Special Sections: Arts Preview

Books about Israel and Israelis, including new books by Amos Oz, Meir Shalev and Aharon Appelfeld, dominate publishers’ fall lists. There are biographies of David Ben Gurion and Ariel Sharon and others who created, dominated, destroyed and developed the city of Jerusalem; and there’s a lyrical memoir of about life between Israel and America. Along with debut books and highly anticipated works by established authors, the season’s new titles also include tales of love, family, and still untold stories of the Holocaust.

FICTION

 T he original heyday of the amateur talent contest was the Depression. Major Bowes ruled the airwaves and talent contests were a highlight in movie theaters and dying vaudeville houses around the country. Today the venue has changed to “reality” television, but the staggering economy still helps fuel people’s dreams of stardom, from “American Idol” to “The Voice.”

Regrettably, live competitions are significantly fewer, although some stalwarts like the Apollo Theater still soldier on.

SEPTEMBER

10: “Monajat (Fervent Prayer),” a new multimedia project by Galeet Dardashti, inspired by the Selichot prayer traditions of Mizrahi Jews throughout the Middle East, including live musical performance by Dardashti and her current ensemble, video installations, interactive workshops and services, at the JCC in Manhattan (76th St and Amsterdam Ave.) at 8:30 p.m. For information go to www.jccmanhattan.org.

When “Death Defying Acts,” an evening of one-act comedies opened Off-Broadway at the Variety Arts Theatre in 1995, the critics fell over themselves to heap praise on the short plays, which were written by David Mamet, Elaine May and Woody Allen.

According to Vincent Canby of The New York Times, the evening was so “effervescent” that he asked, “Who needs Broadway when Off-Broadway can be as easy and mischievous fun as this?”