TONIGHT: Carole King and Debbie Friedman, tomorrow Mel Brooks
February is Kids' Broadway: Annie, Mary Poppins, Wicked, Hairspray
At tonight’s 8 pm ET Carole King class, we’ll explore the extent to which her lyrics are feminist. We’ll also examine something surprising - and delightful - about “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?”.
Then, Debbie Friedman was two giants of 20th century Jewish liturgical music (Shlomo Carlebach was the other). The 9 pm. ET class will look at her life, music, and legacy, including her Mi Shebeirach Healing Prayer, and The World’s Official Havdalah she wrote (lie, lie, lie…).
“It’s good to be king.” Tomorrow we’ll look at the television, film, and stage work of one of the funniest men alive, nonagenarian Jew Mel Brooks. In a two-hour class we’ll explore the breadth of his career and why, exactly, so many people find him so funny.
In February, the Broadway Maven will be looking at shows particularly popular among young people. Both Broadway fans and their families (bring your grandchildren if you have them!) will enjoy the classes, which meet twice: Noon and 8 pm ET:
February 1, Annie
February 8, Mary Poppins (with special guests related to the film)
February 15, Wicked
February 22 Hairspray
(Links above are to Homework assignments.)
Sign-up for the Greatest Hits class in February, “Cartoon Jews,” which meets four times. Tuition: $2 total.
Register: bitly.com/BenkofFirst
Videos to Check Out:
One-minute video introduction to the course (please share widely!)
“Broadway Maven” playlist at YouTube
David Benkof’s YouTube channel
Calendar:
Wednesday, January 27 Carole King 101 (8 pm ET) and Debbie Friedman 101 (9 pm ET)
Thursday, January 28 History of Mel Brooks Parts One and Two (8-10 pm ET) *repeat from January 21
Monday, February 1 Annie (Noon and 8 pm ET)
Thursday, February 4 Disney’s Jews (Noon ET, with special guests)
Monday, February 8 Mary Poppins (Noon and 8 pm ET)
Thursday, February 11 Voice Actors (Noon ET)
Monday, February 15 Wicked (Noon and 8 pm ET)
Thursday, February 18 Roy Lichtenstein (Noon ET)
Monday, February 22 Hairspray (Noon and 8 pm ET)
Thursday, February 25 Schoolhouse Rock(Noon ET)
Finally, I’m booking Zoom classes for individual synagogues, Hadassah chapters, Federation committees, etc. Contact me if you’d like me to present one of my talks to an organization you work with. Right now the most popular ones are “If You Could See Cabaret Through My Eyes”; “SNL’s Jews”; “Contemporary Jewish Broadway”; and “Debbie Friedman 101” but I can offer any of them.
Note: You’re reading my weekly announcement E-mail, which is separate from my Weekly Blast. The Blast comes on Mondays and includes commentary on Broadway shows, RANTs, RAVEs, and YouTube links. I’m running an Inaugural Special for subscribers to the Blast: 25 percent off PERMANENTLY if you sign up by the first paid issue March 8. Just press the red button: