KlezCalendar

MADISON— University of Wisconsin-Madison Arts Institute Spring 2009 Interdisciplinary Artist in Residence Henry Sapoznik presents KlezKamp Road Show, a three-day version of Sapoznik’s renowned annual klezmer music and Yiddish folk art festival. A pioneering scholar and performer, Henry Sapoznik is credited with the late 20th century revival of klezmer.

KlezKamp Road Show, scheduled for Saturday April 18 through Monday April 20, will take place on the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus and in the community at Madison’s Beth Israel Center and Temple Beth El. Hosted by the Mosse/Weinstein Center for Jewish Studies and the UW-Madison Arts Institute, KlezKamp features two concerts with locally and nationally recognized artists, including Grammy-nominated pianist and producer Ben Sidran and best-selling author of “Born to Kvetch,” Michael Wex; a Yiddish dance party accompanied by the acclaimed KlezKamp Roadshow Orkester; a screening of the silent film “His People” (1925) with live piano score by celebrated pianist Marilyn Lerner; and workshops and presentations on klezmer and Yiddish folk arts.

The action-packed event begins Saturday at 7:00pm in Morphy Hall (Humanities Building, 455 N. Park Street), with “ROOTS,” a concert celebrating the local and international continuity of old time Yiddish folk and popular culture. The performance features author and comedian Michael Wex and the KlezKamp Roadshow Orkester, a “Who’s Who” of the world’s great klezmer players: Aaron Alexander (drum), Daniel Blacksberg (trombone), Josh Horowitz (accordion), Susan Leviton (vocals), Sherry Mayrent (clarinet), Mark Rubin (tuba/string bass), Henry Sapoznik (tenor guitar, vocals), Cookie Segelstein (fiddle), Michael Winograd (clarinet). Local artists Yid Vicious and the Madison Yiddish Choir open the show.

Sunday and Monday provide intensive workshops and presentations dedicated to traditional Yiddish folk arts including music, crafts, visual arts, Yiddish language, folksongs, a listener’s guide to the Klezmer ensemble, old time dances and much more. Guest presenters include singer and artist Susan Leviton, internationally recognized Yiddish dance teacher Steve Weintraub, author Michael Wex, and visiting scholar and KlezKamp founder Henry Sapoznik.

(Full schedule at www.arts.wisc.edu/artsinstitute/IAR/sapoznik/events.html#workshops. Space is limited; participants must register at www.conneyproject.wisc.edu/klezkamp-registration/ or by calling or (608) 265-4763).

Sunday’s events continue at 6:00pm with a screening of silent film “His People” (directed by Eddie Sloman, 1925) at 4070 Vilas Hall (821 University Avenue). A new piano score by celebrated pianist Marilyn Lerner further enhances this illuminating and moving feature film of early 19th century Jewish life on New York’s Lower East Side. The evening tops off at 8:00pm with the KlezKamp Roadshow Dance Party, featuring Steve Weintraub and the KlezKamp Roadshow Orkester, at Beth Israel Center (1406 Mound Street).

KlezKamp concludes at 7:00pm on Monday with a closing concert entitled “BRANCHES” at Morphy Hall (Humanities Building, 455 N. Park Street) with performances by pianists Ben Sidran and Marilyn Lerner.

Henry Sapoznik is sponsored by the Mosse/Weinstein Center for Jewish Studies and its Conney Project on Jewish Arts, and co-sponsored by the School of Music, the Folklore Program, and the Department of Theatre and Drama. See detailed event schedule and guest artist biographies attached. For more information on the Sapoznik residency please see

www.arts.wisc.edu/artsinstitute/IAR/sapoznik/