Jewish guys, three perspectives

Three shows featuring Jewish men (well, two men and a boy) hit South Florida stages this week, each exploring the richness and rituals of Jewish life.

Rocker-actor Jake Ehrenreich begins a three-venue tour of his autobiographical show, A Jew Grows in Brooklyn, Jan. 17-Feb. 1 at Miami's Dave & Mary Alper Jewish Community Center, 11155 SW 112th Ave. (the show then moves to the Coral Springs Center for the Arts, 2855 Coral Springs Dr., Feb. 4-15, and finally to West Palm Beach's Cuillo Centre for the Arts, 201 Clematis St., Feb. 19-April 5). 

Ehrenreich and four musicians detail his life as the once-rebellious son of Holocaust survivors, a multifaceted entertainer who finally came to embrace his roots and heritage.  Alper performances are at 2 and 7:30 p.m. Wednesday-Thursday, 8 p.m. Saturday, 1 and 5 p.m. Sunday (no late show Feb. 1).  Tickets are $40 and $45.  For information, call 1-888-875-2955 or visit Ehrenreich's web site.

Also revisiting his life, career and myriad Jewish traditions is Avi Hoffman, who follows his popular shows Too Jewish? and Too Jewish, Too! with the new show Still Jewish After All These Years! A Life in the Theatre.  Replacing a planned production of the large-scale Broadway hit The Producers for economic reasons, Hoffman's show recounts his experiences with such fellow actors as Theodore Bikel, Jack Carter and Bruce Adler, as he serves up the songs and comedy that made his first two shows hits.

Still Jewish, a New Vista Theatre production, runs Jan. 15-Feb. 8 at the West Boca Performing Arts Center, 12811 Glades Rd., Boca Raton.  Performances are 8 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, 7 p.m. Sunday, 2 p.m. Saturday-Sunday.  Tickets are $22-$30.  Call 1-888-284-4633 or visit the New Vista web site.

And finally, for anyone who dug Grandma Sylvia's Funeral or enjoyed the familial dysfunction of Tony 'n' Tina's Wedding, interactive theater takes on the Bar Mitzvah in The Boychick Affair by Amy Lord, one of the Grandma Sylvia's Funeral creators.  Francine Birns is the proud mom, Marty Foyer the dad, and Doug Smith the Bar Mitzvah boy himself, Harry Boychick.  The ceremony and reception happen Jan. 17-March 8 at the Club at Emerald Hills, 4100 N. Hills Dr., Hollywood. Gather at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, 1 and 5 p.m. Sunday.  The $44 admission price includes a buffet meal (just $36 per person if you go with a group.

For tickets, call 1-800-838-3006 or visit the show's -- or should that be the Bar Mitzvah's? -- web site.