Reboot Ideas Presents: Monster Mash

Reboot, along with Detroit Public Theatre and Detroit Public Television, invites you for a pre-Halloween event, Erev Halloween if you will, to celebrate the most famous Jewish monster, the Golem, its history and contemporary lessons, at a festival of music, film, conversation and art. This interactive experience will be hosted in Detroit – a premier event for Reboot’s local art and culture programming. 

The event will feature author Adam Mansbach, who skyrocketed to fame after the publication of the #1 New York Times bestselling pseudo-children’s book Go the F*ck to Sleep, and Dr. Justin Sledge, Detroit-based professor of Ethics, Religion, and Social-Political Philosophy with an emphasis on Jewish esotericism and the occult.

This fall, Mansbach published his fifth novel, The Golem of Brooklyn (One World, an imprint of Penguin Random House, September 2023) – a ferociously funny reimagining of the golem of Jewish folklore, who is accidentally brought to life in a basement apartment in Brooklyn and embarks on an absurd road trip to face off against the rising threat of antisemitism in America. In a conversation moderated by Angelique Power, president & CEO of The Skillman Foundation, Mansbach and Dr. Sledge will discuss the historical and contemporary connection between the legend of the golem and Jewish links between the supernatural, creativity and tikkun olam (repairing the world). 

The evening will feature a variety of creative mediums. This includes Detroit artists Olivia Guterson and Faina Lerman manifesting Jewish monsters with a live painting installation, along with a digital art collection by Lynne Avadenka displayed for viewers. Excerpts of the newly remastered 1921 classic film The Golem: How He Came into This World will also be premiered along with Reboot’s new vinyl release of an original film score. The score was created in celebration of the 100th anniversary of the commercial release of Paul Wegener’s silent horror classic and features world class (and local Detroit) artists such as Alan Licht, Gretchen Gonzales, Rebecca Odes, John Olson, Nate Young, Sharon Gal, ∈Y∋, Scott Amendola, Steve Berlin (Los Lobos), and Steven Drozd (Flaming Lips).  

The $12 tickets include light appetizers and drinks. Mansbach’s latest novel, The Golem of Brooklyn will be available for purchase, as well as The Golem Rescored records. 

Presented in partnership with Avalon Bakery & Jolly Pumpkin, Detroit Public Television, PBS Books, Detroit Public Theatre, Isaac Agree Downtown Synagogue, Source Booksellers, Third Man Records and The Well.

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