Jewish Plays Project Announces Line-Up of OPEN: The Festival of New Jewish Theatre, 6/13-6/29

JEWISH PLAYS PROJECT and Artistic Director David Winitsky, are pleased to announce the exciting line-up of OPEN: The Festival of New Jewish Theatre. The festival officially opened Tuesday night with a special presentation of True Bible Studies by Robert Askins, directed by Benjamin Kamine as part of Into the Night: Downtown's Tikkun Leil Shavuot at The 14th Street Y. The line-up includes readings of new plays by Ben Gassman, Tom Block, M.J. Kaufman, Lenelle Moise, Lila Feinberg and the featured workshop production of G-d's Honest Truth by Renee Calarco, directed by David Winitsky.

OPEN: The Festival of New Jewish Theatre plays a limited engagement June 13th through June 29th, 2014 at The Theater at the 14th Street Y (344 East 14th Street, New York, NY 10003). Tickets are free (suggested donation of $18) and are available by calling 347-878-5771 or online at www.jewishplaysproject.org/tickets.

"The JPP is dedicated to the 21st Century Jewish conversation." - Shares Artistic Director David Winitsky- "We're thrilled that these writers - some Jewish and some not - are expanding and deepening that conversation in so many theatrical and unexpected ways."

OPEN: The Festival of New Jewish Theatre presents six new plays that represent a sample of what we believe jewish theater should look like: exciting and heartfelt, progressive and connected, cutting-edge and haimish all at the same time.

THE READINGS:

Tunneling

Written by Ben Gassman; Directed by Sarah Krohn

With Varin Ayala, Eshan Bay, Michael Bradley Cohen, Flora Diaz, Dariush Kashani, Greg Mullavey, Sam Soghor and Zeke Winitsky.

FRI, JUNE 13 at 6:00 PM

It's the last night that Amendo, Revlev and Brahmin have to tag the walls of NYC's subways before they have to grow up and become Harvard-educated lawyers. When they hit the tunnels, its a mystical ride like no other. Will Abe Cahan, Grace Paley and Edward Said be able to get a minyan for the bar mizvah? And who will get the girl?

Oud Player on the Tel

Written by Tom Block; Directed by David Winitsky

Oud music composed and performed by Awad Rabbi Zach Fredman

With Rajesh Bose, Matthew Boston, Abbi Hawk, Rebecka Ray, Adam Perabo, Joya Powell, Ryan Shams, Millie Tochetti and Matthieu Neito.

SAT, JUNE 14 at 7:30 PM

British Mandate Palestine, circa 1940. Amir greets his expelled northern cousins with a (literal) olive branch. But there are new used cars to sell, and an eretz to work. What good is an Out Player on the Tel?

Reading followed by talk-back with Peace activists including Sarah Sayeed, Ph.D., Joseph Montville and Jacob Bender.

Murmur Rock

Written by M.J. Kaufman; Directed by Jessi Hill

With William Demerritt, Edward Hyland, Jasmine Cephas Jones, Tracey Conyer Lee and Stephanie Weeks.

SUN, JUNE 15 at 3:00 PM

An interracial family with German roots returns to the old country to find traces of a lost family. Only, what happened to the Jewish cemetery?

The Many Faces of Nia

Written by Lenelle Moise; Directed by David Winitsky

With Shyko Amos, Helen Coxe, Anna Abhau Elliott, Adam Green, Carolyn Faye Kramer and Joe Urla.

MON, JUNE 16 at 7:30 PM

Beth is a good, loving, progressive Jewish mother. Her son is bringing his girlfriend (of one year) home for the first time. She happens to be black. Easy, right?

Blood Moon

Written by Lila Feinberg; Directed by Benjamin Kamine

With William Demerritt, Cleo Gray, Slate Holmgren and Hannah Sorenson.

TUE, JUNE 17 at 7:30 PM*

In the 1970s, a disproportionately high number of those who joined cult movements like the Moonies were Jews. In this brand new script, Lila Feinberg traces the roots of one family who lost a son, and his return to the funeral of his father 30 years later.

*The reading of Blood Moon will be held at the Bruce Mitchell Room at ART/NY (520 8th Avenue, 3rd Floor).

THE WORKSHOP:

G-d's Honest Truth

Written by Renee Calarco; Directed by David Winitsky

With Marcia Jean Kurtz, David Deblinger, Nicolo Grelli, Sarah Sokolic and Dori Legg.

FRI, JUNE 27 at 7:30 PM; SAT, JUNE 28 at 7:30 PM; SUN, JUNE 29 at 2 PM

2014 Jewish Playwriting Contest Winner

Roberta and Larry have just purchased a miraculous Holocaust Torah for their synagogue. So why does the shul in the next town have one, too?

"I love that Renee's play is based on this crazy true story, and then gets to really question the stories we tell ourselves. Her ideas are totally contemporary, but connect to deep roots" -Artistic Director David Winitsky.