Stephen Gottlieb Festival of the Arts features Bebe Neuwirth's 'Stories with Piano' and Sondheim's 'Company'

WEST BLOOMFIELD - The Jewish Community Center of Metropolitan Detroit will host the Stephen Gottlieb Festival of the Arts Aug. 28-Sept. 2, with an exceptional program of concerts, lectures, hands-on art projects, family events, exhibits and films, and featuring Broadway and former "Cheers" star Bebe Neuwirth.

Neuwirth will star in "Stories with Piano" at 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 1 at The Berman. In this one-woman masterpiece, Neuwirth will perform music by some of the greatest songwriters of all time, including Kurt Weill-Brecht and Stephen Sondheim. Known for her Tony Award-winning appearances in "Sweet Charity" and "Chicago," as well as playing Dr. Lilith Sternin on the television series "Cheers" and "Frasier," Neuwirth has received rave reviews for "Stories," a concert about love, heartbreak and survival. Tickets are $46 for JCC members and $56 for non-members.

On Sunday, Sept. 2 at 7 p.m., the JCC Stephen Gottlieb Festival of the Arts hosts Broadway in HD, a film presentation of Stephen Sondheim's "Company," at The Berman. The all-star cast includes Neil Patrick Harris, Patti LuPone and Stephen Colbert in a story of five couples and their friend and perpetual bachelor.

Other featured guests include:

• Tina Wasserman, who will offer a food tasting and speak Wednesday, Aug. 29 at 7:30 p.m. at the JCC in West Bloomfield. A food columnist whose articles have appeared in the Washington Post and Reform Judaism magazine, among others, Wasserman will discuss her book "Entree to Judaism: A Culinary Exploration of the Jewish Diaspora." The cost is $26 for JCC members and $31 for non-members.
  
• Detroit Institute of Arts Director Graham W. J. Beal will discuss "What's New at the DIA?" at 3 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 2 at The Berman. Beal will offer insights into his tenure as museum director and discuss the DIA's new exhibits. Free for JCC and DIA members; tickets are $11 for the general public.

For a full schedule of events at this year's JCC Stephen Gottlieb Festival of the Arts, log on to www.jccdet.org. All tickets may be ordered by calling 248-661-1900 or visiting www.theberman.org. The Berman is located at 6600 W. Maple Road in West Bloomfield.