BEACHWOOD, Ohio -- Interplay Jewish Theatre and the Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage are teaming up to bring to Beachwood the internationally acclaimed one-woman show “I Did It My Way In Yiddish (In English),” by New Zealand’s only Jewish comic, Deb Filler.
According to a Maltz Museum release: "Deb Filler transforms into a series of characters who share memories that have influenced her life, such as in 1947 when the young maestro Leonard Bernstein appeared with an orchestra of Holocaust survivors in the German DP camps of Landsberg and Feldafing. He famously conducted George Gershwin’s ‘Rhapsody in Blue’ for the survivors interned there. In one of those audiences was Deb Filler’s father, who would recall that experience as the moment he came back to life.
“Recapture that magic in the award-winning documentary ‘Mr. Bernstein,’ as Deb Filler shares the short film as part of this program.”
The Maltz Museum, you may recall, currently is showing a Bernstein exhibit.
Cleveland audiences may remember Filler from her 1996 Halle Theatre performance of “Punch Me In the Stomach,” in which she introduced 36 colorful characters with her own brand of joy and pathos.
In other performances worldwide, she has created 27 characters and baked a challah onstage in her show “Filler Up!” Filler’s film credits include “The Handmaid’s Tale” and the feature documentary “The Last Laugh,” among others.
To watch a clip of Filler in action, visit here.
The show takes place at 7 p.m. Jan. 15 at the Mandel Jewish Community Center, 26001 S. Woodland Road. Tickets are $25 for general admission and $20 for Maltz Museum or Mandel JCC members. To reserve seats, visit maltzmuseum.org, or call 216-593-0575.
“I Did It My Way” has been seen by audiences in Washington, London, Sydney, New York, Los Angeles, Jerusalem and Toronto. This will be the show’s Cleveland debut. Catch it now, because you never know when Filler will be back. New Zealand is a long ways away.
You’re invited to a party: Each December, the Heights Bicycle Coalition celebrates its progress, outlines its plans and recognizes community “roll models” at a free public event. That event is its annual holiday party, which will take place this year at 4 p.m. Dec. 8 at Nighttown, 12383 Cedar Road in Cleveland Heights. Everyone is invited to attend.
HBC President Jessica Yox will provide a brief update on the HBC’s accomplishments in 2019 and the outlook for 2020. Then HBC will recognize this year’s “roll models” -- members of the community who either exemplify or contribute to the thriving bike culture in the Heights area. This year, the HBC will be recognizing four “roll models,” one from each of the organization’s member communities (Cleveland Heights, University Heights, Shaker Heights and South Euclid).
Visit the HBC website (www.bikesintheheights.org) or Facebook page (facebook.com/bikesintheheights) for more details and updates.
The party includes free refreshments and a cash bar.
Making transportation to schools easier: Hathaway Brown School, Laurel School and University School are collaborating to offer expanded transportation options to those schools for students from throughout 33 Greater Cleveland communities beginning in the 2020-2021 school year.
Families whose children attend more than one of these schools will be able to use one transportation service. This expanded transportation access will complement bus service offered from many public school districts.
Transportation to the three independent schools will be available to and from the following communities: Aurora, Avon, Avon Lake, Bainbridge Township, Bath, Bay Village, Brecksville, Broadview Heights, Chagrin Falls, Cleveland (downtown), Cleveland (University Circle), Cleveland Heights, Concord Township (in Lake County), Copley, Coventry, East Cleveland, Edgewater, Garfield Heights, Gates Mills, Hudson, Independence, Kirtland, Lakewood, Mentor, North Royalton, Richfield, Rocky River, Solon, Strongsville, Twinsburg, Westlake, Willoughby and Willoughby Hills.
“We want to make our schools as accessible as possible, and our schools are even better thanks to our expanded geographic reach,” University School Head of School Patrick Gallagher said in a press release. “We are thrilled to deepen our longstanding partnership with Hathaway Brown and Laurel to make our schools available to as many boys, girls and families of Northeast Ohio as possible.”
Fran Bisselle, head of school at Hathaway Brown, agreed. “Partnering with other schools helps to fill the buses and allows us to lower our carbon footprint, which is important as we each consider being good stewards of environmental and other resources,” she said.
“In the long run, this collaborative should benefit not only our student riders, but also the broader community.”
Get yourself a bargain: If you’re shopping for toys this holiday season, you know it can be expensive. Here’s an item that might save you some money.
You can get your holiday shopping done and help find new homes for gently used toys -- and get that bargain mentioned above -- if you shop at the annual Family Connections Used Toy Sale and Toy Donation Drop-off.
Those bargains can be found from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dec. 8 at the Shaker Family Center gym, 19824 Sussex Road in Shaker Heights. Adult shoppers are preferred and accompanying children must be supervised.
Also, the nonprofit Family Connections will be accepting gently used or like-new children’s toys, books, games, puzzles, riding toys, baby equipment, etc., for its Used Toy Sale. Tax-deductible, gently used toy donations, for children birth to 6 years old, will be accepted in the Shaker Family Center gym from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Dec. 4, 5 and 6.
Donated items must be clean, working, contain all pieces and parts, and be age appropriate. Please include batteries for items that require them. Stuffed animals and car seats will not be accepted.
For more information, you can call 216-921-2023, or visit FamilyConnections1.org.
From University Heights to Cleveland Heights: University Heights Mayor Michael Dylan Brennan, in his remarks opening the city’s Nov. 18 council meeting, spoke about Issue 26, in which Cleveland Heights voters chose a mayoral form of government over their current city manager form. This is what Brennan had to say:
"To my friends and neighbors in Cleveland Heights: Congratulations on choosing a new system of government. I am optimistic that a popularly elected mayor will be good for Cleveland Heights, and I’ve always believed that what is good for Cleveland Heights is good for University Heights, as well as our joint school district and library system.
"While both sides of Issue 26 campaigned hard and were passionate in the rightness of their cause, both sides had in mind the best interests of the city of Cleveland Heights. I know both sides will come together and work hard for a bright future for your city.
"I am more than willing to assist in any way possible as you transition and transform your city.
“I wish to take a moment to commend Cleveland Heights City Manager Tanisha Briley. Over the past couple of years, I have found her to be a dedicated and effective professional. I do not believe the vote was a referendum on her or her performance. I appreciate her post-election message that she remains committed to Cleveland Heights and being a ‘good steward of its safety, finances, development and livability.’ I hope we will see her over the course of these next two years facilitate an orderly transition to Cleveland Heights’ new system of government.”
University Heights Civic Awards: Three weeks ago, we listed the names of the recipients of this year’s University Heights Civic Awards, which were bestowed on Nov. 14 at a dinner hosted by Gabriella Kreuz at John Carroll University.
Although I was not present, I heard the awards show was quite a smash.
“They were a huge success,” Brennan said of the awards show/dinner. "We had to move from the Jardine Room (at JCU) to the larger LSC (Lombardo Student Center, also at JCU) in order to meet demand for tickets. Even then, we had to turn people away, there was so much demand.
“Thank you, Rachel Mullen and Mike Cook for their strong work making the event a success. Thank you to Gabriella Kreuz for hosting the event. Thank you to all of our honorees and presenters for demonstrating abundantly why University Heights is more than a city of beautiful homes, but a city full of kind-hearted, civic-minded, virtuous people. University Heights truly is so much more than home.”
About 175 people attended the function.
Swap a book: Now, here’s something from the Cleveland Heights-University Heights Library that sounds like a nice, warm event. It’s the “Hot Chocolate and Cookies Book Swap Night,” and it takes place from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Dec. 10 at the Lee Road Library branch, 2345 Lee Road in Cleveland Heights.
You are invited to bring a new or gently used book, wrap it in paper and swap it with another. Be sure to bring a book with wide appeal, as you don’t want to disappoint. One do-over is permitted and, if you cannot find a book to bring in time for the event, the library will have some on site for you.
Hot chocolate and cookies will be provided, and if you want to bring some home-baked goods, you are welcome to do so.
Afterward, stay and chat about your favorite new books. Call 216-932-3600 if you need to know more.
Also, the library tells us that lots of people are cutting the cord -- that is, getting rid of cable TV in favor of internet-based ways to watch their favorite shows. Learn about streaming services like Netflix and Hulu, connecting these services to your TV (through things such as Roku, Apple TV and Fire stick), and more, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Dec. 5 at the Noble Neighborhood Library branch, 2800 Noble Road in Cleveland Heights.
Registration is under way. Call 216-291-5665.
Jingle Bell rock: The Grog Shop and the B-Side Liquor Lounge will host the Jingle Bell Rock’n Shop from noon to 6 p.m. Dec. 14. Available for purchase will be the work of local ARTFUL artists (from the Coventry PEACE Building), which will include rock 'n' roll kitsch and other gifts for every person on your list.
The event will feature holiday drinks and DJs throughout the day, and more than 30 vendors. This sale takes place in conjunction with the Coventry Village Holiday Festival, which of course includes family-friendly activities happening at stores throughout the district. The Grog Shop and B-Side are located at 2785 Euclid Heights Blvd.
For more about the Coventry Village Holiday Festival, visit here.
Chris Mansour (Photo Courtesy of Menorah Park)
Award winner: Menorah Park-Wiggins Place, a senior living community in Beachwood, has announced that Chris Mansour is this year’s Honoring Excellence winner. The award is given annually by the Ohio Assisted Living Association (OALA) to outstanding employees who demonstrate vision, innovation, leadership and compassion in their role.
OALA represents more than 550 licensed Assisted Living Communities.
Mansour won the award specifically as Outstanding Director of Environmental Service. Winners of the award are nominated by their community and selected by a committee of the Ohio Assisted Living Association Board of Trustees.
If there is an item you would like to see appear in Press Run, send me an email, at least 12 days prior to an event, at jeff.piorkowski@att.net.
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