Oshman Family JCC Presents Music, Theatre, and More in 2016-2017 ARTS & DIALOGUES

The Oshman Family Jewish Community Center of Palo Alto proudly announces the Fall-Winter Season for its 2016-2017 Arts & Dialogues series, featuring an array of luminaries, innovators and world-renowned performers at the OFJCC's Albert & Janet Schultz Cultural Arts Hall in Palo Alto.

Launching in September and continuing through December, the OFJCC will host performances by award-winning musicians such as singer-songwriter Yael Naïm and piano greats Laura Magnani, and the Grammy-nominated Konstantin Lifschitz. Audiences will enjoy the side-splitting hilarity of comedian Rob Schneider, and witty observations on Jewish life by celebrated KQED radio host Michael Krasny. The season is capped by spellbinding theatrical performances for all ages: the exclusive West Coast premiere of The Dybbuk: A Multimedia Chamber Opera as well as the unforgettable, interactive, and family-friendly production of B-The Underwater Bubble Show.

In chronological order, the OFJCC's 2016/17 season is as follows:

Opera for Families shares the magic of opera with children of all ages in an up-to-date, fascinating, and fun way. Two singers and a pianist perform operatic selections, enhanced with insightful explanations, role-playing games, and more to help young audiences explore different aspects of opera. The event has received rave reviews for offering enriching experiences that introduce children to opera in a delightful format. Opera for Families is hosted by pianist Efrat Levy, soprano Amy Foote, and mezzo-soprano Deborah Rosengaus. Tickets are $18 general/$15 for JCC members and youth under 18. More information can be found at http://paloaltojcc.org/operaforfamilies or by calling (650) 223-8649.

Yael Naïm Live
8pm Tuesday, September 13

Internationally acclaimEd French-Israeli singer-songwriter Yael Naïm will give an intimate performance at the OFJCC. Naïm rose to international prominence in 2008 after her hit song "New Soul" was handpicked by Steve Jobs to be featured in an Apple MacBook Air commercial. The global visibility of the commercial shot the song to the top of three Billboard charts, makingNaïm the first Israeli solo artist to have a top 10 hit in the United States and establishing her international following. The one-night-only show will feature Naïm and her creative partner, musician-producer David Donatien. Tickets are $55 in advance/$65 at the door, space permitting. More information can be found at http://paloaltojcc.org/Events/yaelnaim or by calling (650) 223-8649.

The Dybbuk: A Multimedia Chamber Opera

8pm Saturday, September 24 & 5pm Sunday, September 25

The Oshman Family JCC will present the West Coast premiere of an acclaimed new multimedia, chamber opera setting of The Dybbuk. Inspired by S. Ansky's timeless Yiddish play, The Dybbuk is composed by Ofer Ben-Amots, and directed by Thomas Lindblade. In this vivid production, a young woman near death awakens to the undertone of a clarinet. She must choose between life with a man she does not know and death with her beloved, who has possessed her as a "dybbuk," a deceased soul who takes up residence in a living body. Folk elements intertwine with contemporary music and multiple video projections to create a captivating world that shares a powerful story of faith, mysticism, and passion. The Dybbuk will be presented in both English and Hebrew with supertitles, and both performances are preceded by informative public discussions. Tickets are $55 premium/$45 general/$40 JCC members and J-Pass holders. More information can be found athttp://paloaltojcc.org/dybbuk or by calling (650) 223-8649.

Pianist Laura Magnani

7:30pm Saturday, October 1

A native of Spoleto, Italy, pianist Laura Magnani has captivated audiences in Europe, the U.S., and Canada, where she has toured as a soloist and in various chamber music ensembles. In the Bay Area, she has performed to enormous acclaim at regional events and festivals, and recently, she became a performing member of the prestigious Berkeley Piano Club. This intimate, one-night-only performance will include classical pieces from Schumann, Debussy, and Chopin. Tickets are $20 general/$15 members in advance, $25 at the door space permitting. More information can be found at http://paloaltojcc.org/lauramagnani or by calling (650) 223-8649.

Let There Be Laughter:

A Night of Hilarity with Michael Krasny

5:30pm Sunday, October 9

Bay Area audiences will recognize Michael Krasny as the voice behind KQEDFM-NPR's "Forum," the news and public affairs interview program that he has hosted since 1993. However, this beloved radio personality has been sharing Jewish jokes since he could say, "oy vey!" Krasny will be onstage at the Oshman Family JCC following the September release of his book, Let There Be Laughter, pairing his most iconic Jewish jokes with explanations for the cultural expressions and anxieties behind the laughs. Tickets are $20 general/$15 members in advance, $25 at the door space permitting. More information can be found athttp://paloaltojcc.org/ michaelkrasny or by calling (650) 223-8649.

Writer and Novelist Jamie Metzl

7:30pm Thursday, October 13

The Oshman Family JCC presents an intimate conversation with globally syndicated writer and novelist Jamie Metzl. A highly regarded commentator, Jamie Metzl frequently appears on national and international media outlets to discuss biotechnology, genetics, national security, and Asian affairs issues. He is the author of two socio-political fiction works, Genesis Code and The Depths of the Sea, and will release his third, Eternal Sonata, this fall. Metzl has served in the U.S. National Security Council, State Department, Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and the United Nations in Cambodia. Tickets are $15 general/$10 JCC members and J-Pass holders. More information can be found at http://paloaltojcc.org/jamiemetzl or by calling (650) 223-8649.

B-The Underwater Bubble Show

11:30am, 4:30pm and 7:30pm Saturday, October 15

Mr. B's interactive, immersive, and bubbly world comes to life with a spectacle of acrobatics, snow cannons, and soap bubble tornadoes. An event for the whole family, Mr. B's dazzling fantasy of his daydreaming adventures in Bubblelandia has won over audiences in China, Turkey, Italy, and Switzerland. Filled with drama, dance, puppetry, and sand art, this Latvian production is sure to make a splash for all ages. Tickets are $40 general/$35 kids in advance, $50 at the door space permitting. More information can be found at http://paloaltojcc.org/bubbleshow or by calling (650) 223-8649.

The Legacy of the Nuremberg Principles:

Holding Syria's Assad and Other Human Rights Criminals Accountable

7:30pm Sunday, October 20

The OFJCC will host a compelling panel discussion on holding governments accountable for human rights abuses and using the law as a civilizing factor against instability with groundbreaking legal experts. Stemming from a three-year, globetrotting investigation, the Center for Justice and Accountability (CJA) discovered that London's The Sunday Times journalist Marie Colvin was deliberately assassinated by Syrian military and intelligence forces. In July 2016, CJA and co-counsel Shearman & Sterling LLP brought suit against the government of Syria for the murder of Colvin, making the lawsuit the first case seeking to hold the Assad regime responsible for war crimes. Panelists include Dixon Osburn, CJA's Executive Director; Scott Gilmore, CJA's lead staff attorney on the Marie Colvin case; and Professor Beth Van Schaack, Leah Kaplan Visiting Professor in Human Rights at the Law School and Visiting Scholar at the Center for International Security & Cooperation at Stanford University. The hour long discussion is priced at $15 for the general public and $10 for members and J-Pass holders. More information can be found athttp://paloaltojcc.org/nuremberglegacy or by calling (650) 223-8649.

Silicon Valley Jewish Film Festival

October 27 - November 20

The Silicon Valley Jewish Film Festival is an annual event with the goal of driving connectivity among the multi-generational and increasingly diverse Bay Area Jewish community. Celebrating its 25th year in 2016, the month-long event will commence at the AMC Saratoga for two weeks before moving to the Oshman Family JCC in Palo Alto for the remaining two weeks. Bay Area audiences will enjoy screenings of features and documentaries from around the world with some very special guests. The 2016 Festival opens with a screening of "Celebration: The Story of Israeli Cinema" with award-winning Yiddish theatre, Broadway, and film actor Mike Burstyn. The centerpiece event is a showing of the film "Potsdam Revisited: Overture to the Cold War" featuring live music that takes the audience back to an extraordinary intersection of history when Harry Truman, Winston Churchill, and Josef Stalin were captivated by a 19-year-old GI and violinist named Stuart Canin. The closing night of the festival includes a screening of "The Last Laugh," a documentary that examines whether it is ever acceptable to use humor in connection to the Holocaust. More information can be found at http://www.svjff.org or by calling (408) 498-0904.

Rob Schneider

8pm Sunday, November 13

The Oshman Family JCC presents a rollicking evening of stand-up with actor and comedian, Rob Schneider. A Bay Area native, Rob Schneider entered the national spotlight as a writer and cast member of Saturday Night Live. His trademark blend of character and comedic acting on television made way for a successful feature film career with appearances in a number of Adam Sandler vehicles, including the popular Big Daddy, The Waterboy, and 50 First Dates. Also a screenwriter and director, Schneider recently wrote, produced, directed, self-financed, and starred in a Netflix sitcom mini-series about his life entitledReal Rob. Schneider is a three-time Emmy nominee and a Peabody Award winner. Tickets are $50 premium/$40 general/$35 members and J-Pass holders. More information can be found at http://paloaltojcc.org/robschneider or by calling (650) 223-8649.

Grammy Award Nominee Konstantin Lifschitz

7:30pm Thursday, December 8

Charismatic Russian pianist Konstantin Lifschitz has established a worldwide reputation for performing extraordinary feats of musical dexterity as well as astonishing endurance. His talents have been recognized by The Guardian, which called him "Remarkable," as well as The New York Times, which dubbed him "Naturally expressive. Gripping." Lifschitz will perform Bach's boldly immersive and ingenious Six Partitas for Keyboard in their entirety for the opening of Music@Menlo's 2016-2017 Winter Series. Tickets are $47-$52 general public/$25-$30 for guests under 30. More information can be found athttp://paloaltojcc.org/konstantinlifschitz or by calling (650) 223-8649.

Y-Studs A Cappella Group

7:30pm Sunday, December 11

Just in time for Hanukkah, the talented Jewish a cappella group Y-Studs will travel from their East Coast base to delight audiences with bright harmonies and youthful energy. These Yeshiva University students from New York have released wildly-popular parody videos, including de a Passover-themed take on Michael Jackson's "Thriller," and a Hanukkah music video inspired by the popular boy band One Direction. This one-night-only concert is sure to get audiences in the Hanukkah spirit. Tickets are $35 premium/$25 general/$18 youth 18 and under. More information can be found at http://paloaltojcc.org/ystudsor by calling (650) 223-8649.

Grounded and Surface Series Exhibits by Sara Carter

December 15, 2016 - March 14, 2017

Reception: Sunday, January 7, 2016

The Oshman Family JCC will display works from three series by artist Sara Carter including Grounded 60 (Zoom), Surface, andCommotion. The Grounded 60 Series is an ongoing exploration of the 1960s, connecting the viewer to a defined relationship of color and contemplated pause within the overlays of contrast. The Surface Series and the Commotion Series utilize watercolor, gouache, flashe and acrylic paint to apply, practice, and experience principles of order and beauty inherent in Carter's oeuvre. A special reception on January 7 will include a live Jazz band performance, wine, and light refreshments. More information can be found at http://paloaltojcc.org/saracarter or by calling (650) 223-8649.

Also coming up in Spring 2017:

· January 21, 2017 - Prokofiev's Peter and the Wolf presented in four languages

· February 6, April 3, and May 22, 2017 - Jewish Women's Theatre Salon Series

· February 11, 2017 - Rhythmic Circus: Feet Don't Fail Me Now!

· March 23, 2017 - Béla Fleck and Abigail Washburn

· April 2nd, 2017 - TEDx

About the Oshman Family JCC

The Oshman Family Jewish Community Center (OFJCC) on the Taube Koret Campus for Jewish Life serves the South Peninsula through educational, social, cultural, fitness, sports and other programs. The OFJCC is a multi-generational Jewish neighborhood where all are welcome and which fosters new personal and community connections through rich and rewarding experiences. The OFJCC provides a common ground for Jewish institutions, other local groups, organizations and individuals to work, learn and play together for the betterment of the whole community. The OFJCC's registered trademarks are Live Fully® and J-Pass®. For more information, visit www.paloaltojcc.org or call (650) 223-8700.

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