The Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia affinity group serving members of the LGBTQ community is set to celebrate its first anniversary in a big way.
David Gold and Lynn Zeitlin, co-chairs of Jewish Pride, the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia affinity group serving members of the LGBTQ community, are excited that the group will celebrate its first anniversary in a big way.
The group will host Seth Rudetsky, an accomplished Broadway music director, performer, author and syndicated disc jockey, for a performance of “Deconstructing Broadway on Broad Street.” The event will take place Sunday, March 8, at 7 p.m., at the Elaine C. Levitt Auditorium of the Gershman Y, 401 S. Broad St., Philadelphia.
This is a critically acclaimed national one-man show that Rudetsky created and stars in.
Rudetsky is the afternoon host on Sirius/XM Satellite Radio’s “On Broadway” as well as the host of “Seth Speaks” on Sirius/XM Stars. He has played piano for more than a dozen Broadway shows, including Ragtime, Les Miserables and Phantom of the Opera. He was the artistic producer/music director for the first five annual Actors Fund fall concerts, including Dreamgirls with Audra McDonald and Hair with Jennifer Hudson.
In 2007, Rudetsky made his Broadway acting debut playing Sheldon in The Ritz for Roundabout Theater Company and he played himself on Kathy Griffin, My Life on the D-List. Off-Broadway, he wrote and starred in the critically acclaimed Rhapsody In Seth at the Actors Playhouse. He has also appeared on television in Law and Order Criminal Intent and had a recurring role on the soap opera All My Children.
In his free time, he tours the country doing master classes and writes a weekly column on Playbill.com.
Gold is optimistic that the concert will enable Jewish Pride to continue its momentum and engage new members.
“We have grown exponentially since our first cocktail and conversation mixer in Center City,” he said, crediting the surge to “friends telling friends about the dynamic programming and the wonderful people that attend our programs and events.”
Last fall, affinity group members gathered in the courtyard of the John C. Anderson Apartments in Center City Philadelphia for a SukkOUT, a celebration of Sukkot that coincided with the Philadelphia Outfest.
Celebrants brought non-perishable food items for Federation’s Mitzvah Food Project and the Mazzoni Center Food Bank.
Jewish Pride is a member of J. Proud, a consortium of more than a dozen Jewish organizations — including Jewish Family and Children’s Service, a Federation community partner — that raises awareness, educates and advocates for the diverse needs of the Jewish LGBTQ community while building relationships with allies in the Greater Philadelphia area.
J. Proud coordinator Phoenix Schneider invites Jewish Pride current and prospective members to support a Purim Drag Ball on Thursday, March 5, at 7 p.m., at Tabu Lounge, 200 S. 12 St., Philadelphia. JFCS and Spectrum, another J. Proud member, are sponsoring the event, which will feature contests, music and a cash bar.
For more information and to purchase advance tickets at $10 per person, visit: eventbrite.com/e/purim-drag-ball-tickets.
Gold and Zeitlin give a great deal of credit to Federation leadership for their commitment to be more welcoming and inclusive to all Jews, including members of the LBGTQ community. They express high praise for the dedication and sensitivity of their senior adviser, Ellyn Golder Saft, their Federation staff liaison Jay Steinberg and Susan G. Schwartz, Federation Campaign vice chair.
Saft, who has been involved in Jewish Pride since its inception, is enthusiastic about the group’s growth. “We want our Federation to be inclusive, embracing and engaging for all Jews in our community,” she said.
The co-chairs also express their gratitude to Committee Members: Chris Bartlett; Craig Blackman; Gary Bramnick; Susan Frank; Carole Krasick; Malcolm Lazin; Joan Levin; Michael Palumbaro; Lee Rosenfield, and Rabbi Jacob Staub.
The March 8 Jewish Pride program with Seth Rudetsky is not designed as a fundraising event. However, limited tickets are now available at the Patron level. For $360 per person, patrons will have an opportunity to meet Rudetsky at a pre-event reception which includes hors d’oeuvres, an open bar and two premium seats. Tickets are also available at $36 and $25 per person.
To order tickets, go to: jewishphilly.org/broadway. For more information about Jewish Pride, call Jay Steinberg at 215-832-0888 or email: JSteinberg@jfgp.org.
