Special discount on ‘Next to Normal’ tickets at the Fox for ‘Light’ readers

“NEXT TO NORMAL,” the smash hit Broadway musical and Tony and Pulitzer Prize award winner, is coming to the Fabulous Fox for a limited engagement April 12 to 24.  Thanks to Arlen Chaleff’s efforts on behalf of National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) there will be a special performance during the show’s run on Thursday night, April 21 that includes a free pre-performance reception with psychiatrist Dr. Luis Giuffra. Cast members have been invited to attend.  Chaleff has also arranged a huge discount for Jewish Light readers.  To get the NAMI special one-night only 50 percent off ticket price, include the promotional code ‘NAMI’ when you call Metrotix at 314-534-1111 or online at www.metrotix.com/promotions or when going to the box office for the April 21 performance.

“Next to Normal” takes you into the lives of a family living with mental health issues.   “One of NAMI’s core programs is called Family To Family which would be a great resource to a family like the one portrayed in the play,” Chaleff said. “Not only does it let families know that they are not alone, it also supplies the education about the illness and the coping skills to help them achieve the highest quality of their lives and those of their family members.” Living with the illness is not new to Chaleff, a member of the board of NAMI who was diagnosed with the illness many years ago.

Alice Ripley, who received the 2009 Tony Award for Best Actress in this musical reprises her acclaimed performance in the touring show. Ben Brantley of the New York Times called the play “a brave, breathtaking musical, a work of muscular grace and power.  It is sometimes much more than a feel-good musical; it is a feel-everything musical.”

Attorney and thespian

RALPH W. KALISH is known in the St. Louis community as an attorney, in fact one whose practice with Husch Blackwell encompasses many areas of intellectual property law. What some of you may not know is that Kalish is also an actor who will perform Friday, April 15 and Saturday, April 16 at the Gaslight Theater, 358 North Boyle.   Kalish will portray Branch Rickey, the long ago General Manager of the St. Louis Cardinals and the Brooklyn Dodgers, who had an agenda – winning. He did that in ways nobody had ever tried, and some people wanted to stop at all cost. Described as “a God-fearing, checkers playing, horse trading, cigar smoking, double talking, nonalcoholic, sharp-shooting blend of eloquence and unction and sincerity and enterprise and imagination and energy…”, this one-man, one-act show sounds intriguing.  For tickets at $20 visit www.licketytix.com or call 314-725-4200, ext 10.

Crohn’s and Colitis event

SPRING FEVER TRIVIA NIGHT sounds like a fun fundraiser for Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA). It’s at 6 p.m. Saturday, April 9 at the Maryland Heights Community Center, 2344 McKelvey Road and for $20 per person you can stretch your brain and have beer, soda and water or you can BYOB and food. You have probably heard me whine about trivia events (I used to call them “trivial nights”) but you know what, it’s the cause that counts.  Crohn’s and Colitis seem to be diagnosed much more today than when I wrote the first column about it 25 years ago. To buy your tickets for a good time and a good cause call Steve Skodak at 314-863-4747.

JCRC’s Newmark Institute plans interfaith discussion

LAST YEAR BARBARA AND MICHAEL NEWMARK established their Institute for Human Relations “to support our country’s great tradition of pluralism and to foster better relations between our country’s many different religious, racial and ethnic components.” At 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 6 “Bridging Divides Through Interfaith Init-iatives” will be the subject of a talk at Anheuser Busch Hall Bryan Cave Moot Courtroom at Washington University. A reception will follow the program, which is free and open to the public. However the JCRC, in charge of the details, would appreciate a head count, so call at 314-442-3871 if you plan to attend.  The speakers will be Rabbi Steve Guttow, President and CEO, Jewish Council for Public Affairs and the Rev. Dr. Michael Kinnamon, General Secretary, National Council of Churches.

Warehouse needed

RITA SWIENER, executive director of Santa’s Helpers Inc. and a 2010 Women of Achievement winner, needs our help. It seems Santa’s Helpers, a volunteer organization that collects gifts and distributes them to needy families for Christmas and Hanukkah, is losing its warehouse. Last year, the organization served over 1,900 kids. The non-profit needs a new warehouse that’s at least 3,500 square feet.  If you can help, give Swiener a call at 314-610-2311 or 314-727-0186.

Corrections

The correct date for the Women of Achievement Luncheon is May 10.  And speaking of corrections, Nanci Bobrow, President of Nurses for Newborns, let me know I gave you the wrong contact for the group’s April 17 fundraiser, A Night for Newborns. The correct contact person is Elisa Reeves. She can be reached at 314-544-3433, ext 317 or [email protected].