David Fruchtman, Volunteer Producer, Arden Concert Gild
Little did Seth Katzen know, when we met in the summer of 2019, that he would play a pivotal role in launching a comedy series bringing nationally touring Jewish comedians to Delaware. What began as an idea has blossomed into a vibrant tradition that continues to bring joy and laughter to our community. That tradition carries on this fall, with the brilliant Myq Kaplan performing at Arden Gild Hall on October 18. Tickets are available at ardenconcerts.com.
How do the Jewish Federation and Arden keep attracting such incredible comedy talent to this little barn in the woods? I have a few thoughts. As the former Congregation Beth Shalom Men’s Club president for almost 10 years, I organized a wide variety of programs—from Sunday brunches with guest speakers to more adventurous outings like ziplining, canoeing, knockerball, and the ever-popular Latkapalooza. But I think booking comedian Rabbi Bob Alpert for a CBS fundraiser might have hinted at what was to come.
As my time at the Men’s Club was drawing to a close, I met with Ron Ozer, who leads Arden Concert Gild, to express my interest in joining. Arden Gild has been staging concerts of virtually every musical genre at Gild Hall since 1997. I told Ron that my experience with programming, organizing, and marketing events —along with my deep roots in music from my time at the legendary Jeremiah’s Record Exchange—would make me a valuable addition. He agreed.
At one of my first Concert Gild meetings, I asked whether they had ever considered bringing comedians to Arden. As a longtime fan of stand-up—and someone who once performed it—I was eager to help make it happen. I learned the idea had been floated before, but no one had seriously pursued it.
So, I pitched a name I thought would be a great fit: Emo Philips. Known for his distinctive falsetto voice and absurdist delivery, Emo is a cult legend in the comedy world. Though the team was on board with the idea, logistical challenges—mainly his travel from Los Angeles and a sporadic tour schedule—proved too difficult to overcome.
Undeterred, I remembered seeing Judy Gold perform at the Siegel JCC a few years earlier. She was hilarious, and I believed she’d be perfect for Arden. I approached Seth with the idea of co-sponsoring the show. The Federation has a long and successful history of organizing Jewish-themed events bringing the community together. This would be a first: a comedy show sponsored by either the Federation or Arden. Given Judy’s comedic talent and her strong Jewish identity—and thanks to Seth’s visionary programming—he was enthusiastic about the partnership.
I returned to the Concert Gild team with the proposal. Some members were hesitant—it was new territory for us—but I assured them that with the Federation’s co-sponsorship, we could reach a wider audience and share the financial risk. After negotiating with Judy’s manager, we officially booked our first comedy show. Judy Gold took the stage on November 23, 2019, and brought the house down! The crowd was near capacity, and the overwhelming positive feedback Seth received afterward confirmed we were on to something.
Encouraged by our success, I proposed another act to Seth and the Arden board: Noah Gardenswartz, who had written for and appeared in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. Though based in L.A., Noah had surprising Delaware ties. His Maccabi Games basketball coach lived locally, and a visiting rabbi at CBS had officiated Noah’s bar mitzvah in Colorado. It was another fantastic night, kicked off by a pre-show happy hour for Federation board members and friends.
Even though our next Federation-sponsored comedian was booked over six months in advance, the timing couldn’t have been more poignant. Ophira Eisenberg—a sharp-witted, Canadian-American comic best known for hosting NPR’s Ask Me Another—performed on December 9, 2023, just two months after the tragic events of October 7. With the Jewish community still reeling, Ophira brought much-needed laughter and levity to a packed house. Her performance was a welcome break from the endless stream of difficult news and social media. Laughter truly is the best medicine, and Ophira was just what the doctor ordered.
The next dose of comedy medicine co-sponsored by Federation comes in the form of the hilarious Myq Kaplan on October 18th. Myq has appeared on The Tonight Show, Conan, Letterman, Late Night with Seth Meyers, and The Late Late Show with James Corden, and was a finalist on Last Comic Standing. His comedy is fast-paced, smart, and layered with linguistic wit and heartfelt insight. Don’t miss your chance to see him live and local.
Tickets for this Jewish Federation of Delaware-sponsored show at Arden Gild Hall are available now at https://link.dice.fm/JFDMyqKaplan. Comedy is meant to be experienced in person—I hope to see you there.
