By Mabel Pais

Samantha Bee, Emmy Award-winner, returns to the stage, with her trademark satirical comedy, to the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) on Friday, April 7, at 8 PM.

Samantha Bee has quickly established herself as having one of the most unique and sharp comedic voices on television. Born and raised in Toronto, Canada, Bee began her career performing as a member of the all-female sketch comedy troupe ‘The Atomic Fireballs.’

In 2003, Bee joined Comedy Central’s ‘The Daily Show’s’ “Best F#@king News Team.” Bee departed ‘The Daily Show’ in 2015 and currently holds the title for being the longest-serving regular ‘Daily Show’ correspondent of all time (12 years).

Bee received global recognition from the success of her very own weekly late-night comedy series, ‘Full Frontal with Samantha Bee,’ which premiered in 2016 and ran for seven seasons on the Turner Broadcasting System (TBS, a division of the Warner Brothers Network). ‘Full Frontal’ offered a unique satirical take on weekly news and explored other important stories in-depth that have been largely overlooked by more traditional media outlets. ‘Full Frontal’ received rave reviews, and the show was picked up by TBS for a full season within weeks of its premiere. In a landscape of male late-night talk show hosts, critics have appreciated Bee’s “fiery and fierce” delivery (The New York Times) and have embraced ‘Full Frontal’ as a “daring, innovative addition to the late-night slate” (Entertainment Weekly).

Bee is the author of the essay collection ‘I Know I Am, But What Are You?’ and has been featured in ‘TIME 100: The Most Influential People.’ She is also the host of ‘Full Release,’ a podcast featuring in-depth conversations with the best and brightest of people about how to navigate the ever-changing world and what to laugh about along the way. Bee with her husband Jason Jones also co-created the half-hour comedy series, ‘The Detour,’ which ran for four seasons on TBS. ‘The Detour,’ which stars Jones, was inspired by their personal experiences on family getaways. The show follows Nate (Jones), Robin (Natalie Zea) and their two kids, Delilah and Jared, for what Nate believes will be the adventure of a lifetime on a road trip to Florida, which quickly turns into a disaster.

In 2018, Bee announced her new production company, Swimsuit Competition, co-founded with ‘Full Frontal’ producer Kristen Everman. Swimsuit Competition aims to create inclusive, narrative and documentary television and will develop content for TBS.

TICKETS

For Tickets to see Samantha Bee, visit NJPAC.org or the Box Office or call 888. GO.NJPAC (888.466.5722).

The New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC)
Follow NJPAC Online:
Website: njpac.org
Twitter: @NJPAC
Instagram: @NJPAC
Hashtag: #NJPAC
Facebook: facebook.com/NJPAC
YouTube: NJPACtv

Follow NJPAC’s Standing in Solidarity Series Online:
Website: njpac.org/takeastand
Hashtag: #NJPACTakeAStand
Youtube: Standing in Solidarity playlist

————————————

FEMALE VIDEO ARTISTS ADORN GALLERY VIA VENI, VIDI, VIDEO EXHIBIT

By Mabel Pais

A multimedia gallery exhibit highlights the role of Jewish female artists in shaping video art from the 1960s to today. The exhibit, curated by Sharon Balaban, features the work of 18 trailblazing American and Israeli artists and experimental filmmakers exploring themes of human rights, gender, and social dynamics. The exhibit ‘Veni, Vidi, Video’ opened during Women’s History Month and will be on display in The Laurie M. Tisch Gallery at the Marlene Meyerson Jcc Manhattan (MMJCCM) until May 18, 2023. The exhibit is free and open to the public.

The artists on display in ‘Veni, Vidi, Video’ include Sharon Balaban, Hilla Ben Ari, Dara Birnbaum, Shirley Clarke, Keren Cytter, Maya Deren, Hadassa Goldvicht, Mierle Laderman Ukeles, Hila Lulu Lin Farah Kufer Birim, Vivian Ostrovsky, Alix Pearlstein, Nira Pereg, Martha Rosler, Mika Rottenberg, Shelly Silver, Anita Thacher, Rona Yefman, and Nevet Yitzhak.

Taking its title from the declaration of masculine militancy and conquest attributed to Julius Caesar: Veni, vidi, vici — I came, I saw, I conquered, the exhibit highlights the role of Jewish female artists in shaping video art across many decades. It includes works from trailblazing American and Israeli artists and experimental filmmakers of the 1940s and 1950s and contemporary artists of the 1970s, through today’s works, which utilize new technologies and techniques.

“It wasn’t until we started research for this exhibition that I realized how impactful these female Jewish artists have been in paving the way for video art as a central medium in contemporary art,” said Udi Urman, MMJCCM Director of the Lambert Center for Arts + Ideas. “This collective of artists broke the glass ceiling for so many to follow in their steps, and this journey is what we are exploring in Veni, Vidi, Video. It is fascinating to see that the themes of the works from 50 years ago are more relevant now than ever. Their artwork continues to push the right nerves and make you think. They inspire and ultimately impact the world for the better.”

“This show is a great opportunity as a video artist and professor to share video works made by Jewish female artists who pushed the boundaries of contemporary art and whose works are a starting point for any conversation about video art and feminism,” shares Sharon Balaban, Exhibit Curator and Artist. “In our current ‘TikTok’ era, it is inspiring to look back and acknowledge these pioneer artists who recognized early on how technology can be used as a tool to deconstruct cultural norms, as a tool of defiance. It is a great honor to showcase their work alongside video artists from Israel who followed in their path. The multi-screen installation will celebrate the impact of these trailblazing artists.”

Female artists have long used video technology to explore what it means to be female in a patriarchal society. The camera allows them to subvert social conventions and deconstruct cultural apparatuses and narratives, manipulating viewers’ expectations of what to expect from ‘moving images.’ Exploring work from a range of decades, ‘Veni, Vidi, Video’ showcases the development of technology and its infiltration into the art and the everyday fabric of our society. These timeless videos remain relevant and continue to make audiences think and feel. The ‘Veni, Vidi, Video’ exhibit which runs through Thursday, May 18, is free and open to the public during JCC building hours. For more details, please visit mmjccm.org/veni-vidi-video.

THE MARLENE MEYERSON JCC MANHATTAN

Learn more at mmjccm.org.

(Mabel Pais writes on The Arts and Entertainment, Social Issues, Health & Wellness, Cuisine and Spirituality)