2024 FESTIVAL LINE-UP

PRIVATE TOUR
Sunday, July 28
9:30am
Mountain Dale

Join Borscht Belt Museum archivist Allen Frishman for a classic bagels-and-lox breakfast and private tour of his home, a veritable museum chockablock with ephemera saved from oblivion. An author, preservationist and former building inspector for the town of Fallsburg, Frishman rescued countless objects -- telephone switchboards, bungalow kitchens, swizzle sticks and hotel signs -- before the bulldozers arrived. Many of them make up the Borscht Belt Museum's core collection.

An additional “Meet the Archivist” private tour & brunch has been added on Friday, July 26.

MUSEUM EXHIBITION
Sunday, July 28
10 am - 5pm
90 Canal St.

Special Curator Tour at 1:30 pm ($25)

The Borscht Belt Museum’s new exhibition, “And Such Small Portions!” celebrates the vibrant history, cherished rituals and irresistible humor of food and comedy in the Catskills Resort era.

Curated by Debra Schmidt Bach (New-York Historical Society), Steve Jaffe (Museum of the City of NY) and Mackensie Griffin (Bard Graduate Center), this interactive visual journey is inspiring, educational and deliciously fun.

This exhibition is made possible through the generous support of the Chaya Fund, the Victor and Pearl Tumpeer Foundation, Slutsky Lumber and Timely Signs.

Due to the high volume of visitors during Borscht Belt Fest, we encourage advance ticket purchase for the museum on Saturday and Sunday.

COMEDY
Sunday, July 28
10:30 - 11:45 am
Shadowland Studio, 14 Market St.

"Mitzvah or Shandah," is an uproarious, interactive card game event created and hosted by Danielle Brody, featuring comedian contestants Liz Glazer, Olga Namer and Willie Zabar. Engage in hilarious debates over cultural scenarios, laugh about shared Jewish experiences, and connect with others in a lively atmosphere. Suitable for all ages, this event is perfect for families and friends looking to bond over humor and tradition. With scenarios developed by New York comedians and writers, you’ll leave saying "that's a mitzvah" or "that's a shandah" even after the game ends. Don’t miss your chance to be part of this fun and engaging experience!

PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBITION
Sat., July 27 & Sun., July 28
11 am - 5 pm
Hunt Memorial Building
2 Liberty St.
Closing Reception: Sunday, 6 - 7 pm

Photographer Isaac Jeffreys has documented over 75 historic Borscht Belt resorts across Sullivan and Ulster counties. Once vibrant social hubs from the 1920s to the 1970s, many have succumbed to the passage of time. Jeffreys' use of dramatic lighting and staging imbues his images with a sense of hope and imagination for an era he never experienced in its prime. In this ephemeral exhibition, his photographs lead viewers through newly captured scenes of bungalow life in the mountains and journeys through majestic theaters. The show includes a collection of rare artifacts and ephemera.

The gallery will also host the festival's closing reception, on Sunday, July 28th, 6:00 - 7:00 P.M.. All are welcome. Refreshments provided by City Winery and Old World Provisions.

BORSCHT BELT TALKS
Sunday, July 28
11:00 am - 12:00 pm
Market St Studio, 9 Market St.

Come for the nosh, stay for the drash—it's kugel! Culinary historian Avery Robinson explores Jewish American cultural identity through the lens of this culturally significant Ashkenazi casserole. It’s a journey that begins in Medieval Europe and continues across the Atlantic to the Catskills where kugels' appearances and guises reflect a rapidly assimilating and globalizing American Jewry.

CABARET
Sunday, July 28
12:00 - 1:00 pm
9 Liberty St.

Come share your favorite Catskill memories at a Borscht Belt-themed "Story Slam." Sign up for a chance to tell a true, personal 5-minute story about your time in the Catskills. Inspired by The Moth Story Hour, story-teller names will be drawn at random for a chance to pay tribute to those wonderful bygone days and nights. Whether your story is funny, poignant, or wistful, we're sure the audience will love our story-slam trip through time as they vote for the best story. The winning storyteller will receive a prize. Following ticket purchase, email dan@borschtbeltmuseum.org to enter the storytelling contest.

Moth veteran and Catskills alum Alan Amtzis will host this event.

COMEDY
Sunday, July 28
12:30 - 1:45 pm
Shadowland Studio, 14 Market St.

Prepare for a showcase of laughs and surprises. Featuring the comedic talents of Ron MacCloskey, Verna Gillis, Warren Shein, Scott Blakeman, and Linda Axelrod. Expect the unexpected!

The Washington Post heralded Linda Axelrod as the #1 Joan Rivers impersonator in the USA. She has performed at the legendary Friars Club and emceed fashion shows for Badgley Mischka.

Scott Blakeman is a nice Jewish boy from Brooklyn who has performed his liberal Jewish political comedy around the world, including the Just for Laughs Festival in Montreal, the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland and the Jewish Historical Museum in Amsterdam.

Verna Gillis is 2014 winner of the United Solo Theatre Festival n NYC for her one older woman show “Tales from Geriassic Park — On the Verge of Extinction,” which draws the audience in with vivid images and sprightly, comedic wordplay.

Ron MacCloskey is a performer and writer who produces and hosts the television show “Classic Movies with Ron MacCloskey” and “Remembering The Catskills,” which airs nationally on JLTV.

Warren Schein has been performing on stages from New York to LA for over two decades. He has played lead singing roles in stock and Off-Broadway performances, and is an actor and voice-over artist whose credits Include The History Channel, Nickelodeon, WPLJ Radio, AMC and A&E.

BORSCHT BELT TALKS
Sunday, July 28
1:00-2:00 pm
Market St Studio, 9 Market St.

Join radio icon and Borscht Belt luminary "Cousin Brucie" Morrow for an inside look at his role in the movie “Dirty Dancing” as he shares his experience (and some secrets) about the production of this legendary Catskills flick.

A true son of New York City, Cousin Brucie joined 77WABC in 1961, just as rock n’ roll was becoming popular. He and Ed Sullivan introduced The Beatles at their famous 1965 Shea Stadium concert and for two decades he hosted live concert broadcasts featuring the era’s biggest acts.

In the 80s and 90s, Cousin Brucie was a fixture on New York’s oldies station WCBS-FM, and after a stint at Sirius/XM, he is currently back at his beloved WABC.

Moderated by Jen Stewart, the creator and host of the popular podcast The Borscht Belt Tattler.

CABARET
Sunday, July 28
1:30 - 2:30 pm
9 Liberty St.

Award-winning entertainers Carla Gordon and David Meulemans take you on a mirthful, musical journey through the songbooks of Steve and Eydie, Danny Kaye, Red Buttons, Sophie Tucker, Fanny Brice, and many, many more. You'll hear stories about Tex the Jewish cowboy and that horse who only understands Yiddish, nu? And don't forget your hankies for when Carla and David belt out "My Yiddishe Mama."

You'll laugh. You'll cry. You’ll have so much fun, you'll plotz.

THEATRE
Sunday, July 28
2:00 - 4:00 pm
Shadowland Stages, 157 Canal St.

It's 1934 and the Cleveland Grand Opera Company is ready to welcome world-class soprano Elena Firenzi for her one night only performance in the starring role of Carmen. When the great singer arrives late, her passionate husband explodes in a fit of jealousy. Despite the chaotic dance of slamming doors, mistaken identities, and epic egos ... the show must go on!

This delightful farce, adapted from Ken Ludwig's Tony Award-winning LEND ME A TENOR, will have you singing with laughter! Directed by Brendan Burke.

COMEDY
Sunday, July 28
2:30 - 3:45 pm
Shadowland Studio, 14 Market St.

Dive into a new solo show by German-born-NYC-raised-Jewish-Romanian actress, comedian and NY Innovative Theatre Award nominee Lucie Pohl.

Lucie has appeared on Hulu's "Welcome To Chippendales," the UK's cult classic BBC comedy "Red Dwarf" and in Warner Bros. "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them," among others. She is also the voice of the iconic video game character Mercy in Overwatch/2. Her first solo show "Hi, Hitler" debuted at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival to critical acclaim, toured internationally, ran OFF Broadway at the Cherry Lane Theater in NYC and was nominated for a NY Innovative Theater Award. She is the host of the popular Immigrant Jam live show as well as the Immigrant Jam Podcast.

"The German Problem" is Lucie's newest solo hour, exploring her problem with being...German.

CABARET
Sunday, July 28
3:00 - 4:00 pm
9 Liberty St.

The Borscht Belt famously launched the careers of countless comedians who went on to influence American entertainment. But Route 17 wasn’t just the road to comedy - there was also music. Broadway’s Jill Abramovitz takes us through some of the hits performed by Catskills crooners over the decades. From “Makin’ Whoopee” to “Love will Keep us Together,” the show serves up a big bowl of Borscht Belt tunes with a dollop of history. Created by Gideon Evans and Jill Abramovitz.

BORSCHT BELT TALKS
Sunday, July 28
3:00 - 4:00 pm
Market St Studio, 9 Market St.

Join The New Yorker’s famed humor writer Patricia Marx and comedy writer Sarah Rose Siskind for a hilarious conversation about putting the punchline to the page. During their talk, Sarah & Patty will make 47% of the audience funnier by 43%, 11% of the audience funnier by 92%, and the rest of the audience less funny by 87 1/5%. Will the audience as a whole be funnier or less funny when they leave? When will they leave? Come find out, but make sure you sit in the right seat.

BORSCHT BELT TALKS
Sunday, July 28
5:00-6:00 pm
Market St Studio, 9 Market St.

Photographer Isaac Jeffreys takes us on a mesmerizing journey through his critically acclaimed work in the Catskills. Inspired by the mid-century peak of the resort era and its untimely demise, Jeffreys seeks to create images that reflect the artifice of the past through highly staged, meticulously illuminated night photography. This talk will take the audience through a unique moment in time, with previously unseen images from the famed era of celebrities, under-recognized architecture as well as contemporary photos, followed by a short Q&A.

CABARET
Sunday, July 28
5:00 - 6:30 pm
9 Liberty St.

The Jackie Mason Musical is based on the playwright's 10-year off-beat romance with comedy legend Jackie Mason and features a hilarious cast of characters, including lovechild comic Sheba Mason and Off-Broadway star Ian Wehrle as Jackie. The story takes place in Miami Beach circa 1977 and at The Concord Hotel circa early 1980s, with 16 original songs which include “Ode to The Early Bird Special," “I Never Met This Yenta” and “The Finger," and highlights the romantic misadventures of Jackie Mason as Broadway stardom emerges and Sheba is born.

Friday, July 26 to Sunday, July 28
Catskills Borscht Belt Museum
90 Canal Street

The Catskills Borscht Belt Museum Oral History Project invites you to share your unique stories and memories of the Borscht Belt resort era.

Reserve a time to record your story in-person at museum. Appointments fill up fast so make your reservation now!

During your scheduled visit, we will guide you through the process, ensuring that your story is recorded and preserved with care and respect.

ART EXHIBITION
Sunday, July 28
11 am - 5pm
Hunt Memorial Buildng
2 Liberty St.

Woodstock artist Elise Pittelman lovingly reimagines the characters she encountered during the Borscht Belt's heyday as vibrant, colorful tableaus that resemble Japanese woodblock prints. Working off photographs and source material from the era, Pittelman elevates mundane moments of Catskills summer life and renders them with a cartoonish dynamism that is at once joyous and melancholy.