Performance DetailsPlay me a story offers several options to choose from when putting together a custom storytelling package. Contact our booking agent for a quote or to arrange a package unique to your needs!
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Performances include the following:
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Custom Option
This option allows the client to request certain custom aspects to be put into a story, or to request a special story all together. Please allow sufficient time for customization (3 months for a custom story, 2 months for custom aspects). Please note, depending on scheduling, the custom option may not be available.
Bilingual Option
Play Me a Story offers a unique add-on to the basic storytelling package, a bilingual performance! The story is presented in both English and Hebrew at the same time, by the same storyteller. This comprehensive component is both educational and interesting, allowing for those children who speak some Hebrew to expand their knowledge of the language, and others who don't to experience the language and maybe learn a few terms along the way!
The children are invited to sing and repeat Hebrew phrases during the story as they participate. The bilingual storytelling creates an understanding of Hebrew as it is beautifully weaved throughout the telling of the story! Ask about this option when booking your performance.
The children are invited to sing and repeat Hebrew phrases during the story as they participate. The bilingual storytelling creates an understanding of Hebrew as it is beautifully weaved throughout the telling of the story! Ask about this option when booking your performance.
Art Activity Option
After the storytelling performance, there is an option of a group art activity related to the content of the story. Prepared and planned by Play Me a Story, the art activity can be more of an individual expression for each child, or a group effort where the children work together to create a piece of art! The activities also vary according to the age range of the group and number of children. Some art activities in the past have included:
Wizard of Oz Creating the Emerald city out of different shapes, cut outs, and scraps. Coloring, pasting and shaping the pieces, the children create their own piece of the city, then come together to finish the end result!
Jack and The Beanstalk The children create the world of the Giant by coloring, sketching, or cutting and pasting shapes to create interesting, imaginative objects that they think the Giant would have in his world!
Wizard of Oz Creating the Emerald city out of different shapes, cut outs, and scraps. Coloring, pasting and shaping the pieces, the children create their own piece of the city, then come together to finish the end result!
Jack and The Beanstalk The children create the world of the Giant by coloring, sketching, or cutting and pasting shapes to create interesting, imaginative objects that they think the Giant would have in his world!
Theater and Puppetry Courses
Shadow Puppetry and Jewish Storytelling: In this intensive we will tell the story of Turkish-Jewish folk tale The Hungry Coat through shadow puppetry, music, and the Hebrew language. The story tells the tale of a Turkish folk hero who, after being delayed by an escaped goat, attends a friend's Shabbat banquet clad in a filthy, tattered coat. The host is embarrassed, the guests shun him, and no one serves him food. He, in turn, goes home, bathes and dresses in his finest clothes, and returns to the banquet, where he stuffs food and wine into his coat. Asked why he feeds his coat, he notes his earlier appearance and explains, "This shows it was the coat and not me that you invited to your banquet.” The puppetry will focus on traditional Turkish-Jewish foods, Shabbat themes, and Turkish-style music and aesthetics.
The Exodus Story through Puppetry: This workshop focuses on The Story of Exodus and the different Passover themes, and will culminate in a puppet-theater production of the story. The students create the puppets, sets, props, and costumes for the performance, and may also take part in creating the music and sounds. Throughout the creative process, the students will draw upon their own imagination and creativity as well as audio-visual and written sources containing relevant background information. The preparation incorporates Hebrew words embedded in songs and spoken text so the students have multiple opportunities to learn and practice Hebrew concepts.
Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins Theater Course: This workshop will focus on the story of Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins, and will culminate in a theatrical and musical production of the story. In this folktale-inspired story Hershel outwits the goblins that haunt the old synagogue and prevent the village people from celebrating Hanukkah. The students will have a chance to explore musical instruments commonly used in Klezmer music, as well as unconventional instruments that can enhance the performance with sound effects. We will incorporate Hebrew into the performance with Hebrew songs and different key words. Every class will include highly dynamic and wonderfully physical theater games related to the story themes, and designed to inspire the students’ imagination and innate creativity, and to foster the students’ appreciation for the empowering nature of live theater. Alongside the performance aspect, the students will also be full contributors to the production by creating sets, props, and costumes for the performance as well as the music and sound effects.
A Shabbat Feast of Hershel Tales: This class will focus on a Shabbat version of Stone Soup which relates how Hershel, the clever folk-hero beggar, tricks a Jewish village into giving him some food and teaches the villagers a lesson in the Jewish value of cooperation amid scarcity. The tale will be told using traditional Jewish food items, Shabbat themes, and Klezmer-style music and dance. The students will also explore musical instruments commonly used in Eastern-European Jewish music, and play on unconventional instruments such as pots, pans and different percussion instruments that can enhance the performance with sound effects. We will incorporate Hebrew into the performance with Hebrew songs and different key words so the students will have multiple opportunities to learn and practice Hebrew concepts. Every class will include highly dynamic and wonderfully physical theater games related to the story themes, and designed to inspire the students’ imagination and innate creativity. Alongside the performance aspect, the students will also be full contributors to the production by creating sets, props, and costumes for the performance.
Hands-On Jewish Music!: This class will introduce the students to the riches and variety of Jewish music in a supportive environment through a hands-on and enthusiastic approach. Throughout the semester we will explore the different traditions within Jewish music - Ashkenazi, Sephardic, liturgical, secular, Hassidic, Israeli, etc. Uri Sharlin will direct the class, using printed music as well as rare videos and audio recordings. At the end of the semester, the students will perform selected pieces learnt throughout the course in a final concert open to the families! The class is designed to include young musicians of different levels and of all instruments, not necessarily traditional. Ability to read music at a basic level is necessary. Music sheets will be given in advance.
The Exodus Story through Puppetry: This workshop focuses on The Story of Exodus and the different Passover themes, and will culminate in a puppet-theater production of the story. The students create the puppets, sets, props, and costumes for the performance, and may also take part in creating the music and sounds. Throughout the creative process, the students will draw upon their own imagination and creativity as well as audio-visual and written sources containing relevant background information. The preparation incorporates Hebrew words embedded in songs and spoken text so the students have multiple opportunities to learn and practice Hebrew concepts.
Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins Theater Course: This workshop will focus on the story of Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins, and will culminate in a theatrical and musical production of the story. In this folktale-inspired story Hershel outwits the goblins that haunt the old synagogue and prevent the village people from celebrating Hanukkah. The students will have a chance to explore musical instruments commonly used in Klezmer music, as well as unconventional instruments that can enhance the performance with sound effects. We will incorporate Hebrew into the performance with Hebrew songs and different key words. Every class will include highly dynamic and wonderfully physical theater games related to the story themes, and designed to inspire the students’ imagination and innate creativity, and to foster the students’ appreciation for the empowering nature of live theater. Alongside the performance aspect, the students will also be full contributors to the production by creating sets, props, and costumes for the performance as well as the music and sound effects.
A Shabbat Feast of Hershel Tales: This class will focus on a Shabbat version of Stone Soup which relates how Hershel, the clever folk-hero beggar, tricks a Jewish village into giving him some food and teaches the villagers a lesson in the Jewish value of cooperation amid scarcity. The tale will be told using traditional Jewish food items, Shabbat themes, and Klezmer-style music and dance. The students will also explore musical instruments commonly used in Eastern-European Jewish music, and play on unconventional instruments such as pots, pans and different percussion instruments that can enhance the performance with sound effects. We will incorporate Hebrew into the performance with Hebrew songs and different key words so the students will have multiple opportunities to learn and practice Hebrew concepts. Every class will include highly dynamic and wonderfully physical theater games related to the story themes, and designed to inspire the students’ imagination and innate creativity. Alongside the performance aspect, the students will also be full contributors to the production by creating sets, props, and costumes for the performance.
Hands-On Jewish Music!: This class will introduce the students to the riches and variety of Jewish music in a supportive environment through a hands-on and enthusiastic approach. Throughout the semester we will explore the different traditions within Jewish music - Ashkenazi, Sephardic, liturgical, secular, Hassidic, Israeli, etc. Uri Sharlin will direct the class, using printed music as well as rare videos and audio recordings. At the end of the semester, the students will perform selected pieces learnt throughout the course in a final concert open to the families! The class is designed to include young musicians of different levels and of all instruments, not necessarily traditional. Ability to read music at a basic level is necessary. Music sheets will be given in advance.
Holiday Treat Option
Play Me a Story offers themed storytelling options to celebrate special holidays and seasons! Read about the options below or via the posters by clicking the images. Let us know if you'd like one of our Holiday Treats when you are booking. Enjoy!
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