A CENTURY OF COMEDY IN MUSIC – "Laughter is the closest distance between two people," said the masterful interweaver of classical music and comedy, Victor Borge. Enjoy the comic geniuses of Fanny Brice, Bert Williams, Martha Raye, Milton Berle, the Marx Brothers, Spike Jones, Victor Borge, Fats Waller, Betty Hutton, Carol Burnett, Danny Kaye, Barbra Streisand, and Tom Lehrer among others. One session or class series up to 10 hours. DVD and CD materials included

CHANGING TIMES & CHANGING TASTES: BROADWAY MUSICALS OF THE 1960's & 1970s – As the Golden Era of the American musical firmly came to a close, the '60s and '70s brought a shift in theatrical and musical attitudes. An eclectic period of transition, these decades blended the traditional musical of Jerry Herman and Jule Styne with the pop/rock music of Hair, Godspell, and Jesus Christ Superstar, along with the experimental scores of Stephen Sondheim and Andrew Lloyd Webber. The result was a fascinating period of self-examination and experimentation among both conventional and non-conventional themes, stretching the boundaries of American musical theatre beyond anything the genre had experienced in previous decades. Hear music from Charles Strouse (Bye Bye Birdie, Annie), Bob Merrill (Carnival, Funny Girl), Jerry Herman (Milk & Honey, Hello Dolly, Mame, Dear World, Mack & Mabel), Lionel Bart (Oliver!), Bock & Harnick (Fiddler on the Roof), Darion & Leigh (Man of La Mancha), Kander & Ebb (Cabaret, Chicago), Galt MacDermot (Hair), Sherman Edwards (1776), Andrew Lloyd Webber (Jesus Christ Superstar, Evita), Stephen Schwartz (Godspell, Pippin), Stephen Sondheim (A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To the Forum, Anyone Can Whistle, Company, A Little Night Music, Sunday in the Park With George, Sweeney Todd), and Marvin Hamlisch (A Chorus Line, They're Playing Our Song, and much more. Class series up to 20 hours. DVD, CD, Live piano/vocal included.

CHART-TOPPING SOUNDS OF THE SIXTIES: THE DECADE THAT HAD IT ALL! — The sixties may have been the most eclectic musical decade in American history, with radio and record chart toppers that included songs from stage & film (Hello, Dolly! Lara's Theme, Try to Remember, Moon River, Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In); the British Invasion (The Beatles, The Hollies, Dave Clark Five, Petula Clark, The Animals, Herman's Hermits, The Rolling Stones, The Who, Lulu, The Searchers), American pop/rock (Elvis Presley, Chubby Checker, The Mamas and Papas, The Byrds, The Association, the Lovin' Spoonful, The Rascals, The Monkees, the Doors, Dion) Country Crossover (Bobbie Gentry, Glen Campbell, Loretta Lynn, Tammy Wynette, Roy Orbison), Folk (Pete Seeger, Peter Paul & Mary, Bob Dylan, Simon & Garfunkle, John Denver, Janice Ian, Arlo Guthrie, Joan Baez, Kingston Trio); the Surfer Sound (The Beach Boys, Jan & Dean, Franki Valli & the Four Seasons); Motown, R&B, Gospel and Soul (The Supremes, Smokey Robinson & the Miracles, Sam Cooke, Ray Charles, Marvin Gaye, Aretha Franklin, The Four Tops, the Jackson Five), MOR & easy listening (Dean Martin, Andy Williams, Percy Faith, Brenda Lee, Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett), and more. Explore the wide range of music heard on radio, TV, and film, discover more about the creators and performers of the music, and connect the music to American and world history. Class series of up to 20 hours, DVD and CD materials included

CLASSIC MUSICALS ... STAGE TO SCREEN I  – We examine notable classic musicals penned by Cole Porter (Kiss Me Kate), Rodgers & Hammerstein (Oklahoma), Frank Loesser (Guys and Dolls), Lerner & Loewe (My Fair Lady), Sondheim & Styne (Gypsy). Bock & Harnick (Fiddler on the Roof), Andrew Lloyd Webber (Phantom of the Opera) and Mel Brooks (The Producers). Hear and observe various stage and screen adaptations, their similarities and contrasts, and unique qualities of each production, taking a journey through each musical era and the casting, direction, and design that made each stage and film adaptation unique. Class series 6 to 10 hours. DVD, CD, Live piano/vocal included.

CLASSIC MUSICALS ... STAGE TO SCREEN II  - We examine several notable classic musicals penned by Harburg & Lane (Finnian's Rainbow), Lerner & Loewe (Brigadoon), Rodgers & Hammerstein (South Pacific), Jerry Herman (Hello, Dolly!), Stephen Sondheim (Sweeney Todd), and Dubin & Warren (42nd Street). Hear and observe various stage and screen adaptations, their similarities and contrasts, and unique qualities of each production, taking a journey through each musical era and the casting, direction, and design that made each stage and film adaptation unique. Class series up to 10 hours. DVD, CD, Live piano/vocal

CLASSIC MUSICALS ... STAGE TO SCREEN III - We continue our examination of notable musicals. In this course, we'll visit classics penned by the Gershwins & Heyward (Porgy & Bess), Comden, Green & Bernstein (On the Town), Frank Loesser (How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying), Kander & Ebb (Cabaret), Fields & Coleman (Sweet Charity), and Boublil & Schonberg (Les Miserables). Hear and observe various stage and screen adaptations, their similarities and contrasts, and unique qualities of each production, taking a journey through each musical era and the casting, direction, and design that made each stage and film adaptation unique. Class series up to 10 hours. DVD, CD, Live piano/vocal

COMPLETELY COLE: Meet one of America's musical legends, creator of some of the most sophisticated melodies and lyrics to grace the Broadway stage. From his beginnings in Peru, Indiana, through his work in New York, Paris, London, and Hollywood, we'll get to know the complicated Cole Porter through his music and the stars who made his songs unforgettable. One session or class series up to 10 hours. DVD, CD, Live piano/vocal included

CONTEMPORARY BROADWAY: BERNSTEIN TO SONDHEIM – They say they don't write 'em like they used to ... and that certainly is true as today's music seeks a different audience and expresses a different message than that of the past. But with all its differences, there's much that hearkens to Broadway’s roots in today's musical theater, a mix of the new, revivals, revues, and mega-hits. Explore the best of each and discover how Broadway has reshaped itself in recent decades. Class series up to 20 hours. DVD, CD, Live piano/vocal included.

CRAZY FOR GERSHWIN! Tin Pan Alley, Broadway, Hollywood, and Hit Parade were significantly affected by the work of George and Ira Gershwin, who fused the genres of stage, film, jazz, and classical music into a distinctly unique American voice. Examine the lives, music, and magic of these two great artists through this live concert. One session or extended class series up to 10 hours. DVD, CD, Live piano/vocal included.

DANCIN' THE BLUES AWAY:  GREAT DANCE MOMENTS IN FILM – Dance is an art form referring to the rhythmic movement of the body as a means of creative expression. Choreography is the art of designing dances. These definitions, however, do not capture the virtuosity of the talent, the mind-expanding emotions of the dancer, nor the thrilling effects of the dance on those who view it. The dancer hurls himself through the air, lifts herself into another dimension, taking the observer along. From traditional to modern dance, jazz to ballet, we'll examine many of Hollywood's great dance moments through the stories and creations of the choreographers and performers: Bill "Bojangles" Robinson, Busby Berkeley, Hermes Pan, Gene Kelly, Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, Cyd Charisse, Ruby Keeler, Eleanor Powell, Buddy Ebson, Donald O'Connor, the Nicholas Brothers, Bob Fosse, Gower Champion, Bobby Van, Gregory Hines, Ray Bolger, Ann Miller, and more. Experience this exuberant ride through the genius of our great creators and technicians of dance. Class series up to 10 hours. DVD, CD materials included

DISCOVERING "YIP" HARBURG – How well we know Over the Rainbow and the entire score to the Wizard of Oz, Finian's Rainbow, and Cabin in the Sky. But relatively few are aware of the gifted creator and lyricist of those works and his innovations in American musical theatre or his poignant messages of social reform and equality. From Hollywood to Broadway, his blacklisted years, his deeply personal fight for individual freedom and political integrity – his story should not be missed. One session up to 2 hours. DVD and CD materials included.

DOROTHY FIELDS … MERELY MARVELOUS – Lyricist Dorothy Fields is overlooked among her famous contemporaries — Ira Gershwin, Lorenz Hart, Irving Berlin, Cole Porter, and Johnny Mercer. What a shame. Her story is notable not only for the timelessness of her writing, but for her perseverance as a woman in an industry notorious for its glass ceiling. Fields proved she could stand equally with the greatest writers of her generation. One session up to 2 hours. DVD and CD materials, Live piano/vocal included

ELLA FITZGERALD: First Lady of Song — Ella's distinctive and impeccable vocal purity, phrasing, diction, timbre and intonation led her to become one of the most revered vocalists of the 20th century, the First Lady of Song. working with the most respected recording artists and composers of the 20th century. Her performances continually evoke from listeners sighs of awe and giddiness of joy from the sheer scope of her interpretative and technical range, as well as the power, flexibility, and beauty of her voice. Simply put, she was one of the greatest performers who ever lived. One session up to 2 hours or class series up to 4 hours. DVD and CD materials, Live piano/vocal included.

THE ELEGANT LADY OF TAP ... ANN MILLER – The mile-a-minute tap dancer Ann Miller was heralded by MGM Studio’s publicists for tapping 500 times per minute. With a professional dancing career that began at age 11, the prodigy who initially had learned dance to ease the effects of rickets was picked up quickly by RKO, Columbia, and finally MGM Studios. The embodiment of the glamour of the motion picture studio system at its height, her long legs and distinctive fashions made her one of the most recognizable performers of her era worldwide. One session or class series up to 4 hours. DVD materials included

ETHNIC VOICES OF STAGE & FILM:  THE DYNAMIC JEWISH MUSICALS – Since turn-of-the-20th-century Broadway & the advent of the talkies, stage and film productions have explored Jewish tradition and culture through music. These book musicals were notable in developing characters with common themes of traditional religious life vs. modern secular life, the examination of stereotypes within contemporary Jewish living, and the development of Jewish family values. Through lecture, recordings, and film, we'll explore classic Jewish-themed musicals & their characters, including Fanny Brice and a comparison of her work with Barbra Streisand's dramatization of her work in Funny Girl. Explore the development of Yiddish musicals from stage to film, with Molly Picon, Herschel Bernardi and Maurice Schwartz in films such as Mamele and Tevye The Milkman. Rediscover the talents of Al Jolson, Danny Thomas, and Neil Diamond in three renditions of The Jazz Singer, both Zero Mostel and Topol in in Fiddler on the Roof, and Streisand's interpretation of Yentl. Enjoy Milk & Honey, Channing's & Streisand’s Dolly Levi and Max Bialystock & Leo Bloom in Mel Brooks' The Producers. Class series up to 12 hours, DVD & CD Materials included. Live piano/vocal may also be included.

THE EXTRAORDINARY MISS PEGGY LEE — The regal and elegant Peggy Lee was described as having a personality and thoughtfulness that was as lovely and sophisticated as her music. One of the most popular entertainers of her generation, she was revered not only as a singer, but as a songwriter and actress. Despite a traumatic upbringing with a violent stepmother and alcoholic father, Lee immersed herself in a life of considerateness and generosity, devoting herself to an exemplary career and to non-violence. Working with many of the best bandleaders & vocalists in the business, she was sought out as one of the finest interpreters of the American popular songbook. One session up to 2 hours, DVD & CD Materials included.

FILM SCORES OF THE AMERICAN CINEMA – How is music constructed for film? How have film scores changed? How does music support visual images? How would we experience Gone With the Wind, Psycho, Ben Hur, Robin Hood, A Streetcar Named Desire, Days of Wine and Roses, The Ten Commandments, and Star Wars, among many others, without the passionate scores of Steiner, Hermann, Rosza, Korngold, North, Mancini, Bernstein, and Williams? Hear masterful creations of composers of American film scores from the early talkies to the present. Class series up to 20 hours. DVD and CD materials included

GENE KELLY: LIGHT AS AIR  – Eugene Curran “Gene” Kelly, the third of five children and one of vaudeville’s “The Five Kellys," was performing in dance routines by the time he was eight. Breaking new ground with his unique charismatic and physically strenuous style — which melded ballet, tap, and modern dance — Kelly would in time be at the forefront of MGM’s outstanding repertory company of singers, dancers, and musicians, taking the studio to its greatest heights in the musical revue and integrated musical film. Single session or class series up to 7 hours. DVD materials included

THE GOLDEN AGE OF BROADWAY: BERLIN TO BERNSTEIN – Re-live the extraordinary decades of the 1920s through 1950s when some of the greatest composers America has ever known created their musical comedy and musical drama masterpieces, including Berlin, Gershwin, Kern, Porter, Arlen, Harburg, Rodgers, Hart, Hammerstein and much more. Class series up to 16 hours. DVD, CD, Live piano/vocal included

THE HEART & SOUL ... AND MELODY & LYRIC ... OF FRANK LOESSER – Pulitzer-Prize-winning composer/lyricist Frank Loesser wrote lyrics to more than 700 songs and several of the American musical theatre's most respected modern musicals, including How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, The Most Happy Fella, Where's Charley? and Guys and Dolls. A tireless contributor to Broadway and Hollywood, Loesser was as colorful as the characters in his musicals. One session or class series up to 8 hours. DVD, CD, Live piano/vocal included

HELLO JERRY! HERMAN, THAT IS! – Composer, lyricist, director, performer and musician describe the man who wrote some of our most poignant and popular stage musicals: Milk & Honey, Hello Dolly, Mame, Mack & Mabel, Dear World, La Cage Aux Folles. Explore these works and others from his life’s work through lectures and live and recorded music. One session or class series up to 8 hours. DVD, CD, Live piano/vocal included

HOME SWEET HOME: AMERICA'S MUSICAL LEGACY: An American History Lesson through America's rich legacy of music. From this nation's earliest songs to its contemporary writers, experience the creativity and conscience, experience and values of our nation through our diverse musical expression. From European folk songs uniquely adapted to American life, to notable American music of the 18th century, folksong, ballads, hymns, marches and patriotic numbers, Civil War, stage and cinema, classical, and popular music of the 20^th century to the present. Patriotism to protest, east coast to west, social issues to civil rights, spiritual to swing, journey through three centuries of American life as seen through the eyes of its writers of music and lyric. One session or class series up to 16 hours. DVD, CD, Live piano/vocal included

THE IRESISTABLE SONGS OF SAMMY CAHN – Nominated for more than 30 Oscars, Sammy Cahn’s list of original lyrics reads like a history of 20th century popular song. Cahn’s life and work was devoted to his love of words and music. Eventually he would supply Hollywood, Broadway, and the radio and recording industries with many of the most beloved lyrics of the century, including: I've Heard That Song Before, I’ll Walk Alone, It’s Been a Long, Long Time, Time After Time, Second Chance Around, Let it Snow, Three Coins in the Fountain, The Tender Trap, Love And Marriage, All the Way, Call Me Irresponsible, Come Fly With Me, and High Hopes, among many others. At the concert grand in the lovely Church on the Square of The Villages, Joy will share highlights from Cahn's life and music. CD & DVD Materials, One session, 1.5 to 2 hours

I'VE HEARD THAT SONG BEFORE: HIT PARADE MEMORIES – The music of the 1930s through 1950s was a perfect combination of great songwriters and equally great lyricists. Take a sentimental journey through the lives and the era of Hoagy Carmichael, Johnny Mercer, Jule Styne, Sammy Cahn, Duke Ellington, Dorothy Fields, and Frank Loesser from high school verses to fame on Tin Pan Alley, Broadway, and film. One hour, 1.5 hour or 2 hour musical revue concert. One session or class series up to 8 hours. DVD, CD, Live piano/vocal included

JEROME KERN: MUSICAL VISIONARY – From "Show Boat" to "Swing Time," Jerome Kern was one of America's most gifted composers and innovators of the American musical theatre and 20th century popular music, as well as an inspiration to future generations of composers. His catalogue of some 700 songs includes "Ol' Man River," "A Fine Romance," "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes", "All the Things You Are," "The Way You Look Tonight," and "Long Ago (and Far Away)"... created with some of the finest lyricists of the 20th century, including P. G. Wodehouse, Otto Harbach, Oscar Hammerstein II, Dorothy Fields, Johnny Mercer, Ira Gershwin and E. Y. Harburg.

LENA HORNE: Timeless, Elegant, Passionate Voice of Grace — In 2010, the electrifying Lena Horne died at age 92. The 16-year-old Lena had performed for the first time at the Cotton Club. She was still making rare appearances in her nineties after having devoted more than 75 years to passionate musical expression and to breaking barriers in civil rights, social justice, and human dignity. She became one of the most recognizable and admired film, television, concert, and recording artists of the 20th century. Her work has been described as the highest standard of artistry, her character the pinnacle of integrity. One class session up to 2 hours, DVD & CD materials included.

LEGENDS OF THE AMERICAN MUSICAL THEATRE – Meet some of America's greatest musical legends, creators of sophisticated melodies and lyrics for stage and film, including Cole Porter, George & Ira Gershwin, Richard Rodgers & Lorenz Hart, Irving Berlin, Leonard Bernstein, and more. Class series up to 20 hours. DVD, CD, Live piano/vocal included. Choice of composers or material may be customized as desired

LEONARD BERNSTEIN: INNOVATOR AND INSPIRATION – One of America’s most influential figures in 20th century music, Leonard Bernstein's fascinating life as pianist, composer, orchestrator, conductor, concert artist, and lecturer/teacher deserve a closer look. From his whirlwind beginnings as conductor of the New York Philharmonic to his creations for theatre, film, and concert hall to his relationship with Israel and Jewish music and his inspirational concert at the Berlin Wall, we'll re-discover the man & his gifts. One session or class series up to 8 hours. DVD, CD, Live piano/vocal included

MARGE & GOWER CHAMPION: GLAMOUR & ELEGANCE ON AIR – Often compared to Astaire & Rogers, the immensely popular husband and wife team of Marge & Gower Champion created some of the most visually stunning, memorable and groundbreaking dance scenes in lavish 1950's MGM musicals. But their careers embraced musical revue, musical comedy, and musical drama on stage and television as well as film. Gower would become one of the most successful and influential Broadway Director-Choreographers during America's Golden Age of Musicals, crafting the stage design and movement of powerhouse shows such as Bye Bye Birdie, Carnival, Hello, Dolly!, and 42nd Street. A master of the form, he would join the ranks of revered choreographers like Jerome Robbins, Bob Fosse, and Michael Bennett.  Single session of 1.5 hours or more, or full class series of up to 10 hours. DVD materials included.

MGM: THE STUDIO OF THOSE FABULOUS MUSICALS - In the 30s, 40s, and 50s, MGM Studios produced a string of exceptional musicals that would become part of the American popular culture. Through lectures, film clips, live music, explore the highlights from the 1920s through the 1950s. Class series up to 20 hours. DVD, CD, Live piano/vocal included

THE NEW WAVE OF DANCE: Fosse, Champion, & Robbins in Broadway & Hollywood – In the late 40s and 50s, as Hollywood and Broadway extended the role of dance, a new generation of influential young choreographers joinced a younger generation of writers and producers to stage new dance extravaganza. The three great future dance masters — Bob Fosse, Gower Champion, and Jerome Robbins developed signature styles for which many of the next generation of notable musicals would be recognized. Fosse’s innovative angular movement, Robbins’ stylized social ballet, and Champion’s complex dance extravaganza were not an addition to the musical entertainment, but the very essence of the musical itself. In productions such as West Side Story, Sweet Charity, Hello Dolly, The Pajama Game, Cabaret, and 42nd Street, dance becomes the expression of joy, discovery, fear, grief, confusion, anger, hope. These innovators saw limitless possibilities of dance to convey the raw power of the message and emotion. Class series up to 10 hours, DVD, CD materials included.

PAUL ROBESON: VOICE OF FREEDOM  – In a career spanning the first half of the 20th century, Paul Robeson — son of an escaped slave who became a Presbyterian minister — was one of the most admired talents of his day … and one of the most reviled. Today we look back at his distinguished accomplishments, as well as the racial and social causes he supported that were so radical during his lifetime and so obscured his brilliant talent. Law student, dramatic actor, athlete, speaker, concert vocalist, scholar, author, and activist, this internationally respected man spoke fifteen languages and supported causes for social justice and peace worldwide. Blacklisted, labeled a threat to America and democracy, he became the most vilified public black figures in America’s history. Today, his powerful quest for civil rights and freedom from oppression for all peoples is taking on new respect, meaning, courage, and dignity. Single session, or class series of up to 6 hours with DVD/CD materials.

REMEMBERING THE GREAT DANE ... VICTOR BORGE – Beloved world-renowned pianist and humorist Victor Borge, claimed, "Laughter is the closest distance between people." One of the 20th century's funniest performers, he devoted his career to making light of the pomposity and seriousness of the classic masters and their music. A brilliant concert pianist, he escaped Denmark shortly before the country was occupied by Nazi Germany. Arriving in the US with only a few dollars, he quickly found his way — through talent, willpower, and joy in living — toward making a worldwide impact in the entertainment world. Experience his enormous gifts through his story and his concerts. One class up to 2 hours, DVD materials included

RICHARD RODGERS & OSCAR HAMMERSTEIN II: A CELEBRATION OF THE MEN & THEIR MUSIC – In the 1940s and 1950s, Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II were American musical theatre. From Oklahoma to The Sound of Music, we'll examine their lives, explore their many contributions to the music and the art form, and appreciate their legacy of music. One session or class series up to 10 hours. DVD, CD, Live piano/vocal included

SHALL WE DANCE: MUSICALS OF THE 1950's – The 1950s brought new sophistication to musical theatre. Strong books heightened with words and music by Rodgers & Hammerstein, Lerner & Loewe, Loesser, Bernstein, Sondheim, Styne, Harburg, Meredith Willson, and Adler & Ross, gave new focus to choreography by Jerome Robbins and Bob Fosse. Class series up to 10 hours. DVD, CD, Live piano/vocal included

SHOWBOAT: Eight Decades of an American Musical Extravaganza – 2007 marked the 80th anniversary of America's first musical historical drama ... Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein II's Showboat. Its depth, modernity, and provocative subjects revolutionized the musical theatre and exerted an enormous impact on all connected with the production. Examine positive and negative perceptions of its story and music through notable performances from 1927 to the present. Class series up to 10 hours. DVD, CD, Live piano/vocal included

SOUND MIND AND BODY: HEALING THE BODY & SPIRIT WITH MUSIC: Learn the emotional and physical effect of sound and music on the human body and powerful ways to use music most beneficially. This program includes recorded musical excerpts of music genres from around the world, ancient to modern, with a discussion of their creative, energy, and physical effects. One session or class series up to 8 hours. DVD, CD, Live piano/vocal included

TIN PAN ALLEY TO HOLLYWOOD: 19TH & 20TH CENTURY STAGE & SCREEN - Vaudeville, Broadway and film music from the late 19th-century to present with a history of the American musical theatre, stories of the musicals and their creators, the compositions of the American stage musical and America's great composers and lyricists. Experience the lives, music, and productions of America's late nineteenth through 20th century theatre through live, video, and historic recordings and performances. One session or class series up to 15 hours. DVD, CD, Live piano/vocal included

THE UNFORGETTABLE NAT KING COLE – Cole's warm, heartfelt ballads of the 50s and 60s have surpassed in famce his brilliant jazz, swing, and blues performances of the 30s and 40s. One of the most innovative musicians of his day, Cole's drummerless swing jazz trio was one of the finest improvisational combos in 20th century music. The visibility of Cole on television, film, and concert stage served as a prelude to the Civil Rights movement during a period of chaotic change. Cole was a pioneer on every front. His music and his integrity continue to evoke sighs of awe and appreciation. One session up to 2 hours


JOY'S DRAMATIZATION OF JOURNALIST-NOVELIST-PLAYWRIGHT EDNA FERBER

MAGIC OR MADNESS? EDNA FERBER (1885-1968)  [Presented in Dramatic Format] – In an original dramatic work by former St. Petersburg playwright Jan Taylor & Joy Katzen-Guthrie, inspired by the actual words of Edna Ferber, Joy presents a two-hour dramatic rendering of Edna Ferber, "the greatest, best read, novelist of her day" according to the New York Times. Ferber called her last autobiography "my love letter to America." Her great novels on stage and film include Show Boat, Cimmeron, So Big, Dinner at Eight, The Royal Family, Come and Get It, Saratoga Trunk, and Giant, all calling for an intense examination of American society and values and a return to American ideals. Edna was deeply proud of her Jewish heritage and wrote of it extensively. Moreover, her autobiographies of 1939 and 1963 reveal startling predictions for the future through 2010. Her magic or madness? Two-hour production [with stage set], followed by Q&A session. One ten-minute intermission
Click to DOWNLOAD a detailed description of Joy's Dramatization: Edna Ferber ... Magic or Madness

A WOMAN OF VALOR: EDNA FERBER (1885-1968)  — Lecture/Audio-Visual presentation – Joy presents a lecture audio-visual presentation of the life and times of journalist-novelist-playwright Edna Ferber, "the greatest, best read, novelist of her day" according to the New York Times. Deeply proud of her Jewish heritage, Ferber wrote two autobiographies revealing her strong personal convictions. A professional newspaper journalist in the early 20^th century when only a handful of women held that distinction, she was deeply devoted to social causes, human rights, and justice. Ferber’s investigative skills and her deep love of the United States fueled her ardent writings against injustice and intolerance. Among the most successful novelists and playwrights of her day, her works continue to be loved in the 21^st century. Show Boat, Cimmeron, So Big, Dinner at Eight, The Royal Family, Come and Get It, Saratoga Trunk, and Giant among her other works call for an intense examination of American society and values and a return to true American ideals. Single session up to 2 hours, DVD/CD materials included.

LECTURES AND NON-MUSIC-RELATED CLASSES ... AT THE LECTERN AND CLASSROOM

ASIA'S ANCIENT FAITHS: BUDDHISM, TIBETAN BUDDHISM, HINDUISM, TAOISM, and CONFUCIANISM – Spiritual, philosophical, and cultural aspects of the ancient and modern faiths of Asia, spiced with music and audiovisual material. Learn the essential religious and social aspects of each of these faiths, their similarities and contrasts, and how they have influenced life in Asia and worldwide through the centuries. Course may be individualized to include any combination of faiths. One session or class series up to 20 hours. DVD and CD materials included

CARL REINER & MEL BROOKS: MASTER HUMORISTS — First brought together when Reiner was co-starring on television with Sid Caesar and Brooks was a writer, these two created some of the best skits in comedy history. The two would go on to write, produce, and direct iconic productions in television, film and on stage. Rediscover their work and their comic genius through lectures, stories, and film and stage clips. Class series of up to 10 hours, DVD/CD materials included

CHANGING ROLES OF MEN AND WOMEN IN TODAY'S CHINA – Modern China is changing at lightning speed, with traditional values and roles in social culture competing with a vast array of changing jobs, businesses, education, and societal values. We'll examine traditional and modern roles of men and women in China while discussing and viewing many of the current challenges, values, and expections of the new generation of China's industrial and technological entrepreneurs as well as its rural society. Single session up to 2 hours, or Class series of up to 10 hours, DVD/CD materials included

CHINA ... LAND OF MYTH AND MYSTERY: An extensive program that springs from Joy's travels as a heritage tour director in China and 6 travels throughout the country and experiences with the people. Video excerpts, music, and photographs of China enhance the program as Joy examines the spiritual philosophies, poetry, folk tales, and history of this land and its populations, both ancient and modern. One session or class series up to 20 hours. DVD and CD materials included

CHINA'S ANCIENT FAITHS: TAOISM, MAHAYANA BUDDHISM, CONFUCISM, TIBETAN BUDDHISM - Spiritual, philosophical, and cultural aspects of the ancient faiths unique to China, spiced with music and audiovisual material. Learn the essential religious and social aspects of each of these faiths, their similarities and contrasts, and how they have influenced life in China and worldwide through the centuries. Course may be individualized to include any combination of faiths. One session or class series up to 12 hours. DVD and CD materials included

HUMOR & COMEDY, AMERICAN STYLE — How each of us views comedy is a reflection of our view of the world. From stand-up to teams to TV sitcoms and beyond, we'll trace America’s history of comedy and our unique comedic styles. We'll discover influences of ethnic groups in modern American comedy and learn how humor and the ability to laugh at ourselves can transcend cultural barriers. We'll also learn about physical and psychological benefits of laughter from the latest published research — laughing all the way! As Charlie Chaplin said, “Comedy keeps the heart sweet.”
Sessions: Comedy & Satire, Comedy in Music, Comedy in Dance, Comedy in TV, up to 2 hours each

THE JEWS OF CHINA: LAND OF MYTH AND MYSTERY, SILK ROAD TO SHANGHAI: the amazing story of Jews from the last thirteen centuries who made their way into China, as well as modern Jews of China and the relationship between Israel and China, with photographs, resource information,CD/DVD materials. One session or class series up to 6 hours

MASTERS OF STAND-UP COMEDY – What makes us laugh? Comedy reaches us on many levels: age, culture, background, ethnicity, tradition, social interests. From the wild to the wacky, the intellectual to the slapstick, impressionists, ventriloquists, impersonators, comedy teams, satirists, and solo comics, we’ll view and hear classic and rising 20^th century masters of stand-up comedy from among:  Jack Benny, Martin & Lewis, Carol Burnett, Nichols & May, Vaughan Meader, Woody Allen, Jackie Mason, Bob Newhart, Frank Gorshin, Alan King, Mort Sahl, Art Buchwald, Smothers Brothers, Bill Cosby, John Byner, Rowan & Martin, Lily Tomlin, Rich Little, David Frye, George Carlin, Steve Martin, Richard Pryor, David Letterman, Jay Leno, Jeff Foxworthy, Jon Stewart, Billy Crystal, Ellen DeGenerres, John Pinette, Robin Williams, Julia Sweeney, Axis of Evil Tour, Dana Carvey, Frank Calliendo, D.L. Hughley, Natasha Leggero, and more. Class series up to 12 hours. DVD and CD materials included

MIKE NICHOLS: ACTOR, WRITER, DIRECTOR, PRODUCER – Beginning his entertainment career as half of the comedy team of Nichols & May, Mike Nichols has gone on to write, produce, and direct in film, television, and theatre with productions enshrined in popular culture: Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf, The Graduate, Catch-22, Carnal Knowledge, Silkwood, Day of the Dolphin, The Fortune, Wit, Angels in America, Working Woman, Heartburn, Primary Colors, Postcards from the Edge, Biloxi Blues, Wolf, Regarding Henry, The Bird Cage, The Designated Mourner, Spamalot, Closer, Charlie Wilson's War, and more. In this extended six-session course, we'll explore Nichol's poignant ancestry and background experience, his comedic material with Elaine May, the many honors and accolades from others regarding his work, and highlights of virtually every one of his film productions from 1966 through 2007. Class Series of up to 12 hours, DVD/CD Materials

NEAR DEATH EXPERIENCES: After Life … What? – A fascinating and indepth discovery of the universal characteristics of Near Death Experiences and actual NDEs, as well as worldwide philosophies and rituals connected with death and dying. Includes audiovisual resources and handouts. One session or class series up to 6 hours. DVD materials included

RADIO COMEDY IN AMERICA: Five Decades of Laughter – From Sam and Henry to Weber and Fields, Duffy's Tavern to Fibber McGee and Molly, Fred Allen to Jack Benny, Vic and Sade to Bergen and McCarthy, Ed Wynn to Milton Berle, Bob and Ray to Chicken Man, Henry Aldrich to A Date with Judy -- highlights of five decades of radio comedy. Re-discover the medium of imagination through radio broadcasts from the 20s through the 70s -- and the integral role that radio played in American life during the first half of the 20th century. Class series up to 6 hours. DVD and CD materials included

REMOTE JEWS OF THE DIASPORA:  Discover unique customs, experiences, and challenges of Jews living in remote parts of the world or living remotely within America. How have these individuals and families retained their cultural identity when settling within Hindu, Confucian, Taoist, Buddhist, Muslim, and Christian societies? What is their level of observance compared to Jews in larger and more accessible communities? Experience Judaism’s resilience and the distinctiveness of each remote Jewish community, even as each strives to be part of the whole. One session up to 2 hours.  DVD materials included

SATIRISTS FROM MARK TWAIN TO JON STEWART –Wherever organized government exists ... so does political satire. Examine some of the best American political satirists and discover why their humor is timeless, including Mark Twain, Stan Freburg, Art Buchwald, Tom Lehrer, Mort Sahl, George Carlin, Vaughan Meader, David Frye, Rich Little, Late Night & Cable Television, The Unger Report, Jon Stewart, and Stephen Colbert. Class series up to 10 hours. DVD and CD materials included