against future attacks. זכרונם לברכה (may the memories of the lost be for a Blessing), and השם יקום דמם (may God avenge their blood).

This week only, I’m keeping the Weekly Blast brief. Here you’ll find an announcement of an essay contest (the top prizes are tickets to a Broadway or off-Broadway show this winter, details below); more information about November’s “Golden Age of Broadway” survey course; and as always a Last Blast, this one about South Pacific.

-David Benkof, The Broadway Maven

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What’s your funniest story about being an audience member at a Broadway (or similar) musical?

I’m pleased to announce an essay contest for readers of the Weekly Blast, with pretty terrific prizes: The winner will receive two FREE tickets to a performance of the new play Appropriate at the Helen Hayes Theater on Broadway. Second place is two FREE tickets to the play Spain off-Broadway at the Tony Kiser Theater. Both shows run in November and December; visit 2st.com for a schedule.

Appropriate has been described as “a darkly comic American family drama.” It stars Sarah Paulson (American Horror Story) and Corey Stoll (House of Cards) and involves “mysterious objects… long-hidden secrets and buried resentments.” Spain is “a seductive and funny new play about the art of propaganda and the dangerous ongoing Disinformation Age explores how art can change the world — for better and worse.”

The winners of the contest may choose any non-sold-out performance. If you cannot come to New York, the tickets are transferrable to a person of your choice.

Send a brief essay about your memory to DavidBenkof@gmail.com with the subject header “Essay Contest Submission” no later than tomorrow, Friday, October 13 at midnight Eastern time.

Submissions whose lengths are fewer than 150 words or greater than 250 words in length will not be considered, so be sure to do a word count before submitting. Contest is open to both regular and Premium subscribers to the Weekly Blast. (Non-subscribers may subscribe in order to participate.) By submitting an essay to this contest, you agree to allow it to be printed (with credit, of course) in a future issue of The Weekly Blast. Essays may be edited for clarity, style, and length. David has the right to declare no winner if none of the submissions are appropriate for The Weekly Blast. His decision is final.

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Excitement is building for November’s “Golden Age of Broadway” survey course, which meets every Sunday in November from 1 pm to 2:15 pm. Highlights:

• Selections from more than 100 songs from dozens of shows;

• Background about the plot, characters, and themes from each show;

• Weekly “music theory” segments with co-host and music educator Mateo Chavez Lewis; and

• A chance to decide which show you want to see (or see again) next.

Shows included (subject to change): Oklahoma!; On the Town; Carousel; Annie Get Your Gun; Brigadoon; Finian's Rainbow; Kiss Me, Kate; Gentlemen Prefer Blondes; South Pacific; Guys and Dolls; The King and I; Peter Pan; The Pajama Game; Bells Are Ringing; Li'l Abner; Damn Yankees; My Fair Lady; The Music Man; West Side Story; Gypsy; The Sound of Music; Once Upon a Mattress; Bye Bye Birdie; Camelot; How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying; A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum; She Loves Me; Fiddler on the Roof; Funny Girl; and Hello, Dolly!.

The course is normally $48, but those who pay by the Early Bird deadline (a week from tomorrow, October 20) save $9 and pay only $39.

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Note: links to register for ALL classes are always available at TheBroadwayMaven.com.

• Sunday, November 5 from 1 pm to 2:15 ET The Golden Age of Broadway survey course

• Tuesday, November 7: Gail Leondar-Wright on Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (registration opens soon)

• Sunday, November 12 from 1 pm to 2:15 ET The Golden Age of Broadway survey course

• Tuesday, November 14: Mateo Chavez Lewis on the musical motifs of Sunday in the Park with George (registration opens soon)

• Sunday, November 19 from 1 pm to 2:15 ET The Golden Age of Broadway survey course

• Tuesday, November 21: Peter Filichia on Hello, Dolly! (registration opens soon)

• Sunday, November 26 from 1 pm to 2:15 ET The Golden Age of Broadway survey course

• Tuesday, November 28: David Armstrong on The King and I (registration opens soon)

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BROADWAY BLAST: In South Pacific, Lt. Joe Cable feels tied down by society’s racist and imperialist strictures, which prevent him from marrying the girl he loves. His surname “Cable” (originally from James Michener's source novel) reflects both his metaphorically bound predicament and the cross-cultural message of tolerance he champions in “You’ve Got to Be Carefully Taught.”

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Broadway Maven David Benkof helps students further their appreciation of musical theater through his classes, his YouTube channel, and his Weekly Blast. Contact him at DavidBenkof@gmail.com.