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Friday May 25, 2007

Shorts: the arts

Israeli film wins major prize

An Israeli entry won a major European documentary film competition. Ido Haar’s “Nine-Star Hotel,” which explores the lives of Palestinian construction laborers in Israel, took first place this week at the Munich International Documentary Film Festival.

“Ido Haar shows illegal Palestinian workers literally building a new Israeli society with the absurdity of never having the chance to be part of it,” the festival committee said.

Haar took a prize worth some $13,000. — jta

New Jewish network on Web

JTN Productions has uploaded its library of content online, launching JewishTVNetwork.com, a new broadband network featuring a mix of entertainment and news channels on Jewish topics.

With channels on food, lifestyle, entertainment and kids, and featuring more than 250 video clips of JTN Productions programming, JewishTVNewtork.com covers all facets of Jewish life and culture.

In addition, JTN Productions will partner with JDate to program a singles channel. JewishTVNetwork’s news channel will feature content from Israel Broadcasting’s daily English newscast.

To access the new network, go online to www.jewishtvnetwork.com.

Bay Area comics join forces for Jewish comedy night in Mill Valley

Four well-known Bay Area-based Jewish comedians will share the bill at “Banned From the Catskills: A Night of Jewish Comedy,” a show set to play Mill Valley next month. The line-up includes Michael Capozzola, Alicia Dattner, Brian Malow and Mark Silverman.

Silverman has been featured on National Public Radio, while Malow has appeared on “The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson.” Dattner is a filmmaker/comedian who has performed across the country. Capozolla has also toured America, most recently with his show “Mascot on the Run.”

“Banned From the Catskills: A Night of Jewish Comedy” takes place 8 p.m. Saturday, June 9 at the Throckmorton Theatre, 142 Throckmorton Ave., Mill Valley. Tickets: $20. For more information, call (917) 383-9600.

Idan Raichel Project returns to S.F. with show at Stern Grove

Israeli superstar Idan Raichel will lead a lineup of Ethiopian, Arab, Yemenite, Latin American and Iranian musicians at Stern Grove in San Francisco.

The Idan Raichel Project is the brainchild of Raichel, an Israeli composer and producer, who invited more than 70 different musicians from a variety of backgrounds to participate in his recordings. Raichel has long been fascinated by the music of Israel’s Ethiopian Jews, and many of the band’s songs feature members of Israel’s Ethiopian community.

The band plays 3 p.m. Sunday, June 24 at Stern Grove, 19th Avenue and Sloat Boulevard, S.F. Admission is free. For more information, visit www.sterngrove.org.

Vaudeville meets Chekov in Concord

Theatergoers hungry for a Ukrainian variety of “Duck Soup” can rejoice: “A Day in Hollywood/A Night in the Ukraine,” a madcap musical, is set to open at Concord’s Willows Theatre for a five-week run. Previews start Monday, May 28.

A Tony Award winner, “A Day in Hollywood/A Night in the Ukraine,” fuses Marx Brothers vaudeville comedy with brooding Chekovian angst. Act One is set in Hollywood’s Chinese Theater while Act Two is a retelling of Chekov’s “The Bear” as seen through the eyes of the Marx Brothers.

“A Day in Hollywood/A Night in the Ukraine” plays 7:30 p.m. Wednesday-Thursday; 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday; and afternoon matinees Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays, through July 1, at Willows Theatre, 1975 Diamond, Blvd. Concord. Tickets: $33-$38. Information: (925) 798-1300.

Film about rabbi wins award

A film about an Orthodox rabbi struggling with his faith won an award at the Tribeca Film Festival. “My Father My Lord,” directed by David Volach, won the Founders Award for best narrative feature earlier this month at the downtown New York festival. Robert De Niro is a cofounder of the six-year-old festival. — jta

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