CBI presents Disney’s Enchanted Purim Story Book aka the Disney Princess Esther Schpiel Thursday, February 25, 6 pm Live on ZOOM! 1 CBI Presents Disney’s Enchanted Purim Story Book aka the Disney Princess Esther Schpiel By Eric Friedenwald-Fishman with Rabbi Michael Cahana and Cantor Ida Rae Cahana Adapted from numerous Disney Movie Soundtracks Special thanks to Rabbi Rachel for suggesting the need to do a Disney Schpiel Updated December 21, 2020 2 GREEN TYPE = Notes on the Music BLUE TYPE = Stage Directions/Production Notes RED TYPE = Narrator PURPLE TYPE = Art Card for the Video & Title Pages for the Enchanted Purim Storybook We are creating a companion “storybook” PDF of the Enchanted Purim Storybook that audiences can download if they want to follow along with lyrics/want a souvenir. This could be much less work that doing captions for all lyrics in the video and will be really cool. A separate copy and illustration document will be provided for the Storybook. In summary it will include: • The Cover • The opening spread with the Characters in order of the narrator introducing them • And for each song “chapter” - an illustrated Chapter opening spread with Illuminated first letter and calligraphy Title Lettering for example Chapter 4 will read “The Ball at the Palace” with the illustration of The Palace and some Wine bottles and glasses • The Cast/Band Production List • The End (see you next year) IMPORTANT PRODUCTION NOTE: For scenes with Persians and Jews where we are not shooting on location, we will provide in advance an image (photo or illustration for everyone to use as their Zoom background. We will need everyone to download the update of ZOOM and we will need to hold a training on use of ZOOM and filming at one of our rehearsals. There are 4 songs where the entire chorus is singing generally just the finale. For safety’s sake these will be captured on video individually form homes (like for High Holidays) and will be edited in as (Hollywood Squares). The Character List Esther: Cantor Green Haman: Cantor Cahana Mordechai: Rabbi Cahana King Ahasuerus: Ben Sandler Vashti: Leona Mitchell Vashti’s Lady in Waiting: Gillian Rosicky Bigthan one of Haman’s sidekicks & a corrupt palace guard: Eric Friedenwald-Fishman Teresh one of Haman’s sidekicks & a corrupt palace guard: Ron Silver The Mohel of Shushan: Steve Seres The Bagel Baker of Shushan: Evi Pazmanczyk Zethar a palace guard under Haman’s spell: Libby Scwartz Carcas a palace guard under Haman’s spell: Scott Schafer Harbona a palace guard under Haman’s spell: Rebecca Hill Shethar a Persian Noble under Haman’s spell: Judy Cappelman Marsena a Persian Noble and Advisor to the King: Andrew Witt Memucan a Persian Noble and Advisor to the King: Jim Richman Meres a Persian Noble and Advisor to the King: Paul Fishman The “Just Little Something” Baker of Shushan: Deb Lewinsohn The Knish Maker of Shushan: Joanne Van Ness Menashe The Fish-Monger of Shushan: Evi Pazmanczyk The Rebbe of Shushan: Rabbi Joseph Joshua the Macher an influential leader of Shushan’s Temple and Yeshiva joint Committee (STYC): Josh Kashinsky Beauty Finalist #1 Anastasia of Persepolis: Jewely Sandos Beauty Finalist #2 Drizella of Sardis: Leslie Robinson Chaggai a Jewish rights activist: Cory Silver Daryawesh a Jewish wise man of Shushan: Don Spiegel Shaina a Jewish rights activist: Shaina Boal Abagtha a palace carpenter under Haman’s spell: Michelle Gradow Biztha a palace ropemaker under Haman’s spell: Vicki Lachmann Mehuman a carpenter’s apprentice at the palace under Haman’s spell: Donna Lieberman Bigtha a carpenter’s apprentice at the palace under Haman’s spell: Anita Mention Hegai the King’s chamberlain who is also under Haman’s spell: Marge Congress Jews and Persians of Shushan/The Incredible Chorus: *members of the chorus + fill in any new cast members post 11/23 Small Chorus: Principals when not on stage/camera in a number (in various songs we need to record harmony for background singers and will use principals socially distanced as a small chorus for safety) Narrator: Paul Fishman 3 The Song List/Plot Outline NOTE: The recordings used (syllable count, timing, etc.) for this Schpiel are all compiled in the SPOTIFY play list: Enchanted Schpiel – curated by Eric Friedenwald-Fishman: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6Gm4m6Uklzrf2L35JX1tw6?si=WIGnyGFyRwu5FizOpx9S5A Below, we list who is in each number. In the numbers that have both Persians and Jews cast members wear either the RED or BLUE depending upon if they are a Persian or a Jew. Scenes that are Persians Only or Jews Only are for the entire chorus wearing the appropriate vest color. 1. Overture & Setting the Scene (Page 7): The narrator introduces the Kingdom of Shushan 481 BCE, the people (Persians and Jews and each of the key characters – with just a bit of context and some humor). Like in many classic Disney movies the narration is filming a close up of a classic story book as the narrator reads the opening and between each scene. This gives us an easy transition devise between songs AND allows a way to carry the audience through the story line and into “different Disney worlds” from the movies we are pulling the most popular songs from Disney movies. Instrumental: When you wish upon a star, Once upon a Dream, Part of your world 2. Introduction of the Characters in the Kingdom of Shushan (Page 9): The ability for Jews to live and worship as they please AND the impending threat of Haman. The Jews of Shushan - Happily Sing “Baruch Atah Adonai” a slight squeeze of inflection to be (Hakuna Matata – Lion King). This number includes kids and kids-at-heart (congregants who sent in their 1-line video of the chorus). (Mordi, Esther, The Rebbe of Shushan, + cameo stills by congregants and possibly some choir members) 3. King A & Others praise themselves (Page 11): King A happily takes credit for how cool he is and how awesome Sushan is by singing: You’re Welcome (Moana) (solos by other members of the Shushan community share their own self-aggrandizing perspective) (King A, the Mohel of Shushan, the Bagel Baker of Shushan, Mordi, Haman, Bigthan and Teresh) 4. We learn of how “mal” Haman is (Page 14): Haman and her general ill-will, hatred of the Jews and desire for the throne is introduced with “Haman” (Gaston – Beauty and the Beast) (Bigthan, Teresh, Haman, Persian solos #1 Libby - #2 Scott - #3 Rebecca H - #4 Judy Cappelman) 5. The Party (Page 17): King A. throws a party and demands that Vashti Dances – she refuses and is killed. Vashti and her Lady in Waiting sing I’ll Just Say No (How Far I’ll Go - Moana). (King A. Haman, Vashti, Vashti’s Lady in Waiting: Gillian + Persian soloists with opening sighs) 6. Cheering the King with the concept of a Contest (Page 18): Hamon and the Persians convince the bereaved King to hold a Beauty Contest. They convince him that having a beautiful wife is 4 simply taking care of “The Bare Necessities.” King A. gets excited by the idea and makes this number a mash-up by singing the final chorus of “Someday My Queen Will Come” (Page 21) (Someday My Prince Will Come – Snow White) (King A. Haman, Bigthan, Teresh, Persian solos #4 Andrew - #5 Jim - #6 Paul) 7. The Contest (Page 21): The most beautiful and confident women in Persia (pageant finalists including Esther) have a sing-off showing how determined they are to win (and showing off for King A) with “I Just Can’t wait to be Queen.” (I Just Can’t Wait to the King – Lion King). (King A., Haman, Bigthan, Teresh, Finalist #1 Anastasia, Finalist #2 Drizella, Mordi, Esther, Chorus ALL as Jews) 8. The King and Esther Fall in Love and seek a new world (Page 24): King A. selects Esther, crowns her Queen and the new love birds talk of how together they will create “A Whole New World.” Esther demonstrates that she plans to move the Kingdom toward justice and could be an obstacle to Haman’s plans. Mordi and King A. piss-off Haman by celebrating the King’s marriage at the end of the song. (King A. and Esther) 9. Haman’s Plot (Page 26): Hamon and her hench-people lay out her murderous plot to kill the Jews and to Kill the King with “Be Prepared” (Lion King) while Mordi (hidden) overhears EVERYTHING. (Haman, Bigthan, Teresh, King A., Persians [small chorus], Mordi, Chorus ALL as Persians) 10. Convincing Esther and Planning the Invitation (Page 29): Mordi tells of Haman’s plot and steels the courage of the Jews and Esther with “We’ll Make a Mensch Out of You.” (I’ll Make a Man Out of You – Mulan). This includes the iconic line: “let’s get down to business and defeat Haman!” (Mordi, Esther, Jewish solos #1 Cory - #2 Don - #3 Shaina + the Just a Little Something Baker, the Knish Maker and the Fish Monger as Jewish Chorus, Chorus ALL as Jews) 11. Hamon and the Persians build the gallows (Page 31): They sing of their hate “Heigh- Ho” including “ to build the gallows we go.” (Snow White). (Haman, Bigthan, Teresh + five Persians = Haman and the Seven Ethical Dwarfs including 2 solos Persian solos #7 Michelle - #8 Vicki + the Ethical Dwarf Choir: Donna and Anita) 12. The Invitation (Page 33): Esther and her entourage (great solos for choir members) invite the King and Hamon to Dinner with “Be Our Guest.” (Beauty and the Beast) Esther, The Just a Little Something Baker, the Knish Maker, the Fish-Monger and the Bagel Baker of Shushan + King A.