Embrace Sound and Soul With The Asylum Theatre “Tish, Tarot And Beats” Sept. 14

The Asylum Theatre is honored to collaborate with diverse local artists on “Tish, Tarot and Beats,” an evening of music and culture at Art Square, 1025 S. 1^st St., Suite 150, starting at 6 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 14. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. with food, a taste of Tarot and conversation.

"Tish" means "table" in Yiddish—a symbol of gathering, sharing, and connection. Around one long, candlelit table, everyone will come together with local culture bearers, led by musicians Heather Klein and Jason Manlapaz, featuring performers from Mexican, Irish, Yiddish, and Filipino traditions, to share in the beauty of wordless melodies from around the world.

“At a time of significant division and isolation, we are creating space for Yiddish singer and contemporary composer Heather Klein to bring together diverse Las Vegas voices through the power of music to create a more connected and caring community,” said Sarah O’Connell, Artistic Director for The Asylum Theatre. 

Yiddish singer/creator, composer, prayer leader, instrumentalist, and producer, Heather follows her passion for special projects based in history that breathe life into the emotions of stories and people of the past and present.

Heather is a classically trained and crossover singer, performing musical theater, Yiddish classical songs, and a range of theater and folk music. She has performed across the United States, Canada, and Europe.

She has been seen most recently at The Breman Museum in Atlanta and at the Dallas Holocaust Museum, touring with her show Shanghai Angel: Finding Rosa, as well as with the lecture-concert Wild Burning Rage and Song: Replies to Scottsboro. She has made appearances at the Weitzman National Museum (Pennsylvania), YIVO (New York City), and several universities.

 Heather has also been seen on PBS.com with the documentary Harbor from the Holocaust and has worked on the Hanukkah Spectacklular with the Folksbiene Theatre (New York City), acting and composition on God of Vengeance (San Francisco Critics Choice Award) with Yiddish Theatre Ensemble (California). She has also worked with Sundance (Massachusetts) and Music Theatre Group (New York City), among others. Heather has performed at YIVO Concerts/Sydney Krum Young Artists Series (New York City), Ashkenaz festival (Toronto, Canada), YidStock/Yiddish Book Center (Massachusetts), Mameloshn Festival (Winnipeg, Canada), KlezKanada (Montreal, Canada), Balint Haz (Hungary), Tel Aviv (Shalom Aleichem Center) throughout the Bay Area and many residencies throughout the U.S.

Heather has also premiered the title role in Lilith the Night Demon, a modern Yiddish/English Opera on a West Coast tour and at the Ashkenaz Festival in Toronto, as well as the West Coast premiere of Di Megile by Itsik Manger. She also premiered the role of Rosie in the world premiere of Ravensbrück Project, a cabaret opera based on the Holocaust, before a sold-out audience in Boston, as well as playing Rivka Shmuel for the West Coast tour of MeshugaNutcracker! (3Below Theatres, California).

Heather has produced many events in the Bay Area and nationally. Some highlights include Yiddish Spring in honor of Yom HaShoah at the Contemporary Jewish Museum (San Francisco), performing newly composed Yiddish songs, and YidVegas (A Yiddish Culture and Music Festival) that Heather created in Las Vegas that ran for seven years.

Heather has also produced and recorded four albums. Her most recent release, Rooted Lullaby, is a tri-lingual live recording of original lullabies featuring colleagues Joshua Horowitz and Cantor Becky Khitrik. She composed original songs, wrote, and produced Shanghai Angel about her grandmother's immigrant story. Shanghai Angel premiered at the Contemporary Jewish Museum, with music arranged by her collaborator Joshua (Veretski Pass) and choreographer/director Bruce Bierman. The show has continued to morph, and now, in its new version, Shanghai Angel: Finding Rosa.

Heather has also been seen doing residencies at synagogues with her new Jewish music for life and community. Her music has been heard at NewCaje, Hava Nashira, and on Jewish Women Rock. Heather lives in Las Vegas, loves trying new coffee and food spots with her 7-year-old daughter and husband, Eli, who works as a 1st-grade homeroom teacher/choir teacher, and voice coach, as well as on new and current music projects. For more info about Heather, visit www.heatherklein.net.

Jason Manlapaz (vocal coach/music director) received his musical training from the University of Miami in Florida and the Mountview Conservatory in London, England. He has served as an adjunct faculty member, vocal coach/music director/pianist for the Las Vegas Academy of the Arts Theater Department, the UNLV Theater Department, and the Faith Lutheran Choral Department. He is currently at KO Knudson Academy of the Arts. He has also served as the music director for the opera program at the Venetian Hotel and for the Las Vegas Men’s Chorus.

Additionally, he served as the music director for Jesus Christ Superstar at the Palms Hotel and Casino, as part of Broadway in the Hood, directed by Broadway star Ben Vereen. Jason was also part of the Las Vegas Premiere of Ride the Cyclone at the Majestic Repertory Theater in the Arts District as music director.

As a vocalist, he has worked for Stevie Wonder, Neil Diamond, the Canadian Tenors, Bebe Rexha, Florida Georgia Line, Jennifer Hudson, Gloria Estefan, Jon Secada, Stephen Schwartz, Jon Caird, and Take Six.

Television audiences have seen him singing on the Billboard Music Awards, the Country Music Awards, and the opening of the Smith Center with Neil Patrick Harris on PBS. For more info, visit jmvoicecoach.com.

This will be a participatory singing event, and all are welcome—no experience needed, just your voice and presence. Everyone will instantly pick up melodies and rhythms from diverse cultures in a joyful, welcoming atmosphere!

Admission is free, but space is limited. To register for tickets, visit asylumtheatre.org/tish-tarot-and-beats.

For more info, visit asylumtheatre.org. Social media links are available at @TheAsylumVegas.