Broadway stars from Chicago, Jersey Boys and The Wedding Singer will perform in the third annual Broadway Purim-shpiel play Monday night. Proceeds from the event go to the Taglit-Birthright program that has sent thousands of Jews on their first-ever trip to the Jewish homeland.
The event will be held at the famous Hudson Theatre, where the stars will join Constantine Maroulis and Jacklyn Huberman to perform what is billed as a hilarious retelling of the Purim story.
"This really is the most exciting Purim event in town. Where else would you find an 'American Idol,' a 'Broadway Idol,' major Jewish philanthropists, the Israeli Consul General, and hundreds of young people in their twenties under one roof celebrating the holiday of Purim?" says Rebecca Sugar, Director of Alumni Programming for Birthright Israel in New York. "What an incredible way to support Birthright Israel, the most exciting and innovative project in the Jewish community today."
The event begins with the reading of the traditional Megilah (traditional scroll) of Esther, which describes the foolish King Achashuerus. Angered by the refusal of his wife to appear at a drunken party, he married the beautiful Jewess Esther, whose uncle Mordechai warned her to keep her religion secret.
Haman, one of the king's power-hungry aides, hated Mordechai for refusing to bow down to him and paid the king money for permission to kill all the Jews in his kingdom, based in Persia, which today is Iran.
Backed by the repentant Jewish community, Queen Esther revealed her true identity and unmasked Haman's plot. The king named Mordechai as his second in command and hanged Haman.
The actors will take the stage after the reading of the story and will act out their version for 700 guests.
The event will be held at the famous Hudson Theatre, where the stars will join Constantine Maroulis and Jacklyn Huberman to perform what is billed as a hilarious retelling of the Purim story.
"This really is the most exciting Purim event in town. Where else would you find an 'American Idol,' a 'Broadway Idol,' major Jewish philanthropists, the Israeli Consul General, and hundreds of young people in their twenties under one roof celebrating the holiday of Purim?" says Rebecca Sugar, Director of Alumni Programming for Birthright Israel in New York. "What an incredible way to support Birthright Israel, the most exciting and innovative project in the Jewish community today."
The event begins with the reading of the traditional Megilah (traditional scroll) of Esther, which describes the foolish King Achashuerus. Angered by the refusal of his wife to appear at a drunken party, he married the beautiful Jewess Esther, whose uncle Mordechai warned her to keep her religion secret.
Haman, one of the king's power-hungry aides, hated Mordechai for refusing to bow down to him and paid the king money for permission to kill all the Jews in his kingdom, based in Persia, which today is Iran.
Backed by the repentant Jewish community, Queen Esther revealed her true identity and unmasked Haman's plot. The king named Mordechai as his second in command and hanged Haman.
The actors will take the stage after the reading of the story and will act out their version for 700 guests.