The

Brothers Grimm tale of a poor shoemaker who receives help

from magical elves is quite familiar, as is the theme

about helping others. Starting this Friday, the Center

for Puppetry Arts in Atlanta will present "The

Shoemaker and the Elves" for a second straight year.

Set in New

York City in the 1940s, the story revolves around the

shoemaker, Mel Footmeyer, and his wife, Tootsie. The

Footmeyers are helped by two out of work elves. The

performance is filled with period jazz music, shadow and

rod puppets, and a lesson about the magic of giving.

The show

was written by Center artists Lorna Howley and Bobby Box

and will be performed in the Downstairs Theater. Box, the

director of the show, has been the Center for Puppetry

Arts' associate producer since 1996 and has been

performing in Atlanta since 1984. In addition to

producing, he has performed in many family series and

adult shows since joining the center.

Howley is

the center's resident head puppeteer. She has been with

the center for five years and has been involved in many

productions. In addition to co-writing "The

Shoemaker and The Elves," she directed "Every

Kid Can," a center touring show about recycling, and

the 1997-1998 family series production of "The

Velveteen Rabbit."

The show

will run from Nov. 26 to Jan. 3. Showtimes from Nov. 26

to Dec. 11 will be Monday - Friday at 10:30 a.m. and noon

and Saturdays at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. From Dec. 13-17,

performances Monday - Friday will be at 10 a.m. and 11:30

a.m.; Dec. 18 through Jan. 3, performances will run

Monday - Saturday at 10 a.m., noon and 2 p.m.

There will

be no 2 p.m. show Dec. 24 or Dec. 31. There will be no

shows Dec. 25 or Jan. 1. Prices for the performances are

$8 for adults and $7 for children 2-13. Admission to the

center's museum is included in the price of admission.

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