"J. EDGAR KLEZMER: Songs from My Grandmother's FBI Files" - musical documentary theater adventure, by grandchild & bandleader Eve Sicular. From klezmer to Kodaly to jazz, baroque to boogie woogie to gospel, from Hazel Scott's cancelled TV show to derelict theories of homosexuality, exploring surveillance files leads in even more directions than the Department of Justice could have foreseen.

"J. Edgar Klezmer" premiered to a sold-out house at Dixon Place in November 2008 and immediately became a Time Out NY Critics Pick. The show is based on the true story of the late Dr. Adele Sicular, grandmother of Metropolitan Klezmer & Isle of Klezbos drummer/bandleader Eve Sicular. Using documents obtained through a Freedom of Information Act filing, plus myriad other archival findings and family gossip, this piece investigates the dealings of the FBI and Eve's pianist/psychiatrist/activist grandma through live theater, multi-media projections, and live music.

CAST: Soprano Melissa Fogarty (vocals), researcher Eve Sicular (drums), Pam Fleming (trumpet/flugelhorn, Nov & Feb shows), Debra Kreisberg (clarinet/alto sax), Shoko Nagai (accordion/piano), Reut Regev (trombone, June show), Moe Angelos (investigator/Dr. Silverberg, Feb 28 show), Yelena Shmulenson (investigator/Dr. Silverberg, June 4 show).

The 2008 premiere of "J. Edgar Klezmer" at Dixon Place was made possible in part with public funds from the Manhattan Community Arts Fund. Further support has been received from Third Street Music School Settlement, and a Production Assistance Grant provided by New York Theatre Workshop.

The Sparkplug Foundation has awarded a grant for the development, production and promotion of "J. Edgar Klezmer: Songs from My Grandmother's FBI Files." We are grateful for this support of our musical documentary project!

Video excerpts are now available for presenters requesting previews of "J. Edgar Klezmer: Songs from My Grandmother's FBI Files."

"Grandma and the FBI" in NJ Jewish Standard: read article

J. Edgar Klezmer Podcast

2009 PERFORMANCE DATES

• Saturday, February 28
  8PM Original musical documentary theater: With Isle of Klezbos bandmates featuring vocalist Melissa Fogarty & Moe Angelos, and special guest Shoko Nagai on piano.
  Time Out NY Critics' Pick!
  Suggested $10 donation
  Puffin Cultural Forum
  20 Puffin Way
  Teaneck NJ 07666
  Info: (201) 836-8923 or www.puffinfoundation.org/forum/forum_new/calendar/February.html
  Reservations encouraged. Tickets can be reserved via (201) 836-3499 live or on voice mail with last name-phone-email-#tix, or via tix@puffinfoundation.org.
  
  
• Thursday, June 4
  8PM JCC in Manhattan
  334 Amsterdam Ave. at 76th St, NYC
  For more information, or to register, please call: 646-505-5708 (Event #EAYJEK00S9)
  J. Edgar Klezmer info & tickets online: jccmanhattan.org
  Tickets: $20 Non-Member / $15 Member
  

  "J. Edgar Klezmer: Songs from My Grandmother's FBI Files" premiered to a sold-out house at Dixon Place last year and became a Time Out New York Critics Pick. A musical documentary theater piece based on declassified documents, the show is set on Manhattan's Upper West Side, examining the life and Cold War time capsule of Dr. Adele Sicular, grandmother of Metropolitan Klezmer & Isle of Klezbos drummer/bandleader Eve Sicular. Combining myriad archival finds, oral history and family gossip, this piece uses theater, multi-media projections, original music and lyrics to investigate the dealings of government agents and Eve's pianist/psychiatrist/activist grandma. From klezmer to Kodaly to jazz, baroque to boogie woogie to gospel, from Hazel Scott's cancelled TV show to derelict theories of homosexuality, exploring surveillance files leads in even more directions than the Department of Justice could have foreseen.

  "J. EDGAR KLEZMER" features... Pam Fleming - trumpet & flugelhorn; Melissa Fogarty - vocals / investigator; Debra Kreisberg - clarinet & alto saxophone; Shoko Nagai - piano; Yelena Shmulenson-Rickman - investigator / Dr. Silverberg; Eve Sicular - drums, researcher, granddaughter

  Director: Isabel Milenski
  Projection designer & conductor: Jennifer Griesbach
  Lighting designer: Caridad Rivera
  Lyricist, composer, writer: Eve Sicular

  "J. Edgar Klezmer" -- now with full staging and more new songs -- has received funding from the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs administered by Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, and development support from Third Street Music School Settlement and New York Theatre Workshop. We also gratefully acknowledge permission to perform "Hazel's Boogie" by Hazel Scott, granted by her son, Adam Clayton Powell III.