tmtm 4 June 23: Neema Bickersteth (Treemonisha) director Eli Form (Burning off the Page), Tamás Wormser (Shalom Putti)

Soprano, Neema Bickersteth on her title role in the reimagining of Scott Joplin's Black opera Treemonisha, running June 6-17th (Opening Night June 10th) at St Lawrence Centre for the Arts, Bluma Appel Theatre.Toronto Jewish Film Festival coverage with directors, Eli Gorn and Tamás Wormser. Eli and I talk about his doc, Burning Off The Page about the extraordinary Celia Dropkin who wrote Yiddish erotic poetry at the turn of the 20th century. Tamás and I discuss the multi-layered realities of his doc, Shalom Putti about the Abayudaya, a group of Black Ugandan Jews, who, after 100 years of conversion, are seeking official recognition from Israel.Treemonisha is a Volcano Production, and part of the Luminato Festival and partnered with TOLive.Photo: Neema Bickersteth as Treemonisha. Photo credit: Dahlia Katz. Artwork: Lost in the Island.Photo of Eli, Tamás and posters courtesy of www.tjff.com