"The Last Album: Cherished Photographs From The Past" Opens January 4, 2011 At The Marcus Jewish Community Center Of Atlanta

The Fine Family Art Gallery, located in the Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta (MJCCA, 5342 Tilly Mill Road, Dunwoody) presents a unique photo exhibition, “THE LAST ALBUM: CHERISHED PHOTOGRAPHS FROM THE PAST” on display January 4 – March 13. Bursting with life, this exhibition features seventy-two images from Eastern Europe, culled from an extraordinary collection of photographs brought as keepsakes by the Jewish deportees to Auschwitz-Birkenau.

These photographs are part of a larger compilation of images and stories found in Ann Weiss’ critically acclaimed book, The Last Album: Eyes from the Ashes of Auschwitz-Birkenau, The photographs and accompanying stories pose far-reaching questions about how personal memory becomes collective, and how images represent loss without recuperating it.

Photojournalist and Holocaust scholar Ann Weiss will be the featured speaker for International Holocaust Remembrance Day on Wednesday, January 27 at 8 pm at the MJCCA. For more information, visit the Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta. 

Center Theatre at the MJCCA Presents the Smash Musical, “HAIRSPRAY” -- December 9 - 19, 2010

Center Theatre at the MJCCA presents the hit musical, HAIRSPRAY, directed by Dina Shadwell. Running from December 9 – 19, 2010, the production will take place in Center Theatre’s beautiful Morris & Rae Frank Theatre (located at the MJCCA, 5342 Tilly Mill Road, Dunwoody.)

Winner of multiple awards, including the 2003 Tony for Best Musical and the Lawrence Olivier Award for Best New Musical, HAIRSPRAY sweeps us away to 1960's Baltimore, where the 50's are out – and change is in the air. Loveable plus-sized heroine, Tracy Turnblad, has a passion for dancing, and wins a spot on the local TV dance program, "The Corny Collins Show." Overnight she finds herself transformed from outsider to teen celebrity. Can a larger-than-life adolescent manage to vanquish the program's reigning princess, integrate the television show, and find true love (singing and dancing all the while, of course!) without mussing her hair?

Songs include 1960s-style dance music and "downtown" rhythm and blues. You’ll do-wop your way out of the theater, because “You Can’t Stop the Beat!”

Based on the New Line Cinema film written and directed by John Waters, with book by Mark O'Donnell and Thomas Meehan, music by Marc Shaiman, and lyrics by Scott Wittman and Shaiman. Hairspray is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI).

For more information, visit the Center Theatre.

Center Theatre at the MJCCA Presents Hairspray From December 9 - 19, 2010

Center Theatre at the MJCCA will present the hit musical, Hairspray, directed by Dina Shadwell. Running from December 9 – 19, 2010, the production will take place in Center Theatre’s Morris and Rae Frank Theatre (located at the MJCCA, 5342 Tilly Mill Road, Dunwoody.)

Winner of multiple awards, including the 2003 Tony for Best Musical and the Lawrence Olivier Award for Best New Musical, Hairspray sweeps us away to 1960's Baltimore, where the 50's are out – and change is in the air. Loveable plus-sized heroine, Tracy Turnblad, has a passion for dancing, and wins a spot on the local TV dance program, "The Corny Collins Show." Overnight she finds herself transformed from outsider to teen celebrity. Can a larger-than-life adolescent manage to vanquish the program's reigning princess, integrate the television show, and find true love (singing and dancing all the while, of course!) without mussing her hair?

 Based on the New Line Cinema film written and directed by John Waters, with book by Mark O'Donnell and Thomas Meehan, music by Marc Shaiman, and lyrics by Scott Wittman and Shaiman. Hairspray is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI).

For more information, visit the Center Theatre.

Yale University's Premiere A Capella Group Comes To The MJCCA

On Thursday, January 7, 2010, at 7:30 pm, The Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta (MJCCA) proudly welcomes the Yale a capella group known as The Society of Orpheus and Bacchus (SOBs).

Now the second-longest running collegiate a cappella group in the nation, the Yale SOBs are know for their virtuosic, light hearted shows.

The concert will be held in the Morris & Rae Frank Theatre, 5342 Tilly Mill Road, Dunwoody.

For more information, visit the Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta.

Center Theatre at the MJCCA Performs The Music Man

Center Theatre at the MJCCA presents a community production of the classic musical, The Music Man, directed by Dina Shadwell. With book, music and lyrics by Meredith Willson, based on a story by Meredith Willson and Franklin Lacey, the stage production of The Music Man is brought to life in Center Theatre’s beautiful Morris & Rae Frank Theatre (located at the MJCCA, 5342 Tilly Mill Road, Dunwoody), and runs December 10 - 20, 2009.

In the musical, con man Harold Hill, who poses as a boys' band organizer and leader, sells band instruments and uniforms to naive townsfolk before skipping town with the cash. But in River City, Iowa, things go awry when he falls for Marian, a librarian he tries to divert from exposing him while he inadvertently enriches the town with a love of music.

The show’s one-of-a-kind nostalgic score includes rousing marches (Seventy-Six Trombones), barbershop quartets (Lida Rose) and sentimental ballads (Till There Was You) which have become popular standards.

For more info, visit Center Theatre.

18th Annual Book Festival of the MJCCA

A highlight of Atlanta's literary calendar, the Book Festival of the Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta (MJCCA) features dozens of the year's best and brightest authors in a variety of forums from November 10 - 22.

Festival-goers will enjoy engaging speaker programs, author meet-and-greets, book signings, panel discussions, The PJ Library Get Caught Reading Storytelling Festival, the annual Esther G. Levine Community Read, movie screenings and more.

For a schedule of author appearances and additional information, visit Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta

The Marcus Jewish Community Center Hosts The 18th Annual Book Festival

The Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta (MJCCA) is announcing the return of one of the South’s premiere cultural events, the 18th annual Book Festival of the MJCCA, November 10 – 22, 2009. A highlight of Atlanta's literary calendar, the Book Festival of the MJCCA presents dozens of the year's best and brightest authors in a variety of forums. Festival-goers will enjoy engaging speaker programs, author meet-and-greets, book signings, panel discussions, The PJ Library Get Caught Reading Storytelling Festival, the annual Esther G. Levine Community Read, movie screenings, and more.

This year’s lineup features Pulitzer Prize-winning, bestselling authors, rising literary voices, television and film stars, humorists, journalists, historians, novelists, and scholars – just to name a few.

A sample of authors making an appearance at this year’s Book Festival includes:
Opening Night Keynote Speaker: noted scholar and author, Harold Kushner (November 10); New York Times bestselling author, A.J. Jacobs (November 11); stars of the Emmy Award-winning TV series “L.A. Law,” Michael Tucker and Jill Eikenberry (November 14); star of HBO’s “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” Susie Essman (November 14); star of the hit movie, “Clueless,” and environmental activist, Alicia Silverstone (November 19); and Wall Street Journal columnist and bestselling author, Jeffrey Zaslow (November 22).

In honor of the Book Festival’s 18th anniversary, festival-goers are asked to bring new or gently used large print or audio books for donation to local assisted living facilities.

The majority of Book Festival events will be held at the MJCCA - Zaban Park, 5342 Tilly Mill Road, Dunwoody, GA 30338. Many programs are free.

PHOTO: Actress, author, and activist Alicia Silverstone is set to appear at the 18th annual Book Festival of the MJCCA where she will discuss her book, The Kind Diet.
PHOTO CREDIT: MJCCA

For a schedule of author events, visit MJCCA.

Last Splash Of The Summer At The Marcus Jewish Community Center’s Dunwoody Days Community Pool Party And BBQ

Sunday, September 13, 1:00 – 4:00 pm at Zaban Park

Everyone Welcome! Admission is Free!

The MJCCA – Zaban Park (5342 Tilly Mill Rd, Dunwoody 30338) welcomes the community to the Dunwoody Days Community Pool Party and BBQ on Sunday, September 13, 2009, from 1:00 – 4:00 pm. Celebrate the end of summer with one last splash at the MJCCA’s outdoor pool! Bring your family, friends, and neighbors for a day of sun, fun, and relaxation. Everyone is welcome, both members and non-members, and admission is free.

In addition, the MJCCA will be collecting funds throughout the day to help the Dunwoody Police equip their patrol cars with lifesaving AEDs (automatic external defibrillators). An officer will be at the Dunwoody Days event with a patrol car allowing children an “up close and personal” look at the inner workings of an actual police car.

Enjoy:

• Delicious food, snacks, and beverages from Goodfriend’s Grill (available for purchase)
• Stay cool in the Barbara & Ed Mendel Splash Park
• Pool games & races
• Boating & fishing on the lake
• Music Provided by VIBE® Entertainment

For more info, visit the Marcus Jewish Community Center.

Your Jewish World Exhibit at the Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta

The Sophie Hirsh Srochi Jewish Discovery Museum of the Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta (MJCCA) is presenting a temporary exhibition entitled, Your Jewish World.

The Your Jewish World exhibition introduces children ages 2 to 12 to the wide array of Jewish culture from the Diaspora (the presence of Jewish people around the world, outside of Israel).

For more info, visit the Marcus Jewish Community Center