UMS Concert Program, March 22, 2018 - March 25, 2018 - Bubble Schmeisis

Thursday Evening, March 22, 2018 at 7:30
Friday Evening, March 23, 2018 at 7:00 Friday Evening, March 23, 2018 at 9:00 Saturday Afternoon, March 24, 2018 at 2:00
Saturday Evening, March 24, 2018 at 8:00 Sunday Afternoon, March 25, 2018 at 2:00
Sunday Evening, March 25, 2018 at 6:00
The Schvitz, Detroit BUBBLE SCHMEISIS Nick Cassenbaum
Writer and Performer Danny Braverman
Director 73rd, 74th, 76th, 77th, 78th, 80th, and 81st Performances of the 139th Annual Season This weekÕs performances are funded in part by the Building Audiences for Sustainability initiative of The Wallace Foundation. Media partnership provided by Metro Times. Special thanks to Alan Havis, Paddy Lynch, and The Schvitz for their collaboration on this presentation. In consideration of the artists and the audience, please refrain from the use of electronic devices during the performance. The photography, sound recording, or videotaping of this performance is prohibited. CREATIVE TEAM Writer and Performer / Nick Cassenbaum Director / Danny Braverman Assistant Director / Joe Fleming Designer / Bethany Wells Musicians / Daniel Gouly and Josh Middleton Bubble Schmeisis is approximately 60 minutes in duration and is performed without intermission. Following Thursday eveningÕs performance, please feel free to remain in your seats and join us for a post-performance Q&A with members of the company. YIDDISH GLOSSARY Alta kakas / Old Men. Bar Mitzvah / Rite of passage of becoming.a Jewish man. Bazem / Raffia brush used to schmeiss Beigel / Bread with a hole / hole surrounded by bread Briss / Circumcision. Broygus / Argument. Bubbemeises / GrandmotherÕs story / tall story / old wivesÕ tale Chrayne / Horseradish and beetroot paste Davening / Praying. Frummers / Hasidic Jews. FZY / Federation of Zionist Youth Gantze macher / Big-timer / big shot. Guntz / Everything. Kneideluch / Dumplings. Kvetch / Complain, moan. Lockshen / Egg noodle. Pish / Piss. Punim / Face. Schlap / To drag. Schmakiel / Willy. Schmeiss / To hit; cleaning ritual of the baths Schmeisser / The person doing the schmeissing Schticking / Laughing. Schtum / Quiet. Schtupping / Sex. Schvitz / Sweat. Shul / Synagogue. Simcha / Do / party / celebration. Touchus / Bum. Yid / Tottenham Fan. Yiddo / Tottenham Fan. Yiddishe / Jewish EAST LONDON GLOSSARY Punters / People. Minces / Eyes. Gaf / Place. Butchers-hook / Look. Starkers / Naked. Rucking / Getting into a fight Do / Party La Di Da / Cigar ARTISTS Nick Cassenbaum (performer and writer) is a street performer, writer, and theater-maker based in London. He has been clowning on the streets of England since 2011 and received his MA in writing for performance at Goldsmiths University in London. He was selected for the Young Writers Programme at the Royal Court (2012) and since then he has made storytelling work on his own with Bubble Schmeisis and in a community context with his storytelling company Take Stock Exchange, of which he is artistic director. He has made work for the Royal Court, Soho Theatre, Battersea Arts Centre, and the Yard Theatre in London. He is currently working on a new stage show entitled My Kind of Michael about Michael Barrymore, an English comedian and television presenter of game shows and light entertainment programs on British television in the 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s, which will tour the UK next year. For more information, please visit 
www.nickcassenbaum.com. Si‰n Baxter (producer) is an independent producer based in Glasgow, Scotland. In 2012 she co-founded the Sheffield-based immersive theater company The Bare Project and produced and performed in their productions Bear with Snow (2012), Goodbye Sun and Bear (2013), and Time Passes. Listen (2014). Alongside this she also set up bi-monthly scratch nights Saturday Live (2014Ð16) to support local artists in Yorkshire presenting new ideas to new audiences. In 2015, she was selected for a year-long traineeship with London-based international producing organization Artsadmin in producing and advising artists, and worked with the organization for another six months as an assistant producer and artist advisor. Since going freelance in late 2016, she has worked with mental health activist and artist the vacuum cleaner (2016Ð17), live artist Lucy Hutson (2017), amplifier Nick Anderson (2017Ðpresent), and theater-maker/writer Nick Cassenbaum (2017.Ðpresent). Josh Middleton (musician) is an accordionist and composer specializing in Klezmer and east European folk styles. He has been performing music professionally since the age of 14, graduated from the School of Oriental and African Studies at the University of London with a first-class degree in ethnomusicology, and has since been intensively studying both Klezmer and Bulgarian music, the latter at the Academy of Music, Dance, and Fine Arts in Plovdiv. He has worked with many Klezmer and Balkan music ensembles such as SheÕkoyokh, The London Klezmer Quartet, Tatcho Dorm, Raka, and Don Kipper, has shared a stage with Klezmorim such as Frank London and Merlin Shepherd, taught at Klezfest London alongside Klezmer scholars such as Alan Bern and Joel Rubin, and recorded for artists as diverse as DJ Vadim and Kadialy Kouyate. He also works as a marionettist and composer on the Puppet Theatre Barge, performing and writing music for puppet shows. He has extensive experience composing and performing music for the stage, and writing and touring with puppet companies such as Movingstage, String Theatre, Mirth and Misery, Finger and Thumb Theatre, and the Bus King Theatre. Daniel Gouly (musician) is an experienced clarinetist, educator, and electronic music composer and performer with a masterÕs in Jewish music (ethnomusicology and performance) from the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London. He specializes in performing and teaching world music styles from across eastern Europe and the Mediterranean, particularly Klezmer, having taught at the UK Klezfest and shared the stage with such luminaries as Alan Bern, Frank London, and Joel Rubin. He is also currently studying for a PhD at the Open University as an AHRC-funded CHASE Scholar researching online musical communities. Danny Braverman (director) won critical acclaim at the Edinburgh Fringe 2013, with his one-man-show Wot? No Fish!!, the true story of a Jewish family living in 20th-century London. He is co-director of the newly reformed Bread and Circuses, and over a 30-year career as a theater-maker, has also worked with the National Theatre, Graeae Theatre Company, and Theatre Royal Stratford East.Ê UMS welcomes Nick Cassenbaum as he makes his UMS debut this week. Photo (next spread): Club members of The Schvitz casually dine together in this undated photo. Shirts optional; photograph: courtesy of Paddy Lynch. With special thanks to: Liat Rosenthal, Abigail Cassen, Matthew Evans, Emily Harwood, Sean Matthews, Big Wheel, Richmix, Old Vic New Voices, Take Stock Exchange, and Olly Hawes. The Boys Down The Baths: Papa Alan, Eddy Bloom, Norman, Malcom, TonyÉThe One And Only. Dad and Mum. This tour is dedicated to Aunty Linda. 10 #A2UMS THIS WEEKÕS VICTOR FOR UMS: The Wallace Foundation Supporter of this weekÕs performances of Bubble Schmeisis. MAY WE ALSO RECOMMEND... 4/14     Colin Stetson: Sorrow 4/15     ApolloÕs Fire: MonteverdiÕs LÕOrfeo 4/19Ð21    Cold Blood Tickets available at www.ums.org. ON THE EDUCATION HORIZONÉ 3/24     Salon Discussion: Lily Baldwin     (North Quad, Space 2435, 105 S. State Street, 1:00 pm)     In collaboration with the 55th Annual Ann Arbor Film Festival 3/25     Tignon: Work-in-Progress Reading     (Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, 
315 Warren Avenue, Detroit, 3:00 pm)     Part of the 2017Ð18 UMS Education and Community Engagement Research Residency 4/19     Post-Performance Q&A: Cold Blood     (Power Center, 121 Fletcher Street)     Must have a ticket to that eveningÕs performance to attend. Educational events are free and open to the public unless otherwise noted.