Award-winning Jewish-American screenwriter, Aaron Sorkin, is writing a new Broadway musical based on famed magician Harry Houdini’s sensational efforts to discredit “spiritualists,” psychics and mediums who rose to prominence in the widespread spiritualist movement in the 1920s. A Jewish immigrant from Hungary, Houdini’s birth name was Erik Weisz. He devoted the last years of his life towards debunking spiritualists, and with his knowledge, Houdini was very successful. So much so that renowned believers such as Arthur Conan Doyle thought that Houdini used his own psychic powers to discredit others.

Aaron Sorkin won awards and praise for writing screenplays in The Social Network and Moneyball, and joining him for the musical are director Jack O’Brien, composer Stephen Schwartz, and actor Hugh Jackman. Only a few days earlier, Jackman finished a ten-week run of sold-out Broadway performances, grossing over $14 million and breaking records. As for playing Houdini, many will remember that Hugh Jackman had a very similar role in 2006 film The Prestige. The musical is on schedule to open in 2013 or 14, and it will be Sorkin’s debut libretto, the script for a stage musical.

Duration : 0:1:15

http://jootube.tv Actor and impresario of Hollywood’s The Complex, Matt Chait, performs “the Stories of Isaac Leib Peretz” featuring a klezmer-flavored accompaniment, performed by returning, Jerusalem violin virtuoso, Lior Kaminetsky.
Runs through Oct 10 at the Ruby Theatre at the Complex in Hollywood. Saturday nights at 8:30pm, Sun at 2pm, Wed & Thurs eves at 8pm.

Duration : 0:5:6

Jackie discusses gun control
Jackie’s new book “Schmucks” on sale March 27th http://www.amazon.com/Schmucks-Favorite-Frauds-Lowlifes-Dangerous/dp/0061126128/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/002-1161824-4855206?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1174875898&sr=8-1

Duration : 0:5:58

Here’s a look at my current Broadway show. This is one of my classic routines that from time to time I throw in because it’s my last show. People say that everybody is the same and that I shouldn’t generalize about people, but if that were true there would be no such thing as the study of comparative culture. This is a light hearted routine about the differences between Jews and Gentiles. Enjoy.

Duration : 0:7:35