Touch of Pray

Growing up there was only room in our household for one fanatical Deadhead. That was my brother Gary, who followed, and continues to follow, the music of the Grateful Dead, even since the passing of the band’s front man and creative force Jerry Garcia nearly 20 years ago. For years, my go-to gift for Brother Gary was a T-shirt emblazoned with a vintage photo of Garcia in the band’s signature tie-dye. In a nod to his beloved band, Gary even talked his daughter into tie-dye hoodies as a party favor at her bat mitzvah.

Of course, like all Deadheads, it’s not the paraphernalia but the music that my brother loves — hundreds of their seminal songs of a counterculture era that not only endure but also continue to thrive, despite Garcia’s death in 1995. 

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But why is that exactly? And how come it seems there are such a disproportionate number of Jewish Deadheads and Jewish Deadhead musicians? What is the hook of the Grateful Dead that has so inspired Jews?

These questions and others will be explored at “Unleavened Dead: A Weekend Retreat Blending Judaism with the Grateful Dead” Sept. 12-14 at Camp Manitowa. The residential summer camp and retreat center is located in Benton, Ill., near Rend Lake, about 90 minutes southeast of St. Louis.

“This is the first time for something like this in the Midwest,” explains St. Louisan Beth Koritz, who is helping to organize the retreat. She said a similar event called “Blues for Challah” takes place at the Isabella Freedman Jewish Retreat Center in Connecticut, “but that is way more Torah-based than ours and has no music. Ours will be more spiritually based and have amazing music,” she said.

In fact, one of the bigger draws of “Unleavened Dead” is a Saturday night concert, which will bring together more than a half-dozen musicians from top touring Grateful Dead tribute bands, including Dark Star Orchestra members Robert Koritz (Beth’s brother and fellow St. Louisan) and Rob Barraco (a classmate of mine from Westbury, N.Y. High School) as well as Scott Cooper and Roger Sideman, both of China Cats. Additional programming will feature Jewish song leader and musician Hal Aqua of Denver, Colo. and Rabbi Randy Fleisher of Central Reform Congregation.

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“We are bringing in musicians from some of the best Dead bands in the country,” said Koritz. “We are paying for their transportation here, but they are performing for free. That’s how much they are looking forward to this.”

During the day, workshops will explore all aspects of the Jewish Deadhead phenomena, from “Jippie-ism,” linking Judaism and the Grateful Dead, to using Jewish mystical Kabbalah as a prism for interpreting Dead lyrics. Attendees also can partake in the camp’s many activities, including water sports, ropes courses and yoga.

Koritz said the driving force behind the event is Andy Brown, a Clayton High School graduate, who co-owns Camp Manitowa. “He and his wife are huge Deadhead fans. Along with my brother, they followed the Dead all over for years,” said Koritz. “Andy thought this would be a great event for the Midwest and that the camp would be the perfect setting.”

The cost for the weekend, which begins at 3 p.m. that Friday and ends at 3 p.m. Sunday, is $165 and includes six meals and cabin accommodations at the camp. Those wanting to stay elsewhere — Koritz says there are numerous motels in the area — can pay $125 for the camp events. The cost of the Saturday night concert, along with dinner and breakfast the next morning, as well as outdoor camping, is $40. Kosher meals can be provided at an additional charge.

Koritz said that while everyone is welcome, the weekend is designed for adults. For more information and to register, go to unleaveneddead.com or contact Koritz at [email protected].

Pen pals

What do the Marquis De Sade and Fanny Brice have in common?

The answer is that each will be featured in different plays opening this month. 

The Marquis De Sade takes front and center in the Max and Louie Productions of “Quills,” a dark comedy that tells of the conflict between the imprisoned Sade (infamous, irreverent literary bad boy of 18^th-century France) and the keepers entrusted with silencing the perverse tails that drip from his ink-laden quills. The show is intended for mature audiences.

Fanny Brice, of course, is the central character in Stray Dog Theatre’s “Funny Girl,” opening Thursday (July 24) at the Tower Grove Abbey, 2336 Tennessee Avenue. The family-friendly show runs through Aug. 9 with tickets ranging from $18 to $20. Call 314-865-1995 or go to straydogtheatre.org.

“Quills” runs from July 31 through Aug. 17 at the Wool Studio Theater at the Jewish Community Center, 2 Millstone Campus Drive, in Creve Coeur. On Aug. 1-2, its playwright, Doug Wright, will lead post-show talkbacks after the 8 p.m. performances. Wright won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama for his 2004 play “I am My Own Wife.” He also wrote the book for the musical “Grey Gardens,” which was first performed on Broadway in 2006.

Tickets for “Quills” are $25 and $30 and can be ordered through brownpapertickets.com.

Arts cutback

Sad news this week for Chesterfield Arts. After nearly 20 years, the nonprofit will no longer offer educational classes or arts programming of any kind after Aug. 31, according to its board of directors. Stacey Morse, the organization’s executive director, has stepped down, and says she is now considering other opportunities. 

A statement issued by the board reads: “We are now facing the next phase of our evolution — a reinvention based on the significant changes in our growing community, in the economy at large, and in new technologies that broaden the access to art by all population groups. Our core mission and commitment to the value of the arts remains steadfast.  In the immediate future, however, Chesterfield Arts will focus solely on the presentation and maintenance of its sizeable public art collection and retain its nonprofit status, which will allow us to use our resources to develop a new and sustainable plan.”