In 2023, Israeli theater-maker Ran Bechor walked into my office—and an hour later, we were dreaming about Boston venues to launch his new children’s theater. As he described his 2016 Akko International Fringe Theater Festival-winning play, “Schreber,” I knew he had the creative vision and innovative spirit to bring his big ideas to life.
As Bechor began to imagine what a new theater might look like with partner Karin Sharav Zalkind, they looked to a piece Ran did in 2014. “Uncle Max’s Journey“ opened the Haifa International Children’s Play Festival that year, the reworking of a short children’s novel by the distinguished Israeli playwright Hanoch Levin, set to music by renowned Israeli songwriter Yoni Rechter.
As Bechor developed performances of “Uncle Max’s Journey,” I saw his passion for recreating some of his own inspiring theater experiences and his determination to ensure they existed for his son, Adam.
Now, a year later, “Library Lion,” the theatrical version of Michelle Knudsen’s beloved picture book of the same name, has debuted at the Boston Public Library as the first full-scale production by Adam Theater.
At the center of the show is a life-size Jim Henson puppet with a grand presence and lifelike eyes that captivated me and audiences of all ages.
Why “Library Lion”? In addition to being one of TIME magazine’s “Top 100 Picture Books of the Last 100 Years,” the book was translated into Hebrew and is beloved by thousands of Israeli children.
“Library Lion” builds on what Bechor began with “Uncle Max’s Journey,” bringing in collaborator Yoni Rechter to create catchy music that appeals to kids and parents alike.
After months of hearing about the process of building a life-size puppet, the development of music with Rechter and how the Boston Public Library would play a central role in this production, it was amazing to experience the lion walking past the stacks of the first large, free municipal library in the United States.
The music of Yoni Rechter brings the show to life, complemented by the musical direction of CJP x JArts Community Creative Fellow Yuval Gur, while subtle and dramatic props like flying books and small pieces of falling book page create a magical feeling thanks to Israeli designer Ofri Levinson.
Author Michelle Knudsen said, “When I wrote ‘Library Lion,’ I hoped to share some of my sense of the library as a special, magical place…a place where anything might happen. Collaborating with Ran Bechor and Adam Theater to stage the story inside the beautiful Boston Public Library has created a whole new vision and an enchanting musical experience.”
“Library Lion” is the first production by Adam Theater, a new company seeking to elevate the caliber and scope of theater available to families. As Joan Lancourt of Arts Fuse said, “Children’s theater has long been viewed as a kind of stepchild of professional theater…. If Library Lion is any indication of Adam Theater’s professionalism, the company will be a welcome addition to the theatrical offerings for Boston’s children.”
After performances for school groups from across Boston at the Boston Public Library, the show moves to the Boston Center for the Arts in January 2025. This Hanukkah, tickets make a great gift for the whole family. Grab yours—we’ll see you there!
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