Earlier This Season

HOAXOCAUST! // theater

Questing Beast Productions

September 5 – September 30

Written by Barry Levey, directed by Jeremy Gold Kronenberg
How would contemporary Jewish identity be changed if the Holocaust hadn’t happened? Join Barry on an unbelievable, around the world adventure as he tracks down deniers on a journey to discover the shocking truth.

THE OTHER DAY // theater

Loretta Michael Productions

September 6 – 23

Written by Mark Jason Williams, Directed by Andrew Block

A gay couple with substance abuse issues, a woman confronting her failing marriage, and a charming foreigner hiding a secret share an unexpected journey through love, addiction, loss, and redemption that will redefine their relationships, and themselves, in surprising ways. Winner of the Planet Connections Award for Outstanding Playwriting.

SOLDIERS AND OTHER LIVING THINGS // theater

AAG Productions

September 27 – October 7

Written and directed by Michael Boyd

Set in the pre-“Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” era of the Vietnam war, two wounded soldiers return home to confront issues of patriotism, survival, and the unspoken love they have for each other.

…IT’S TIME… // dance

Freemove Dance

October 11 – 14

Choreographed by Jenn Freeman, Original composition by Dani Markham Dictated by a countdown clock, orchestrated by a live solo drummer, and portrayed by five dancers, Jenn Freeman’s world premiere evening length piece is about time. This dance is an abstraction of humanity and
our relationship with “the clock”—how we as humans navigate the disconnect between what the clock demands and our otherwise natural progression.

THE FORBIDDEN CONVERSATION // theater, LABA 2nd stage

October 15 | 7:30 PM

Written and Performed by Gili Getz

A new autobiographical one-man performance exploring the difficulty of having a conversation about Israel in the American Jewish community.

THE HEARING // theater, LABA 2nd stage

Conceived by Renana Raz, directed by Ronit Muszkatblit
Translated by Natalie Feinstein + Guy Ben-Aharon

Staged Reading + Talk Back.  FREE EVENT, RSVP Required

English: Thursday, October 18 // 7:30 pm

Taken from actual transcripts, this true story follows Adam Verete, a public high school teacher in Israel whose classroom discussion about ethics and the morality of the army inflamed a student with opposing views. The play presents competing narratives that bring to light allegations, threats and issues of responsibility and asks the vital question:  Whose freedom of speech do we protect?

First conceived and performed by Renana Raz in Israel, this play was a commission by the Israeli Stage in Boston.

THE HEARING // theater, LABA 2nd stage

Conceived by Renana Raz, directed by Ronit Muszkatblit
Translated by Natalie Feinstein + Guy Ben-Aharon

Staged Reading + Talk Back.  FREE EVENT, RSVP Required

Hebrew: Friday, October 19 // 7:30 pm

Taken from actual transcripts, this true story follows Adam Verete, a public high school teacher in Israel whose classroom discussion about ethics and the morality of the army inflamed a student with opposing views. The play presents competing narratives that bring to light allegations, threats and issues of responsibility and asks the vital question:  Whose freedom of speech do we protect?

First conceived and performed by Renana Raz in Israel, this play was a commission by the Israeli Stage in Boston.

THEO’S DREAM // theater, LABA 2nd stage

October 26 | 4:00 PM

As part of of The Israel Plays: A Tikkun Cycle for Israel’s 70’s, LABA: A Laboratory for Jewish Culture, and the Jewish Plays Project are revisiting THEO’S DREAM by Zohar Tirosh-Polk and directed by Ronit Muszkatblit—A wild exploration of (the founder of Zionism) Theodor Herzl’s life.

JEWISH WOMEN WRITERS OF THE WEST COAST: A BOOK LAUNCH CELEBRATION // LABA 2nd Stage

October 28 | 6:30 PM – 10:00 PM

An evening of poetry, music, and fiction with poet-musician Alicia Jo Rabins (Portland-via-Brooklyn), novelist Rebecca Clarren (Portland, OR), and poet Lynn Melnick (Brooklyn-via-Los Angeles).

THE NOT-SO-SPOOKY GHOST // theater for young audiences

WonderSpark Puppets

Ages 3+

October 20 – 21, 27 – 28

Written and directed by Chad Williams

A timid ghost, his skeleton father and a mysterious scarecrow have lots of laughs in this all-ages show. The little ghost can’t scare a soul to please his Big Bad Dad, but help is on the way as the audience and some friends scare up some fun fright. Hand puppet show in a traditional puppet booth.

FOX FABLES // theater for young audiences

WonderSpark Puppets

Ages 3+

November 3 – 4
Written and directed by Chad Williams

This puppet adaptation of an Aesop’s Fable is about a fox who loses his precious tail and with it his identity. He tries to be several other animals instead–with hilarious results–before realizing the moral lesson of this ancient story.

LAYER THE WALLS // theater for young audiences

November 7 – 11
Created by Liz Parker & Rachel Sullivan
Directed by Spica Wobbe

Set within a tenement that is about to be torn down and whose interior is plastered with 40 layers, this show uses masks, toy-theater techniques and puppets designed by Spica Wobbe to imagine the proud and perilous histories of the building’s Italian, Jewish and Irish occupants. Ages 7+.

#NASTYWOMEN, A NIGHT OF FEMALE RESISTANCE COMEDY // comedy

Comedyistheresistance.com

November 12, 2018

Curated by Laura Beatrix Newmark

Following the Women’s March and in light of the #MeToo, Time’s Up, #NeverAgain movements, we provide a forum for female comedians that empowers all through laughter, camaraderie and tangible activism tools.

The Baby Monitor // theater

Directed by Antonio Miniño, Written by David Stallings
November 29 – December 16, 2018

Tolerance Is Not Acceptance. When Claire’s concerns over the welfare of her two-year-old cousin are dangerously validated, she begins to question the family’s principles and ability to parent. A crucial new play exploring same-sex parenting and family values in today’s America.

The Fantastical Dangerous Journey of Q // theater

December 1 – December 16
Rebel Playhouse
Written by Ric Averill
Music and Additional Lyrics by Dax Dupuy
Directed and Choreographed by Sarah Sutliff
Music Direction by Christina Bottley

Q, an upper elementary student struggling with gender and identity issues, who faces the daily difficulties of preoccupied parents, bullying peers, and communication with challenging teachers… but with a bag of tricks shared by Q’s neighbor Nix, everyday objects grow and are endowed with powers that allow Q to face larger than life threats head on! This new hour long musical features song, dance, and puppetry.

Waiting for Godot in Yiddish // theater

December 24, 2018 – January 27, 2019
Written by Samuel Beckett
Yiddish Translation by Shane Baker
Directed by Ronit Muszkatblit

The language of the play is dark and often humorous commenting upon the absurd situation of humanity which expects and hopes, despite evidence to the contrary that someone – God, a hero, a messiah – will arrive and resolve our existential questions.

Till We Meet Again // theater

January 11 – January 26, 2019
Planet Connections Theater Festivity
Written by Glory Kadigan
Directed by Tonya Pinkins

Having Served as a surgeon in Guadacanal during World War 2, Robert confronts the regrets of his youth with the help of his granddaughter.

#NASTYWOMEN, A NIGHT OF FEMALE RESISTANCE COMEDY // comedy

January 28, 2019
Curated by Laura Beatrix Newmark
Hosted by Amanda Duarte and featuring the hilarious Marina Franklin, Jessica Delfino, and Julie Rottenberg & Elisa Zuritsky.

An uproarious night of comedy featuring fierce female comics and storytellers.

LABAlive 1: LIFE + DEATH // theater, LABA 2nd stage

February 2

An evening of art, performance and text inspired by Jewish texts. Three groundbreaking, genre-breaking, and heartbreaking performances and an absorbing exhibition of visual art.

beep boop // theater

February 6 – February 17
Created by Richard Saudek
Composed by Jesse Novak
Directed by Wes Grantom 

A multimedia clown show carelessly crafted to be both meaningful and meaningless. It’s a hilariously twisted romp, exploring our obsession with technology and our increasing loneliness in a world with so many ways to connect.

The Lion and The Mouse // theater for young audiences

February 23
WonderSpark Puppets

A highly interactive puppet show based on the original moral stories that teach while entertaining – “The Lion & the Mouse” and “The Tortoise and The Hare.”

The Puppet Princess // theater for young audiences

February 24

Princess Willow wants nothing more than to be a great Queen one day. But when it’s time to do a royal task she always exclaims, “I can’t do it!” So when she’s left in charge of the entire kingdom and a BIG problem arises, she must face her fears head on and learns, with the help of friends, not to give up!

This highly interactive puppet show is very silly, plus we learn about growth mindset, perseverance, leadership, bravery and STEM!

A Deborah Jowitt Celebration // dance

March 20 – March 24

As one of the dance fields most respected critics and writers, From the Horse’s Mouth celebrates the life and accomplishments of Deborah Jowitt and her story of endurance and love for the art form. FTHM pays tribute to the “heart and history of dance” with outstanding dancers and choreographers of all ages and traditions, performing together and telling their engaging personal stories. In each production, 25 performers— outstanding dancers and choreographers of all ages and all dance traditions— telling personal stories from their lives.

Cast: Douglas Dunn, Carmen de Lavallade, Valda Setterfield, Gus Solomons jr, Martine van Hamel, and more!

THE SINLESS // theater

New Roman Theatre Group

March 28 – April 7

Written by Judah Skoff, Producing Director Rebecca Deitsch Skoff

Annabelle and Tuvia are a happily married Orthodox Jewish couple living the life of their dreams. But what will they do when God isn’t watching?

M.BETH // theater

M.Beth Productions

March 28 – April 6

Adapted by Patrick Marran & Kyla McHale
Based on William Shakespeare’s Macbeth

This all female identifying production of Shakespeare’s most haunting play explores the truly human conditions of power and ambition through social media, and what happens when these conditions are not shrouded as masculine side effects.

The Sinless // theater

New Roman Theatre Group

March 28 – April 7

Written and Directed by Judah Skoff
Produced by Rebecca Skoff

Told in a radically experimental style of monologue, duo-logue and fragment, The Sinless is about Annabelle and Tuvia, an Orthodox Jewish couple in crises. Tuvia is a rabbinical student and a man of deep faith, whereas Annabelle got swept up in the religious life. However, she is ambivalent about their marriage and the constricting religious world she finds herself in. When Tuvia leaves for the weekend to go to his brother’s bachelor party, Annabelle embarks on a rebellious journey to indulge her deepest, unspoken desires. What will she do when God isn’t watching?

Valentina // dance

Ballet Nepantla

April 10 – April 14

Ballet Nepantla presents “Valentina”: a collection of stories that speak to the strength and resilience of women during Revolutionary Mexico. By fusing contemporary ballet with traditional Mexican folklorico, “Valentina” tells stories of wealth and power, hope and despair, struggle and loss, and triumph.

#NastyWomen+ // comedy

April 15 | 7:30 PM

Join the 14Y Theater as we center and celebrate underrepresented genders and empower those marginalized within the spectrum of she and they identity. Our intrepid host Amanda Duarte will lead a powerhouse group of comics who will keep us all laughing at a time when we need it most. The evening will feature Becca Blackwell, Daphne Always, Briana Sakamoto, and Jes Tom.

LABAlive II: LIFE + DEATH // theater, LABA 2nd stage

April 18 | 7:30 PM

Inspired by ancient Jewish texts, our fellows present new work in an evening of drinks, music, and performance, featuring fellows Yonatan Gutfeld, Marques Hollie, and Mariano Weinstein! With an inspiring discussion of Jewish texts by Liel Leibovitz!

/wé/ // dance

April 25 – 28

Co-presented by The Theater at the 14th Street Y, MICHIYAYA Dance presents /wē/ — a collective study on gender identity through a femme-identifying lens that rids the binary, embraces the inner self and builds without walls. States of transcendence, embodiment, neutrality and autonomy are explored as MICHIYAYA Dance interweaves thoughts, memories, and dreams.