Purim Spiel 2023

Beauty & the Purim feast

B’nai Israel is excited to announce this year’s Purim Spiel theme and get out important information about participating in this year’s Spiel. Once again we are fortunate enough to be led by the talented Naomi Gerstenblith of Curtain Up Creative, LLC. We look forward to another incredible musical theater opportunity for our community! Please see the details below if you are interested in learning more about Spiel Participation. 

THEME

The Purim Spiel will be “Beauty and the (Purim) Feast” and will be a spin on Beauty and the Beast. The music and story are recognizable, upbeat and fun and the show has great comedic characters.

PERFORMANCES

The Spiel will be performed twice this year, in the afternoon of Sunday, March 5 AND Tuesday, March 7 at 7:00 PM. The spiel will NOT be on the same night as the Megillah reading (which this year falls on Monday, March 6). The Purim Carnival will be held on Monday, March 6, so there will be no conflict. 

PARTICIPATION IN THE SPIEL

This year, the Purim spiel will be even BIGGER and BETTER than last year and will be a unique and complete musical theater experience for B’nai Israel’s youth. This year we will have a professional costumer, an upgraded sound system, an experienced choreographer and more support with teen helpers. We will have a custom and original script with songs and scenes written and directed by Naomi Gerstenblith with Curtain Up Creative, LLC. 

Unlike in past years, we are asking those who audition for the Spiel to consider this a musical theater extra-curricular and pay a registration fee (that is significantly less than any comparable area theater program). Spiel participants will learn acting, singing, dancing, teamwork and also appreciate the Purim story in a new way. They will develop close friendships and make positive life-long memories at the synagogue through theater. The cost for participation in the spiel is $225 per child if you register by December 10. There is a sibling discount rate of $200 for any child registered after a sibling. Registration after December 10 will be $250 per child. Each cast member’s family will receive 2 complimentary tickets for the performance. Tickets for the performances will be on sale for the synagogue members and outside community.

Eligibility to participate in this year’s Spiel is for children in Kindergarten through 8th grade. B'nai Israel membership or enrollment in our Lessans Talmud Torah is required to participate. Spots are limited so please register early! 

AUDITIONS

Auditions will take place on Monday, January 9, 4:00–6:30 PM and Tuesday, January 10, 5:00–7:30 PM at B’nai Israel.  Callbacks will be Wednesday, January 11, time TBD.  If your child would like to be part of the ensemble without lines, they do not need to audition but they DO need to register below. Any child who wants to be considered for a bigger role and speaking part should come audition.

For the audition, please prepare a short selection from a song (32 bars).   Please have an accompanying karaoke background track to sing along with.  You can find these easily on Youtube.  Kids will also be asked to read lines in a scene as part of the audition. 

REHEARSAL SCHEDULE

Rehearsals will be on TUESDAYS and SUNDAYS starting Sunday, January 15–March 5.
Sunday rehearsals will generally be for the whole cast, and Tuesday rehearsals will be used for specific scenes and solo songs.  

16 Rehearsals
Sunday January 15, 1:00-3:00 PM
Tuesday January 17, 6:45-8:00 PM
Sunday January 22, 1:00-3:00 PM
Tuesday January 24, 6:45-8:00 PM
Sunday January 29, 1:00-3:00 PM
Tuesday January 31, 6:45-8:00 PM
Sunday February 5, 1:00-3:00 PM
Tuesday February 7, 6:45-8:00 PM
Sunday February 12, 1:00-3:00 PM
Tuesday February 14, 6:45-8:00 PM
Sunday February 19, 1:00-3:00 PM
Tuesday February 21, 6:45-8:00 PM
Sunday February 26, 1:00-3:00 PM
Tuesday February 28, 5:30-7:30 PM (first run through)
Wednesday March 1, 4:30-6:30 (dress rehearsal #1)
Thursday March 2, 4:30-6:30 (dress rehearsal #2)
Sunday March 5, SHOW time TBD (may add rehearsal before the show)
Tuesday March 7, SHOW 7:00 PM.  Call time 5:30 PM

Please feel free to email Naomi Gerstenblith with questions. 

We cannot wait to share Beauty and the (Purim) Feast with you in March!