Electronic Link Journey - Laurie Lawson “There's only one word for GERTA GRUNEN's show at Danny's Skylight Room - FUN! In A Jewish Girl's Christmas she brings the traditions and songs of both faiths together to double the pleasure of the holidays. Latkes and chestnuts, sleigh rides and menorahs, dreidls and Santa Clause...Grunen wraps them all up in one delightful bundle firmly secured by her contagious enthusiasm and her droll sense of humor. And in case there's not enough variety for you, she throws in an island accent ("Christmas Island At Christmas Time") and a tribute to a Latino reindeer ("Pablo The Reindeer"). Grunen loves the stage, and she makes you love her on the stage. Give yourself a Christmas/Hanukkah present and go see A Jewish Girl's Christmas.” - Dec, 6, 2002 Cabaret Hotline Online -Stu Hamstra In what I hope will be an annual event, Gerta Grunen has returned to DANNY'S SKYLIGHT ROOM, (342 West 46 Street, NYC 212-265-8133) with her show
“A Jewish Girl's Christmas.” Taking a clue from the fact that nearly every favorite Christmas song was written by a Jewish composer, Gerta relates her own experiences as a young Jewish girl regarding this Christian holiday. The result is a captivating, entertaining and enlightening show. I use the word enlightening, because even though I have seen this show several times before, I still discover something new each year. All your favorite winter holiday songs are here, as well as a few parody songs, written by such names as Berlin, Berman & Engel, Eisenstein, Goldfarb, Styne, Cahn, Coleman, and Herman. Happy Holidays, Lovers on Christmas Eve, We Need a Little Christmas, and Sleigh Ride are all here. There is even a section about Hanukkah, and a recipe for latkes. It is all rolled up into a fast-paced show that helps make this season The Most Wonderful Time of the Year. Ms. Grunen's musical director of more than 20 years, Christopher Denny, along with Jered Egan on bass, added to the festivities with their expert accompaniment. David Arthur served as director and also contributed to the script. I plan on seeing a lot of holiday themed shows this year - I go to as many as I can, and see many of them more than once. And usually Gerta's "Jewish Girl's Christmas" show is the first I see each year - and remains one of my favorites. - Dec. 6, 2002 BackStage Bistro - John Hoglund Reprising her annual holiday show, A Jewish Girl's Christmas at Danny's, delightful Gerta Grunen offered the perfect blend of gingerbread and babkas. Effervescent and charming, Grunen with her homespun holiday stories, is a winner in everyone's book. John Hoglund Bits January 7 - 13, 2000. Applause! Applause! - George S. Bettinger "Gerta Grunen has assembled a sweet celebration for Chanukah and Christmas. The ever charming petite Gerta took us on a Second Avenue sleigh ride at Danny's Skylight Room that was original and merry. She "Decked the Halls With Matzoh Balls" and brought smiles to all in attendance with a bouncy novelty song called, "Hooray For Chanukah." Other specialties included a beautiful version of "There Is No Place Like Home For The Holidays" and Gerta pulled many other goodies from her BRISK KIT of surprises. The first time I saw Gerta was in C'est Comedie at Don't Tell Mama and I was impressed with the power of the voice emanating from her diminutive frame, but now I realize that she had only to put over a couple of numbers that night. Here at Danny's, she is carrying a whole show! There are no warm up acts preceding Gerta. No cut-a-ways to projected pictures, no guest stars. This is not an easy task for any performer. However, Gerta Grunen masters her show flawlessly. She sparks and lights up the room with plenty of sow business gusto. Gerta keeps your attention glued to her in a chopped liver grip! As a critic, I can't single out the one thing that makes Gerta Grunen special. She has a sweet and powerful voice...this is true. But there's more. What else is it? I'll tell you. Gerta has style, warmth and loads of charm. This is a part of live show biz that is magical and overlooked today. It really doesn't matter what she is singing. She is a talented woman who loves her audience -- you feel it. That is part of her charm and why she is so unique. This is a talent in itself. Many performers can blow the roof off the joint with lung power and we marvel at them but might not want to meet them. They are in their world and we are in ours. Did you ever get that feeling? Yet Gerta radiates a glow that seems to touch you. It's like being in Nanna's House. Remember? You might have been 10 years old visiting your Grandma's house. It didn't matter what room you were in. Even if you were in the basement alone and everyone else was upstairs, you still felt sort of safe 'cause it was Grandma's House. Most performers now-a-days find a convenient spot outside the room to meet their greeting line. I can only attribute this to the fact that they do want to meet their audience but the rooms are so tight it's safer to wait outside. Plus they really want you to come to them. Part of the beauty of mature entertainers who started out during the Catskill days is that they had to build their audience one person at a time. Let's face it, humility builds personality. It's hard not to feel like a big shot when you take a bow and the whole room is full of energy. Your adrenaline is flowing. It's like you just won a tied up baseball game by hitting the last run. When Gerta walks off the stage, you want her to stop by and say "hello" and she does! Gerta is able to contain herself, meet and greet everyone and make you feel like she is your aunt or cousin coming to hug you. Don't be surprised if she shares a glass of tea with you. Eddie Cantor and Sammy Davis, Jr. had that quality. It's a certain maturity of understanding what the people who have come out of their way to see you need. The sensational Christopher Denny has been Ms. Grunen's Musical Director since 1982. His piano playing blends perfectly with Gerta's style and Chris is also a fine singer. Chris Denny keeps the show moving at high speed. David Arthur's direction was perfect; all Gerta needed on stage was a stool, the piano and Chris. The rest is pure enthusiasm, heart and soul. Gerta is remarkable! Try to see her next show! Highly Recommended: Gerta Grunen's "Jewish Girl's Christmas" show is a favorite of all holiday lovers, and she is back for another year with this wonderful treat. I love this little show because it simply delivers what it promises -- a delightful hour of looking at the Christmas and Chanukah holidays through song and story. CABARET HOTLINE - Stu Hamstra "… we saw Gerta Grunen's, "A Jewish Girl's Christmas" at Don't Tell Mama ... [the] show was so much fun that I returned the next week for a second helping. I never realized how many Christmas songs were actually written by Jewish composers! Gerta sang them all, with her own special brand of love and kindness that was inspiring and enjoyable." CABARET SCENES - Maryann Lopinto "The holiday shows were filled with surprises this year at … Don't Tell Mama, Gerta Grunen fashioned her own kind of holiday cheer with "A Jewish Girl's Christmas." She sang clever lyrics to witty songs such as "Hanukkah in Santa Monica" which delighted the crowd …" SINGLES ALMANAC - Carolyn Albert I had a holiday treat at Gerta Grunen's "A Jewish Girl's Christmas." You couldn't meet a nicer performer, one who radiates warmth and that special spirit of good will. Grunen opts to join into the spirit of Yule when she realizes that "White Christmas" was written by a nice Jewish boy. One highlight was Tom Lehrer's new "Hanukkah in Santa Monica." Grunen's voice is gentle, enhanced by her graciousness. Musical Director Christopher Denny added many pleasant notes of support. David Arthur directed and co-authored parody lyrics. THE JEWISH POST AND OPINION - Jean Herschaft Gerta Grunen’s new one-woman show was a musical story of one Jewish girl’s experiences coping with Christmas and finding a way to enjoy the holiday season, without guilt, the winsome star told me following one dazzling matinee performance……… Her winning show featured a very small holiday evergreen tree that was topped with not the expected star, but with a miniature bagel and tiny dreidels…. Gerta, a slim powerhouse reminiscent of a Judy Garland in warmth of delivery, wove familiar favorite tunes of holidays with recollectionsof childhood, yesterday and today at this time of year…Hanukkah favorites retained full latke “tom” taste. Her audiences of mixed religions adored her salute to the holidays at the Eighty Eights Supper Club. | 
