News of the Muse

Young at heart festival gearing up.

By VIVA SARAH PRESS
yalduti 88 209 (photo credit: AP)
yalduti 88 209
(photo credit: AP)
Cameri Theater joins ETC The Cameri Theater of Tel Aviv is the latest company to join the European Theater Convention (ETC), an association which represents theater companies and their artists in 21 European countries. The Cameri is the organization's sole member not from Europe. The Cameri was given the ETC honor due to its participation in international theater festivals throughout the years. Among the companies represented by the ETC are Ireland's Abbey Theater, Germany's Hassian National Theater of Wiesbaden, Croatian National Theater, and the Greek National Theater. ETC, which has been around since 1989, fosters the exchange of ideas between individuals and productions to improve inter-cultural knowledge. The ETC spotlights diverse perspectives of its theater companies and notes in its mission statement that "languages are a source of enrichment and not of division." In the wake of its European honor, the Cameri recently announced that during its planned festivities for 2009 when Tel Aviv will celebrate its centennial, the company will host European troupes at an international theater festival to be held on its premises. Queen tribute at Tzora While the real Queen is on tour in North America at the moment, Israel's Shlichei Hablues are to perform a tribute to the British rockers on March 25 at Club Tzora. Shlichei Hablues - the pioneers of Israel's cover bands, will reinterpret Queen's classic songs including "Love of my life," "I want to break free," "We will Rock you," "We are the champions, "Somebody to love," and "Bohemiam Rhapsody," among others. The local show is set to run two hours. Doors open at 9pm, tickets cost NIS 50-60. For more information: (052) 566-5600 or www.clubtzora.com. Club Tzora is located between the Northern and Southern entrances to Beit Shemesh on Kibbutz Tzora. Young at heart festival gearing up The Yalduti ("My Childhood") dance and theater festival is just around the corner. The roster includes seven works by the Orna Porat National Theater for Children and Youth. Among them is the new work, Zlil Meshutaf which features percussionists Chen Zimbalista and Arik Livnat, who each have their own styles of music, and together bring about a unique common sound. Another new work is Efraim Sidon's "Maale Karachot" about a village of bald people who have never seen a hair in their lives. The satirical play focuses on the village's mayor, who one day finds a hair on his head, and tries through deception to get rid of it. The play is aimed at ages five and up. Also featuring at the Yalduti happening is the Kibbutz Contemporary Dance Company with two works: the colorful "Carnival of Animals" (choreographed to the well known music of Sait-Saens) and the classic "Peter and the Wolf." The Yalduti event will take place April 16-17 at the Suzanne Dellal Center in Tel Aviv. For tickets/information, call: 035105656.