Queer Jewish Weddings:
A performance concert with Marilyn Lerner, Adrienne Cooper, Frank London, Lorin Sklamberg, and Sara Felder

October 29, 2005, 8pm
Miles Nadal JCC

Queer Jewish Weddings is a world premiere performance that explores the cultural, historical, emotional, political and comical aspects of queer Jewish weddings. At this exquisite historical moment, when queer couples are beginning to receive legal recognition and religious sanctification for their holy unions, ReJewvenation brings together some of the world's favorite creators and practitioners of queer yiddishkayt for a roaring celebration and exploration of legally-kosher queer love: the Klezmatics' own Frank London and Lorin Sklamberg, award-winning Canadian jazz pianist Marilyn Lerner, renowned Yiddish singer and actress Adrienne Cooper and juggling diva Sara Felder.

Queer klezmer music, like most klezmer music of today, is a blend of traditional and contemporary sounds. Frank London and Lorin Sklamberg were pioneers of gay klezmer, introducing queer-friendly songs into the Klezmatics repertoire, including a reinterpretation of the biblical Song of Songs. Other performers also often changed accents and intonations in traditional Yiddish music, in order to suggest gay connotations. But they have never put together a program which entirely consisted of Queer klezmer music, let alone klezmer music for Queer Weddings.

More and more lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered couples who are Jewish or inter-faith are having Jewish weddings in order to honor their long-term commitment to each other, to receive holy sanctification, to celebrate with their communities and to get lots of presents. How do they understand this crucial Jewish milestone as same-sex couples? How do they balance assimilation with maintaining their own culture? What will they wear?

Queer Jewish Weddings is a collaboration that explores this emerging tradition. With the soul-stirring voices of Adrienne Cooper and Lorin Sklamberg, the innovative musicianship of Frank London and Marilyn Lerner and the new vaudevillian sensibility of Sara Felder, this show features beautiful and daring musical pieces, images, juggling and monologues about these holy and fabulous weddings.

The event is generously sponsored by the Zukerman Family Foundation and is presented in association with the Miles Nadal JCC. The performance will take place on October 29, 8pm, at the Miles Nadal JCC. Admission is $10. For tickets please call 416 978 7986. For more information contact Anna Shternshis ( anna.shternshis@utoronto.ca ) or visit www.rejewevenation2005.com .

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