Texas Jewish Post (Fort Worth, Tex.), Vol. 63, No. 49, Ed. 1 Thursday, December 3, 2009 Page: 15 of 36
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TEXAS JEWISH POST #SINCE 1947
December 3,2009 I 15
Ventriloquist Jonathan Geffner to bring his
Chanukah show to Metroplex Dec. 10-11
By Rachel Gross
Ventriloquist Jonathan Geffner
makes people laugh by bringing
puppets to life. Next week, he'll
bring his Chanukah show to Dal-
las and Fort Worth to enchant au-
diences of all ages.
He will perform his show "Mac-
cabee Mishegoss" at the Aaron
Family JCC on Thursday Dec. 10,
and at Fort Worth's Beth-El Con-
gregation on Friday, Dec. 11, the
first night of Chanukah.
The show tells the story of Cha-
nukah with a hodgepodge of jokes,
skits and games. Geffner said he
uses three to four puppets, of the
15 he has, to teach about Cha-
nukah in a funny, lighthearted,
educational manner. Some of his
characters are Aunt Sarah, Uncle
Flunkle, Shmendrik, Ezra and
Chippy.
Geffner said ventriloquism is
the most thrilling form of puppet-
ry for him and he enjoys bringing
his puppets to life.
"Thisisverymagical. It's unique
in that I don't hide from the audi-
ence ... I really feel like I create a
being," he said. "The illusion of life
is even stronger and it's very capti-
vating when the puppets look and
sound like they are alive."
All of Geffner's shows have an
educational aspect, and he prides
himself in knowing that people
walk away with knowledge they
didn't have before. Each presenta-
tion is filled with audience partici-
pation and his sense of humor.
Along with his Jewish shows
for Chanukah and Purim, he has
a variety of others geared toward
children in kindergarten through
sixth grade that focus on diver-
sity, substance abuse prevention,
health and safety and protecting
the environment. He also teaches
a workshop on how to become a
COME AND NETWORK FOR:
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• Referrals
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There will be no
Business Card Exchange
in December.
Have a Happy
Chanukah!
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TEXAS JEWISH POST J>SINCE 1MJ
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Jonathan
Geffner presents
'Maooabee
Mishegoss'
When and where:
Thursday, Dec. 10 at the Aaron
Family JCC, 7900 Northaven
Road, Dallas, at 6 p.m. (dinner
is included); Friday, Dec. 11 at
Beth-El Congregation, 4900
Briarhaven, Fort Worth, at 7:30
p.m. following dinner and
services
Cost:
JCC: $14 (ages 13 and up), $12
(ages 6 to 12), $8 (ages 5 and
under); RSVP by Dec. 7.
Beth-El: Dinner and show are
free of charge. Reservation
deadline is Dec. 10.
ventriloquist,
Geffner said the message he
wants to convey in his Chanukah
show is that being Jewish is fun.
"I like ... ensuring the feeling
that it's a fun experience, for kids
especially, that being Jewish and
celebrating Jewish holidays is fun,"
he said. "I always get a lot of nu-
chas in being able to give people
enjoyment and laughter. I want
to give anyone who may be hav-
ing problems in their life joy and
make them happy — that's a very
rewarding feeling."
He has performed at the Dallas
JCC several times in the past. He
lives in Hong Kong with his wife
and children, but traveled to the
United States this year for Purim
shows and summer camp appear-
ances. They plan on moving back
to New York next June.
Geffner is also working on a
novel, and hopes soon to land a
movie or television show. For now,
BUSINE
■card!
EXCHANGE
he plans to continue entertaining
audiences and bring out the child
in every adult.
"I enjoy creating the illusion of
life in puppets and the therapeutic
aspects of it. I get them to experi-
ence my subconscious and own
personality; it's kind of my alter
ego," he said. "Each one reflects
something in myself. I like being
able to entertain on different levels
simultaneously ... one thing about
ventriloquism is that it brings out
the kid in everyone. A lot of adults
still have [that inner] child."
liana Knust, director of educa-
tion at Beth-El, said Geffner's show
is part of the synagogue's annual
Chanukah program. There will be
a family dinner at 6 p.m., followed
by a brief service at 7 and then Gef-
fner's show. About 300 people are
expected to attend.
She said she hopes the show will
allow people to learn new things
about Chanukah, or reinforce what
they already know.
"If a show has humor in it,
people can retain it better and it
creates positive memories in their
minds," she said. "This is a fun,
entertaining show, but it is also so
much more than that."
Judy Cohn, director of cultural
programs at the J, added, "It's nice
that this show is for everyone;
people ages 3 to 103 will enjoy it.
It tells the story of Chanukah in
a funny way and the puppets are
wonderful. He's been here before
and the shows have been fabulous
and fun."
For more information, contact
Cohn at 214-239-7115 or Knust at
817-332-7141.
Beit tyJ-iAJteA,
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(cupspAf, GUcuHuhcUi
Vincent's
2432 Preston Rd.
Piano, TX
972-612-6208
c£
Preston Road
Photo: Submitted by Debi Stout
Ventriloquist Jonathan Geffner will bring his gang of dummies to Dallas and Fort
Worth on Dec. 10 and 11 to perform his Chanukah show.
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Wisch, Rene. Texas Jewish Post (Fort Worth, Tex.), Vol. 63, No. 49, Ed. 1 Thursday, December 3, 2009, newspaper, December 3, 2009; Fort Worth, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth188269/m1/15/: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; .