SAN DIEGO (Press Release) —Write Out Loud, San Diego’s only live dramatic short story reading company, presents The Peddler’s Gift by Maxine Rose Schur in its annual holiday program, “Giving Season,” on December 14 at 7pm at the Old Town Theatre, 4040 Twiggs Street, San Diego, 92110. Tickets cost $12 for adults, $10 for seniors, and$5 for children 12 years and younger. Reservations are advised: 619-297-8953 or WriteOutLoudsd@gmail.com.
The Peddler’s Gift is the story of the peddler, Shimon, who visits the home of a boy named Leibush in the village of Korovenko to sell his wares. The children of the village call Shimon “Schnook” because they think he is odd and a fool.
Shimon displays his goods: silk ribbons, embroidered pillowcases, Shabbos candles, and other fancy things, but Leibush is fascinated by a dreidel that he lets fall from his ragged leather bag. He doesn’t really mean to steal it from “Schnook,” just borrow it, but…that night his conscience won’t let him sleep. He slips quietly out of his family’s sooty hut to find “Schnook” and return the dreidel. When he finds him in the Synagogue, he discovers, not a fool named
“Schnook,” but a kind and wise man named Shimon.
The Peddler’s Gift is written by Maxine Rose Schur whose books have won many awards, including the Sydney Taylor Award and a Parents’ Choice Award. Her book, Sacred Shadows, was a National Jewish Book Award finalist.
The Peddler’s Gift will be read by actor Paul Maley.
GIVING SEASON also includes the world premiere of a new translation done expressly for Write Out Loud by Anne-Charlotte Hanes Harvey of the beloved Swedish folktale, The Legend of the Christmas Rose.
My House, a new story by Emile Barrios will be given its premiere reading by actor Albert Dayan. Barrios is a San Diego-based writer.
Sound effects man extraordinaire, Scott Paulson, joins Write Out Loud to do a live radio show of Red Rider Nails the Cleveland Street Kid, an excerpt from Jean Shepherd’s book, In God We Trust, All Others Pay Cash.
Write Out Loud is in its third season of short story readings. For more information about the company, visit www.WriteOutLoudsd.com.
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Preceding provided by Walter Ritter, executive director of Write Out Loud