State of the Jews

Former LABA Fellow Alex Weiser writes about Zionist leader Theodor Herzl’s legacy–and about using this legacy as the basis for a new opera. Early one evening last Spring, I entered a classroom on the 4th floor at the 14th Street Y to find a big table in the center filled with all sorts of my

Patterns of a Parachute Path

On Thursday, May 31st, LABALive Two will present an evening of subversive art and teachings on this year’s theme, WAR & PEACE. The evening will feature LABA teacher Liel Leibovitz and works-in-progress by LABA Fellows Tal Gur, Jacob Siegel and Amy Handelsman. Here Gur serves up a few words and images apropos of his upcoming show.   

More artists. More wines. More texts. One night only.

On Saturday, November 18th, at 7:30 PM at the 14th Street Y, LABA: A Laboratory for Jewish Culture will kick off its 10th season with DRUNK, an intoxicating evening of art, performance and Jewish texts. Below, LABA fellows Yael Sloma, Tal Gur and Zohar Tirosh-Polk reveal their drinking habits (or lack thereof) and serve up

LABA Alumni Respond to OTHER: Andy Teirstein

TRANSLUCENT BORDERS By Andy Teirstein Composer Andy Teirstein is a 2014-2015 LABA alumnus. His work, inspired by the rich and diverse folk roots of modern culture, has been described by The New York Times and The Village Voice as “magical,”  “ingenious,” and “superbly crafted.” A student of Leonard Bernstein, Henry Brant, Bruce Saylor and David Del Tredici, Teirstein

“birds sing a pretty song” returned May 4th

LABA Alums Maxx Berkowitz and Rebecca Margolick returned to the Theater at the 14th Street Y for a second stage production of birds sing a pretty song May 4- 7 for a sold out show. The OPENING NIGHT party on Thursday, May 4th, was a success! Thoughts from the creators, Rebecca Margolick and Maxx Berkowitz: birds sing a

Gil Sperling on “A Yiddishe Wagner”

On Thursday, February 9th, LABAlive will present an evening of art works and subversive teachings exploring our annual theme, OTHER. The evening will feature teachings by Ruby Namdar and works by fellows Keren Moscovitch, Michael Gac Levin, and Gil Sperling, who would present his work in progress, A Yiddishe Wagner. Here, Sperling talks about his project with LABA Journal Editor,

Meet Fellow Gil Sperling

Gil Sperling is a multimedia artist and performance maker. He has created short films and video installations, video design for the stage, and multimedia performances. Gil is a graduate of the School of Visual Theater in Jerusalem and holds a BA in psychology and philosophy. He spent a year as a fellow at the Academy of Media

Lainie Fefferman discusses “Market Day”

On Thursday, June 2, LABAlive will present “Boundaries,” an evening of multi-disciplinary works-in-process exploring our relationship with beauty. The evening will feature teachings by Ruby Namdar and work by fellows Lital Dotan, Shanti Grumbine, and Lainie Fefferman, who will present scenes from her string quartet, Market Day. Here, Fefferman talks about her project and the inspiration she found in our house of

Tamar’s Brother

BY LAINIE FEFFERMAN I am so used to anachronous sexual politics in the Bible, but the sibling relationship in the story of Tamar’s rape hit me hard. I have no brothers by blood, but looking at a sibling as a perpetrator instead of an ally horrifies me on a primal level. I can’t imagine but

LABA MUSIC

YOAV GAL. LEVI-YULZARI DUO. ALICIA SVIGALS. NADAV LEV & RINAT SHAHAM. JANUARY 9/ 8PM JANUARY 11/ 11:30AM with BRUNCH TICKETS START AT $15 14th STREET Y *BRUNCH INCLUDES MIMOSAS AND A LIGHT NOSH CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE TICKETS.   FEATURING: YOAV GAL Pioneering ‘indie opera’ creator Yoav Gal presents his “Shekhinah” song cycle, which constructs