This delightful musical comedy tells a story from Yiddish folklore of a peasant girl whose wit and wisdom outshine the three wise men of Chelm and enable her to meet and rescue the prince of her dreams. Performed by the Beth-El Plyers, a San Antonio-based theatre production company sponsored by Temple Beth-El, 1001 Chickens finished a three-week run in the summer of 1998 before going to CAJE. The play is based on the book by Seymour Roussel; original script and lyrics by Carla Silen; original music and lyrics by Linda Kaufman.

Linda Kaufman, B.A., is a Music Speicalist at Temple Beth-El and co-director of the Beth-El Players, a resident theatre production company that presents original plays based on Jewish folktales and Midrash. Ms. Kaufman composes the music and serves as Musical Director of the troupe's productions.

Carla Silen, M.A., a former English teacher with both on and backstage experience in the theatre, is co-director of the Beth-El Players. Ms. Silen writes the scripts and directs the company's productions which range from musical comedies to Hanukkah revues to serious productions for the High Holy Days.

The script of 1001 Chickens is available for rental. Contact Linda Kaufman at (210) 493-3910.

The actual city of Chelm is on the eastern border of Poland and is, by all accounts, an average town, populated by average people, with no more than the average amount of civic nonsense. In Jewish folklore, however, Chelm is the seat of all foolishness, and stories of the "wisdom" of Chelm are as numerous, and silly, as Aggie jokes in South Texas.

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