Also this issue:

There's No Place Like Home
After two years in New Hope, a Tin Man finds the heart of the gallery scene in Philly.
-Juliet Fletcher

Ashes to Ashes
-Susan Hagen

Artsbeat
-Debra Auspitz

The Magic Fire
-Steve Cohen

Here's to the Ladies
-David Anthony Fox

Hometown Phavorites
-Deni Kasrel

Full Speed Ahead
-Toby Zinman

Good Boy Network
-David Anthony Fox

November 27-December 3, 2002

artpicks

The Golden Dreydl

Fantasy writer/radio host Ellen Kushner's The Golden Dreydl: A Klezmer "Nutcracker" is a kid's holiday action dream. Shirim Klezmer Orchestra spins Tchaikovsky's holiday favorite back to its Russian folkloric roots, the same ones that evolved in another direction to give us Klezmer. Yes, the GD, now also available on CD from Rykodisc, is the same Hanukkah tale heard yearly on Kushner's Sound and Spirit (WHYY, Sundays at 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.). But the true magic comes from the live show. If Hanukkah and Jewish weddings are not in your tradition, but you'd like to learn, Shirim will make The Golden Dreydl a perfect introduction for you and your family. Prior to the actually spinning of the fantasy, Shirim will do a short set explaining the history and styles of Klezmer music. And, as of yet the show is without official dancers, so they are counting on the audience to get up and do their part in the aisles.

Sun., Dec. 1, 2 p.m, $12-$21,Gershman JCC & Y, 401 S. Broad St., 215-569-9700.

—Mary Armstrong