Exciting events for the whole family during the upcoming Hanukkah holiday: The Jungle Book and other musicals, Lights at the Botanical Garden, children's theater and a big Gefen party in Haifa. By Chiquita Levov
The musical “Jungle Book”
On the holiday of Hanukkah, the musical returns to the stage “The Jungle Book”, the original production directed by Hanoch Rosen, after more than 28 years since it first appeared in theaters across the country. This is a brilliant new production of the famous play written in 1894 by Rudyard Kipling, with the favorite songs of Ephraim Sidon and Miron Minster in a contemporary musical production by Ben Shima. It is a fascinating musical, very accomplished, and of international standard both in acting and staging. So successful and appealing to the whole family, that if you had to choose just one show for the holidays this would be the right choice. With the participation of the biggest stars of the local scene who are also the original cast: Tuvia Tzafir in the role of “Baloo the Bear”, Sassi Keshet in that of “Panther Bagheera”, Eli Danker in the role of the Tiger Shere Khan, Yossi Toledo in the role of the snake Kaa, Pinny Kidron is the elephant and Eddie Alterman the king of the monkeys. Safety pin. At the Home of the Israeli Opera, from 26.12 to 6.1.25. More information: https://www.kupat.co.il/show/thejunglebook
“The Jungle Book,” a play that has become an integral part of Israeli culture and childhood over the years, reaches a new generation of children. They will be able to learn the story of Moogli and his friends in the heart of the jungle, where they embark on a journey that unfolds in a symphony of sights and sounds with a talented cast, stunning scenery and infectious musical arrangements. The adaptation is by Sidon and Rosen. Lyrics, melodies, processing and musical management by Miron Minster, choreography by Oz Morag and lighting design by Nadav Barnea. The Jungle Book was first performed in Israel in 1996 and appeared 250 times to more than 300.000 spectators. The musical won the Israeli Theater Award in the category of musical of the year.
The Farag Couple
“Winter Dreams” at the Botanical Garden
The world's largest light show is coming to Israel and for the first time a huge event of lighting and nature, in the European style of festivals, is presented in the Givat Ram Botanical Garden, JerusalemThe garden is illuminated with enormous works by light artists Anat and Sivan Farag, in collaboration with the international company “MK Illumination”, which lights up sculptures in more than 20 parks around the world. The Farags assure that “winter and the cold air are the perfect setting to turn the garden into a unique and special light display that will be illuminated by nearly a million LED lights of different colors.” With this “luminous” event, the Jerusalem Botanical Garden joins a long list of major cities around the world where the company designs light sculptures and becomes a European market full of lights, fragrances, flavors and experiences in the evenings where you can also find stalls from renowned chefs. Open until 1.2.25
Between 17:00 p.m. and 22:XNUMX p.m. More information: https://www.botanic.co.il/
The float
Visitors will be able to see around 20 light sculptures of impressive sizes, up to 5 meters high and 8 meters long, which were built using 3D technology and hand-made. They have been placed on a special path of about one kilometer long and covering an area of about 14 hectares. These include: a dragon, a whale placed in the garden's lake, a lion symbolizing Jerusalem, a golden horse and the carriage of the princess of legends, a monkey in honor of the 70th anniversary of “Kofiko”, a tree of Love, a rhinoceros, a unicorn with innovative lighting, an elk, an elephant, a rocking horse, a shining star and others.
Sivan and Anat Farag We are informed that the sculptures and all lighting works are made of recycled aluminum combined with internationally patented green LED lighting to save 50% on electricity consumption, all sculptures together consume less electricity than two electric kettles. The lighting is friendly to people with sensitivities, does not flicker, meets strict professional standards and is resistant to all weather conditions.
The planning and production of the exhibition took about a year, with designers, engineers and artists working together to provide instructions and customization for the Botanic Garden. MK Illumination is a world leader in the art of light, operating in over 120 countries and with 45 representative offices worldwide. (Photos courtesy of MK Illumination)
Santa's house
In Haifa “Feast of Festivals”
The call “Hag Hajagim” (Party of Parties) is an event conceived and produced by the “Beit Hagefen” a cultural and social centre located in the heart of the neighbourhood Wadi Nisnas in Haifa, which has been working for 61 years to jointly activate Jewish and Arab, Christian and Muslim inhabitants. The organizers of the project stated that the goal of this great festival is to create an encounter and recognition between cultures and human beings. The festival returns for its 31st edition, to celebrate interculturality in Beit Hagefen and throughout Haifa. This year it will include around 30 events spread over 13 days during the month of December, the result of the initiative of Beit Hagefen and the Municipality of Haifa. With a program of shows, exhibitions, concerts, plays, events for the whole family, lectures, workshops in Haifa museums and tours of Wadi Nisnas. A variety of events that showcase the magic of Haifa. The public is invited to walk through illuminated streets with a festive atmosphere. Between 17.12 and 29.12. More information at: www.haifahag.com
Assaf Ron, Director General of Beit Hagafen says: “In today’s complex reality, we cannot guarantee that all events will go according to plan, but we can assure you that on difficult days, when intercultural encounter becomes an ever greater challenge: we will not stop doing and believing.” The festival events will take place at Beit Hagafen and in a variety of locations in the city of Haifa, including the Haifa Museums, Piano Square, the Haifa Theater, the New Acropolis House, the Church of St. John and Elijah. Also this year, a Hanukkah and a fir tree with many light decorations will be placed in Ben-Gurion Square. Through the lights that connect the holidays of different religions, we will spread light and hope, especially this year. And of course, don’t forget to visit Santa Claus in his house, which opens only once a year, and accompanies it in the annual procession, accompanied by movements and bands of local explorers.
“World Champion”
Orna Porat Theatre Festival for Children and Young People
This year too, for the upcoming holidays, the Orna Porat Children and Youth Theater offers a wide variety of high-quality, original, engaging and fun Hanukkah productions for the whole family that have already won critical acclaim and awards. They are the best of the theater's repertoire, which includes colorful musicals, touching and exciting dramas and funny rhythmic comedies. The Hanukkah shows are presented at MUZA, the Eretz Israel Museum and in the halls of the Tel Aviv Museum of Art, which also allow free admission to the exhibitions on the day of the show, thus allowing families a full day of entertainment with a single ticket. Some also at the Hacameri Theater. The Orna Porat Children and Youth Theater has been operating for over 50 years and is synonymous with quality children's shows. From 27.12 to 2.1.25. More information: https://www.porat-theater.co.il/
Among the productions that will be performed on Hanukkah: In collaboration with the Hacameri Theater, the premiere will take place “The King's Son and the Poor Man”” a new musical based on the Mark Twain classic. Re-running “Beautiful Butterfly,” a stage adaptation of the Israeli Educational Broadcasting Corporation Kan’s series of masterpieces, “Beyond the Horizon,” a powerful one-man show inspired by the story of a dispossessed child who became a social leader, “The Fisherman and the Goldfish””, in collaboration with the dance group “Fresco”, the musical show “Itamar and the Magic Hat”, a fun and magical work by David Grossman about how to face changes and new beginnings, about family and the power of “unity”. The musical “Champion of the World” with songs by Hanan Ben Ari, who won the award for performance of the year. Other successful works: “Cramel 2 y The mystery of the boy Vish”, “Amalia's Father Goes to Australia”, “Edison”, “Beauty and the Beast”, “Peter Pan” and many more. There will also be three unique theatre shows for children aged one to two and a half years.
“Motek”
Musicals “Motek” and “Fantasia”
The production companies NMC UNITED in collaboration with the production company solan bring two musicals for the whole family to stages across the country for Hanukkah. “Jumbo Motek” and Fantasía (Fantazya). We bring you information about both. Motek is the star production for the little ones by the creator of the “Festival”, directed and choreographed by Omer Zamri, with the participation of the best favorite child stars: Tzipi Shavit, Miki, Menny Mantera, Tio Haim, Roy Boy and the Sapir family. In the City of Lights, all children participate in the “Jumbo Child” contest, a competition for young talents to interpret the songs of the legendary artist Tzipi Shavit. Shavit, winner of the “Lifetime Achievement Award” of the Academy of Film and Television, is the worthy representative of childhood in Israeli culture, a role model for connecting generations. Israel’s most outstanding artists will be the judges in the contest.
In a storyline relevant to today's times and the challenges children face every day, the stars will take children on a fascinating journey to accept the stranger and everyone equally through songs and stories. The stars will compete against each other as they face success, disappointment and fulfillment as individuals and as friends. At the end of the contest, the contestants will win the real prizes: love, sharing, giving, acceptance and friendship. Even if things don't go exactly the way they wanted or expected, every success has several ways to come about. They won't let their friends feel alone, rejected or transparent. Script and work by Miki Muhtar, Omar Zamri, musical direction Hezi Shaked. More Information: https://www.kupat.co.il/show/motek
“Fantazya” is a huge, touching and very entertaining musical production directed by Avi Dor and starring the famous children’s characters “Kofiko” and “Sami the Fireman”. This spectacular musical is a Hanukkah fantasy, featuring professional capoeira artists, who follow the heroes of children’s fairy tales such as Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Snow White and the other heroes who must be brought back in time, by the aforementioned characters who solve the problem. With songs and dances. More information: https://2207.kupat.co.il/show/fantazya