Saturday night at 8pm on February 24th, 2001 the Watchung Arts Center presents The Hester Street Troupe. Tickets are only $10 for members ($12 for non-members,  what a great first reason to join the Watchung Arts Center!)  and reservations are recommended and can be made by calling (908) 753-0190. The Troupe consists of Jay Sweifach playing keyboards, Alan Sweifach on clarinet and Jim Bazewicz with percussion. This charismatic trio has been entertaining the community for over ten years. The Hester Street Troupe specializes in Klezmer and Jewish music and has been electrifying audiences for the past seventeen years. Their extraordinary repertoire consists of Klezmer, is characterized by the way it tries to imitate human emotions like laughing and crying, songs from the Yiddish Vaudeville and Second Avenue Theatres, Frelach dancing, contemporary Jewish music, as well as, classic older Jewish Melodies.

The group currently celebrates two recordings. The first, Generation to Generation, connects you with the traditions of the Jewish experience and asks the question "who will be the Zayde's of our children?". The second, Sounds of the Shtetl, is a peek at a slice of life in the old Jewish community called the Shtetl. You will hear horse hooves clomping on cobblestone as street vendors hawk their wares and the Klezmer musicians frolic in the street.

The Troupe has performed extensively in the New York metropolitan area and have recently completed a tour of Florida, playing to standing-room-only audiences. This much sought after group combines their special brand of schtick with popular Jewish songs for an explosive evening of entertainment. Humorous and educational with history telling through song, you are guaranteed to be delighted by this dynamic trio.