October 19, 2006

7 Days in the Arts

http://www.jewishjournal.com/ picks_clicks/article/7_days_in_arts_20061020/

Miriam Wosk's work will be featured in the Santa Monica Museum of Art

Saturday the 21st

TV stars perform bonafide rock 'n' roll at a Ben Gurion Society

Keren's Corner

It's an old episode but a fairly new story. Last year, "Grey's Anatomy" featured a plot line about the high risk of breast cancer among Jewish women. This year, Hadassah delves into the subject with an informative panel discussion about the episode, but more broadly, about this trend. "Can TV Be Good For Your Health? How One Show is Helping the Fight Against Breast Cancer" takes place on Tues., Oct. 24 at the University of Judaism. Panelists include former "Grey's" writer Mimi Schmir, cancer survivor and health advocate Selma Schimmel and genetic counselor Joyce Seldon. TV and film writer and director Linda Shayne moderates.

7 p.m. $25. University of Judasim, 15600 Mulholland Drive, Bel Air. R.S.V.P., (310) 276-0036 or (818) 343-9316.

benefit this evening. Battle of the Network Stars Band features current and former TV actors, or "actors." Bob Guiney aside, however, you'll also catch James Denton of "Desperate Housewives," Greg Grunberg of "Heroes," Hugh Laurie of "House" and Brad Savage of ... ummm ... yeah, he falls into that "former" category. They rock it out for ya post cocktails, dinner and a silent auction.

7 p.m. $125 (tickets). Attendees must be current members of the Ben Gurion Society, which requires a minimum 2006 gift of $1,000 to The Jewish Federation Annual Campaign. Bernard Milken Jewish Community Campus, 22622 Vanowen St., West Hills. (818) 464-3219.

Sunday the 22nd

"Wicked" fiends shlep to Santa Clarita tonight for a "An Evening With Stephen Schwartz." The man responsible for the Broadway scores of "Godspell," "Pippin" and "Wicked," and animated film scores of "The Hunchback of Notre Dame," "Pocahontas" and "The Prince of Egypt" receives a star-filled tribute, and takes the stage himself.

7:30 p.m. $25-$150. College of the Canyons Performing Arts Center, 26455 Rockwell Canyon Road, Santa Clarita. (661) 362-5304. www.theatrescv.com. Monday the 23rd

Matt Mahurin's homage to a New York institution of a restaurant, Shopsin's, is the documentary "I Like Killing Flies," out this week in theaters. When the Greenwich Village greasy spoon with the 900-item menu and wise-cracking philospher/owner had to move locations after losing its lease, Mahurin decided to document the move, the place, and its eccentric proprietor.

$6-$8. Laemmle Grand 4-Plex, 345 S. Figueroa St., Los Angeles. (213) 617-0268. www.laemmle.com.

Tuesday the 24th

The dazzling compositions of Miriam Wosk come to the Santa Monica Museum of Art. Wosk's first solo museum exhibition, "Euphoria," features three large-scale pieces. The crafty works, paintings embedded with a bevy of everything from pearls, to crystals to starfish, walk the line between excess and exactitude. They are on view through Nov. 25.

Bergamot Station G1, 2525 Michigan Ave., Santa Monica. (310) 586-6488. www.smmoa.org.

Wednesday the 25th

The ambitious Arpa Film Festival aims to forum "films exploring Diaspora, war, exile, genocide, multiculturalism and dual identity," according to founder Sylvia Minassian. Two such films featured in this year's fest (both documentaries) have Jewish perspectives. "Awake Zion" explores the relationship between reggae culture and Judaism, and "Young, Jewish and Left" focuses on radical Jewish communities.

Oct. 25-27. Egyptian Theater, 6712 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles. (323) 663-1882. www.affma.org.

Thursday the 26th

Thursday is looking up as UCLA Live welcomes Fes Festival of World Sacred Music to Royce Hall. "The Spirit of Fes: Paths to Hope" features world artists including early music singer Susan Hellauer from Anonymous 4, South Indian vocalist Aruna Sairam, Lebanese American percussionist Jamey Haddad and Moroccan Sufi ensemble Daqqa of Taroudant, performing Judaic, Christian, Muslim and Hindu sacred music.

$15-$45. 8 p.m. UCLA Royce Hall, Westwood. (310) 825-2101. www.uclalive.org.

Friday the 27th

The uplift continues today with the opening of the film, "Conversations With God," based on the 1996 book by Neale Donal Walsch. The movie stars Henry Czerny ("The Pink Panther") and is produced and directed by "What Dreams May Come" producer Stephen Simon. The film tells Walsch's true journey from homelessness to best-selling author and spiritual guru.

www.cwgthemovieonline.com.