Beyond NY: The Midwood Miracle with Deborah Karpel at the Jewish Heritage Series in Philadelphia, PA

One-woman musical memoir tells a moving story about discovering cultural roots through twists of fate and grandpa’s Yiddish song collection. The performance is on Sunday, March 17, 2019 at 1:00 pm

Deborah Karpel in The Midwood Miracle — The Midwood Miracle, Deborah Karpel / Photo credit: Albie Mitchell

Lyrical, alluring and disarming, Deborah Karpel’s performance in The Midwood Miracle is a delicious treat and a familial story at the same time. Premiered in New York City in 2017, the show on Sunday, March 17 at 1:00 pm is part of the Jewish Heritage Series at Congregations Shaare Shamayim Synagogue in Philadelphia, PA.

The show performed by Deborah Karpel with Michael Lewis Smith at the piano and directed by Aimee Todoroff tells a family story about a Jewish girl growing up in coal mining Appalachia, VA. Some details of the script are fictional, some are taken from family archives. Vivid elements of life in Appalachia, where Karpel’s mother grew up, are followed by the urban tales set in Brooklyn, NY. The scenes of how the character’s parents met, their ideals and a mixup of quirky twists are wonderfully delivered by Karpel’s amazing performance and singing. The original compositions co-written by Karpel with Ted Kociolek and Rachelle Garniez are perfectly mashed along with traditional Americana, western swing, operatic arias, improvised art songs, and Yiddish songs. Come and see the miracle that could have only happened in Midwood. BUY TICKETS

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Beyond NY: Rodin Museum in Philadelphia, PA

The Cathedral, Rodin Museum

As the world celebrates a centennial of Auguste Rodin death this year, its a good occasion for a visit to Rodin Museum in Philadelphia. The museum opened in 1929, has more than 140 pieces covering all stages of artist’s oeuvre.

Walking through the formal French garden where 8 sculptures are installed including The Thinker, The Burghers of Calais and The Gates of Hell, the visitors enter an elegant Beaux-Arts building. Inside the airy main hall and the more intimate side rooms, you will have a chance to see the famous sculptures up close and find insightful details about each piece of work with historical parallels and the stories that served as inspiration for the works.

If you are so moved by seeing the sculptures and want to sketch them for better understanding of artist’s vision, there are sketch albums and pencils on hand in every room. Follow your heart and draw what you see – after all the art is only alive when it moves us. The museum also offers a very well designed family guide to sharpen young eyes and encourage them to see the artist’s shapes.

Read the notes, observe the sculptures, try to sketch and follow the lines to fully appreciate the artist’s ideas and the forms.

With your PhiladelphiaPass you can visit the museum for free!

Tag: Philadelphia PA