Gas & Electric Arts Presents HERSHEL & THE HANUKKAH GOBLINS

Gas & Electric Arts in association with the Painted Bride Art Center set to present the World Premiere of HERSHEL & THE HANUKKAH GOBLINS

What are the villagers to do? The holiday-hating hobgoblins are determined to ruin Hanukkah. Can the wandering Hershel break their spell with nothing but his wits, a few pickles, an old dreidel and the help of a young orphan girl? Inspired by the award-winning children's book by Eric Kimmel, this artful stage adaptation will be told through innovative physical theater, live original klezmer music and hand-crafted puppetry. Rooted in Jewish storytelling, Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins is contemporary holiday theater for all audiences age 7 to adult.

Warmth and humor prevail in this spine-tingling tale for the holiday!
Kids will be amazed. Adults will be captivated. Hershel is a hero for all!

Performances will take place December 20 - 31, 2011 at the Painted Bride Art Center, 230 Vine Street, Philadelphia. Opening Night is December 21 (first night of Hanukkah). There will be two performances on Christmas Day. For tickets: 215.925-9914 or www.GasAndElectricArts.org.

Conceived and directed by Lisa Jo Epstein; adapted by Jacqueline Goldfinger from the book by Eric Kimmel; original music by Gregg Mervine (of the West Philadelphia Orchestra) performed by the Hershel Kleztet; and puppetry by Martina Plag. The play will be performed by David Blatt, Mary Kay Tuomanen, Lorna Howley, Leila Ghaznazi and John Greenbaum

In the making for over one year, Gas & Electric Arts' production will tell the story of a Jewish town forbidden from celebrating Hanukkah by holiday-hating hobgoblins, and a wandering hungry pauper named Hershel who expects merriment upon arrival but discovers a silent village. Legendary for his cunning, wit and pranks, Hershel becomes the town's last hope. He's sent to the haunted synagogue, only to be followed by an orphan girl who teaches him about trust, teamwork, courage and responsibility. Armed with eggs, a pickle jar, and their love of Hanukkah, together they trick the goblins into lighting the menorah candles to break the spell and save the holiday forever!

Since 2005, Gas & Electric Arts has staged wildly imaginative new plays which have earned the company four Barrymore award nominations for "Best New Play," "Best Original Music" and two for "Excellence in Acting." Gas & Electric Arts mission is to courageously explore multi-disciplinary theatrical forms on stage and in communities as our means of being active citizens searching to respond to an ever-changing world. For more information, visit us at www.GasAndElectricArts.org.

Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins is supported in part by The Wyncote Foundation, Beatrice Fox Auerbach Foundation Fund of the Jewish Community Foundation, Dramatists Guild Fund, Virginia Brown Martin Fund of the Philadelphia Foundation, Clayman Family Foundation, the Ross Family Fund, David Bruce Duncan & Deana Pitcairn Duncan Fund and The Philadelphia Cultural Fund.

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