Monday, April 18, 2011

Oinkie and Schlomo's Hip-Hop Pesach



Gonna tell you the story of a guy named Moses
He was not a guy to stop and smell the roses
He had a minor speech impediment
So his brother Aaron helped explain just what he meant

Now the Jews in Egypt, they all were slaves
And G-d told Moses, “man that be totally lame.”
G-d appeared as a bush on fire.
And said to Moses, “dude you just been hired.”

“Go on back to Egypt Land
And tell old Pharaoh to adopt a new plan
Every person on earth deserves to be free
Like the fishies in the ocean and birdies in the trees”

Now Moses he was scared as heck
That mean old Pharaoh would wring his neck
But he bucked up his courage and went to get the job done
When G-d speaks you listen, ‘cause he be the only one.

Moses went to Pharaoh and he said “hey dude.
Forgive my impertinence, I don’t mean to be rude
But I’m sent to tell you, oh Pharaoh
That the time is now to let my people go.”

But Pharaoh he said “absolutely no way.
Who will build my temples and my super highways?
Them pyramids don’t put up themselves
Moses, take that freedom talk and put it on the shelves”

Moses said, “dude I gotta tell you true
Let my people go or Ten Plagues will fall on you
We’re talking froggies, boils, darkness and death”
But Pharaoh still said no, and Moses was distressed.

First came the blood, but Pharaoh didn’t budge
Then came frogs, leaping out of the mud
Then came the gnats, driving people mad
And then wild beasts, which were also really bad

Then came diseases that made the cows sick
Then came the boils that made people say “ick!”
Then came the hail that fell down upon their heads
And then the locusts ate all the grain for making bread

Then came the darkness, blotting out the light
And then Angel of Death, and Pharaoh gave up the fight
He said, “Go, Moses, all your people can be free.”
But Pharaoh changed his mind and caught them at the Red Sea.

The Jews had left in a hurry, their bread was flat and dry
Pharaoh wanted to force them into the sea to die
For the Jewish people, this could have been end
But the rules of physics were about to bend.

Moses, he parted all the waters
And if Pharaoh had been just a little bit smarter
He would have stopped and not sent his soldiers to attack
But instead he lost his army when the waters went back

The Jews all made it to the far side of the sea
Miriam lead the dancing because they all were free
With freedom comes great responsibility
So let’s make sure all people share in our freedomosity.

Thursday, March 24, 2011

Passover Arts Event at BHA!

BEACON HEBREW ALLIANCE

Presents

PASSOVER ARTS

Sunday, April 3

2:30 p.m.

PUPPET SHOW

written and presented by Beacon-based playwright Peter Ullian

Book-signing and reading

of Julie Wohl’s “Siddur Mah Tov”

Children’s art project

four-panel project on the “Four Questions,” led by Julie Wohl

Holiday songs and dances

led by BHA Cantor Ellen Gersh

Refreshments will be served

FREE ADMISSION!

Beacon Hebrew Alliance

331 Verplanck Ave. (corner of Fishkill Ave.), Beacon

845-831-2012

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Coalition of Broadway Unions and Guilds on WI

Coalition of Broadway Unions and Guilds - COBUG

February 23, 2011

The Coalition of Broadway Unions and Guilds (COBUG) hereby declares its support of and solidarity with the public sector unions of Wisconsin who have come under attack by the Governor of that state.

It is one thing to ask for givebacks from labor to help balance the budget in the form of wage cuts and higher contributions to sustain welfare and pension plans. But to aim at the fundamental rights of trade unions to collectively bargain over working conditions, to collect dues, to represent their members – these actions are nothing less than an all out assault against the basic underpinnings of the labor movement.

COBUG urges all of its members to stand by their Wisconsin sisters and brothers by speaking out against the legislative measures proposed by Governor Walker. We must stand together to rebuff this onslaught against organized labor – whether public or private. The right of all trade unions to legitimately negotiate and represent their members is at stake.

The members of COBUG have labor contracts or work for or with the Broadway League. COBUG was established to strengthen the position of Unions and Guilds within the industry, to participate in decision making that affects Broadway and the art and craft of theatre at large, and to educate the broader community about the collective role Coalition members play in keeping our industry vibrant and healthy.

Founding Member Organizations:
Actors’ Equity Association
American Federation of Musicians
American Guild of Musical Artists
Association of Theatrical Press Agents and Managers (ATPAM)
Dramatists Guild of America
International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees
IATSE Local One (Stagehands)
IATSE Local 306 (Ushers and Ticket Takers)
IATSE Local 751 (Ticket Sellers)
IATSE Local 764 (Wardrobe)
IATSE 798 (Make-up and Hair)
IATSE Local USA 829 (United Scenic Artists)
Local 30 (Operating Engineers)
Local 802 (American Federation of Musicians)
SEIU Local 32BJ (Theatre Division)
Stage Directors and Choreographers Society
IBT Local 817 (Theatrical Teamsters)

Friday, January 28, 2011

Creative Writing Classes Begin Feb. 6




If anyone is in the Mid-Hudson Valley area for ten weeks starting Sunday, February 6, I'll be teaching four creative writing classes at Echo on Main Street, in Beacon, NY for grades K-2, 3-5, Middle/HS, and adult. Check out the descriptions below:

Playwriting and Puppets.


Grades K to 2, meets 2-3pm Sunday


Every week kids will collaboratively write a new mini-play, to be performed at the end of class by an accomplished duo of performing puppets.

Length: 10 weeks. Tuition: $100

Instructor: Peter Ullian


Playwriting for Kids.


Grades 3 to 5, meets 3-4pm Sunday


Each week kids will collaboratively create and perform short plays.


Length: 10 weeks. Tuition: $100

Instructor: Peter Ullian


Creative Writing for Teens.


Grades: Middle/HS, meets 4-5pm Sunday


A series of creative writing exercises designed to unleash the teen writer's voice.


Length: 10 weeks. Tuition: $125

Instructor: Peter Ullian


Unleashing Your Creative Writer.


Adults, meets 5-6pm Sunday


A series of creative writing exercises designed to unleash the adult writer's voice.


Length: 10 weeks. Tuition: $150

Instructor: Peter Ullian


Peter Ullian is an award-winning author of fiction published in periodicals and anthologies, screenplays for independent and major motion picture studios, and plays and musicals produced off-Broadway and at major regional Theaters.

You can sign up in person at Echo, or by e-mailing echo at: echoboutique@optonline.net.

You can also find them on Facebook by clicking here.

Saturday, January 1, 2011

2010's Ten Memorable Theater Moments You Might Have Missed 2011/01/01 Page 2


2010's Ten Memorable Theater Moments You Might Have Missed 2011/01/01 Page 2

Nice Way to Start 2011: Signs of Life Makes Broadway World.Com's list of "2010's Ten Memorable Theater Moments You Might Have Missed!" To quote:

"Members of the Freedom Party, who protested outside Broadway performances of The Scottsboro Boys, passed out flyers that asked, "Where is the song and dance musical about gas chambers?" Well, if they had ventured Off-Broadway this year they would have found it in Signs of Life, Peter Ullian, Len Schiff and Joel Derfner's musical drama about the Theresienstadt concentration camp; the Nazi's "City For The Jews," which was intended to appear as a safe and nurturing artist colony when inspected by the Red Cross. A musical-within-the-musical scene had Jewish prisoners, under the threat of being sent to the death camp of Auschwitz, partaking in a merry theatrical jamboree. With so many still under the impression that adding song and dance can only trivialize serious issues, it was a daring move for the creators of this ambitious musical."

Read more: http://broadwayworld.com/article/2010s_Ten_Memorable_Theater_Moments_You_Might_Have_Missed_20010101_page2#ixzz19nvS8Bzt