The Kehilath Israel Synagogue congregation will observe the mitzvah to be joyful on Purim during its Purim Seudah (meal) and Shpiel (play) on Thursday, March 17, 2022.
The event is open to the entire Jewish community.
This year’s celebration will begin at 5 p.m. with the Megillah reading. At 5:30 p.m., participants will be entertained by “The WIZard of PersOZ,” a shpiel directed by Carolyn Braverman Goldwasser. Past shpiels included “Rock Around the Megillah” and a Beatles parody.
Mixing the stories of “The Wizard of Oz” and of Esther, along with the music of “The Wizard of Oz,” “The Wiz,” and “Wicked,” this year’s shpiel focuses on the Kingdom of PersOz. The Wicked Witch Haman, a citizen of the Kingdom, is trying to get rid of the Jews. Dorthester must team up with the Lion, Tin Man and Scarecrow to defeat the Wicked Witch and protect the Jews of PersOZ.
“We are having a great time rehearsing and spending time together,” said Goldwasser, who also choreographed and designed the show. The cast of performers includes K.I. members Irene Blend, Bonnie Brooksher, Natalie Cohen, Joe Goldwasser, Marlene Lubowicz, Rebecca Nowack, Marcie Kaplan, Leora Silver, and Eliana Silver. Zoe Horton and Ava Lopez are “Pershkins.” Other cast members are Alecia Stultz, Carol Robinson, Jim Bradley, Amy Fisch and David Stelting.
Goldwasser says everyone will have a great time as they “ease on down the road to Shushan” while watching “The WIZard of PersOZ.”
After the shpiel and hors d’oeuvres, attendees will continue along a “Yellow Brick Road” to a Persian Seudah — a buffet of traditional Persian food. All food is prepared by Joe Adamous and his team, including Debbie Adamous, Maureen Minoofar, Cristi Gillom and others.
Cost is $20 per person for K.I. members and $25 per person for non-members. Children ages 10 and under are free. Paid reservations must be made in advance and on time, and reservations must be at K.I. by Monday, March 7. Those interested in attending can pay online at kisyn.org or mail a check to Kehilath Israel Synagogue, 10501 Conser, Overland Park, KS 66212.
Reservations will not be accepted after March 7.