Children's Holiday Show Set for Dec. 13

Gallery Players will present its annual Children's Holiday Show in December, with a production of Joseph and Koza.

And while the play will warm hearts with its tale of a princess in peril who gets rescued, it's not the typical Prince Charming who does the rescuing. "He's a nice, Jewish goldsmith," said Jared Saltman, JCC Creative Arts director.

Based on a short story by Isaac Bashevis Singer (with book, music and lyrics by Sean Hartley), Joseph and Koza takes place in the wild and superstitious kingdom of Mazovia in ancient Poland. Like other royal maidens, Princess Koza faces danger - she's to be sacrificed to a river demon - by the evil witch, Zla.

The backward inhabitants of Mazovia fear Zla, and even Princess Koza's father, King Wilk, feels powerless. But when Joseph the goldsmith wanders into town, he convinces King Wilk and the rest of the townspeople that they are in control of their own demons, if only they will believe in themselves.

Laurie Alexander will direct the production. (Last season, she also directed Gallery Players' production of Mazel and Shlimazel. Both plays have been adapted by Sean Hartley from Singer's original works.)

Joseph and Koza will run two consecutive weekends, from Saturday, Dec. 13 through Sunday, Dec. 21, with one Thursday evening performance on Dec. 18. For more information, contact Jared Saltman, or call (614) 559-6248.