November 23, 2010 | 11:06 pm

The Culinary Art of Pasta Inspires Puppet Show

Posted by Ryan Torok

Follow JewishJournal.com on

“PASTA! A Pop Ups Puppet Musical” follows around two wannabe-chefs (Jacob Stein, Jason Rabinowitz) who scour Brooklyn in search of the best pasta ingredients. 

The show comes to Los Angeles for several performances between Nov. 23 and Nov. 28.

In “PASTA!” Stein and Rabinowitz bring out the acoustic guitars and sing songs from their recently-released children’s-rock album, “Outside Voices,” drawing from a diverse range of genres, like alternative rock, dance and indie, and featuring lyrics about food, animals and more.

During a recent interview, Stein emphasized his and Rabinowitz’s intention to make a show that appeals to all ages. “If you can straddle the line between entertaining both the kids and the adults, it’s a real success,” Stein said.

The new set of shows marks the duo’s return to Los Angeles, after several dates in the Venice area last summer.

“We decided to come back to L.A. because the fans out here have great energy,” Stein wrote in a recent email. “Once the show ended in July, we received emails asking us when we were bringing the show back to LA.”

In real life, Stein and Rabinowitz met in Brooklyn while working together on another puppet show—one for Passover.

“We hit it off,” Rabinowitz said, adding that when they rejoined to record “Outside Voices,” which eventually inspired their “Pasta” musical, “we both wanted to make a record that was sort of our own personal unbridled fun project. And we did.”

Their love of other well-known shows with puppets, such as “Sesame Street” and “Avenue Q,” influenced their decision to turn their record into their very own puppet show.

“When someone asked us to put together a different show,” Stein said, we thought, “let’s go with something we both love doing…puppets.”

“We have the puppet gene,” Rabinowitz said.

The show sees Stein and Rabinowitz juggling multiple tasks, including, of course, manning the puppets, at one point attaching them to the tongues of their Converse, playing live music and providing a live drawing demonstration.

The show features eights songs along with puppet characters whose names, such as Mr. Clunkhead and Fruta Di Marme, a mermaid, Stein and Rabinowitz hope will appeal to kids.

“I think that everybody can have a lot of fun with puppets,” Stein said.

Tue. Through Nov. 28. All shows at 3:30 pm. (except Sat., Nov. 27 at noon). $15. MiMoDa Dance Studio/Theater, 5774 W. Pico Blvd., Los Angeles. thepopups.com/pasta.

November 3, 2010 | 5:44 pm

Supporting her latest novel, author Nicole Krauss comes to L.A.

Posted by Ryan Torok

On Tuesday, November 2, author Nicole Krauss discussed her new book, “Great House” (a 2010 National Book Award finalist), in front of an intimate audience at the Los Angeles Central Library.

Following an interview with KCRW radio host Michael Silverblatt, Krauss answered questions from audience members.

“I think for me, the great opportunity of writing a novel is to step into the inner life,” Kraus said on Tuesday. The event lasted approximately one hour.

The Los Angeles Central Library routinely holds readings, lectures and discussions with writers. The series, known as ALOUD, recently featured novelist Jonathan Franzen. On Nov. 30, Salman Rushdie will appear in conversation with Reza Aslan.

“Great House,” a work of fiction and Krauss’ third novel, explores the importance of objects in peoples’ lives.

Toward the end of the discussion with Krauss, Silverblatt appealed to the audience to support public libraries. He spoke of city budget cuts that forced L.A. libraries to close on Sundays and Mondays.

Kraus’s husband, Jonathan Safran Foer, writes novels, nonfiction and short stories (“Everything is Illuminated,” “Eating Animals”).

To listen to a podcast of Krauss’ interview and discussion, click here.

0 Comments — Leave your comment