The Jewish Plays Project and plays2gather Announce THE FESTIVAL OF NEW JEWISH PLAYS

From August 15 to 17, The Colonial Theatre will host the inaugural Festival of New Jewish Plays, presented by Berkshire Theatre Group (BTG), Jewish Plays Project (JPP) and plays2gather. This festival promises an immersive three-day journey into the development of new Jewish plays destined for stages around the country.

Festival co-founders David Winitsky and Wayne L. Firestone invite you to explore the transformative power of Jewish drama and art. "We are thrilled to partner with Berkshire Theatre Group to create a space for audiences to reflect, ask questions, and find healing through these powerful stories," they share.

Highlights include:

• A reading of Tony-winner Ari'el Stachel's riveting solo piece Out of Character.

• The premiere of The Last Yiddish Speaker, winner of the JPP's prestigious 13th Annual National Jewish Playwriting Contest, featuring TV and Broadway star Joshua Malina and Julliard grad (and scion of the stellar artistic family) Ella Stiller. 

• “OOF! (On One Foot) Plays for Healing,” a Friday evening of ritual and cutting-edge short plays by emerging playwrights, featuring Shira Kline, co-Founder of Lab/Shul.

• A family-friendly musical workshop production of Library Lion created by Israeli artists, featuring an amazing puppet by the Jim Henson Creature Workshop.

• An accompanying visual art exhibition, “Memory Fragments” by Elizabeth Samet

Plus, enjoy enlightening artist talks in collaboration with the Jewish Federation of the Berkshires' "Knosh and Knowledge" series. Gain insights into creative processes and unique challenges of making vibrant tapestry Jewish theatre in today's landscape.

Don't miss this unique opportunity to engage with innovative performances and meaningful conversations. Get your tickets now and be part of this extraordinary celebration!

Diane Troderman and Harold Grinspoon are lead sponsors of the Festival for Berkshire Theatre Group. Marvin Krislov; Audrey Weiner and Jeffrey Solomon; Meg Mortimer Lloyd and David Lloyd; Judd and Susan Shoval; Dr. Cathy Demain Mann and Frederic Freidman are co-sponsors of the event for Berkshire Theatre Group. The Dr. David Milch Foundation and Gary Zimmerman are lead sponsors of the Festival for Jewish Plays Project, and Stephanie and Andrew Sklover are co-sponsors. Glenda Turner and Michael Halpern are sponsors of The Last Yiddish Speaker.

Schedule of Events

National Jewish Playwriting Contest Winner: The Last Yiddish Speaker

written by Deborah Zoe Laufer

directed by David Winitsky

On Stage at The Colonial Theatre

Performance Date: Thursday, August 15 at 7pm

Tickets: $18

Step into a gripping, magical-realist dystopia with The Last Yiddish Speaker, a powerful new play set in a post-insurrection, Christian America. When an ancient Yiddish-speaking woman unexpectedly arrives on Hannah and Paul's doorstep, they face an impossible choice: hide her or save themselves.

Chosen as the winner of the 13th National Jewish Playwriting Contest, this extraordinary play captivated over 800 audience members from Silicon Valley to Tel Aviv, outshining more than 320 submissions from 30 states and 5 countries. Director David Winitsky praises the play for its "theatrically vibrant, beautifully heartfelt, and terrifyingly relevant" portrayal of the Jewish community's current challenges and fears.

Join an exceptional cast for an unforgettable reading: Mimi Lieber (Indecent) as the mysterious visitor, Broadway and television star Joshua Malina (Leopoldstadt, The West Wing, Sports Night, Scandal, The Big Bang Theory), rising talent Thom Niemann (FBI: Most Wanted, Blue Bloods) and recent Juilliard graduate Ella Stiller, from a distinguished artistic family.

Don't miss this chance to experience a story that resonates with audiences of all backgrounds, blending urgency, empathy, and hope in a captivating theatrical journey. 

Knosh & Knowledge with the Jewish Federation of the Berkshires: 

Making Jewish Theatre in the 21st Century

In collaboration with the “Knosh and Knowledge” series of the 

Jewish Federation of the Berkshires

at The Colonial Theatre in the Garage

Performance Date: Friday, August 16 at 10:45am

Tickets: Free

See a participatory conversation with Berkshires legend actress Annette Miller, NYC director Alexandra Aron (King of the Jews) and JPP playwright Alexa Derman, moderated by JPP Artistic Director David Winitsky. Learn about the state of contemporary Jewish drama and the unique challenges and needs of new, culturally-specific creative works. Hear directly from today's artists how they are celebrating our traditions, breaking new ground, and forging partnerships across communities to provide audiences with the possibility of hope and healing through a Jewish lens.

OOF!: On One Foot 10-Minute Play Festival

 

On Stage at The Colonial Theatre

Performance Date: Friday, August 16 at 7pm

Tickets: $36

21st Century Jewish Community Playwright Fellow Wayne Firestone is proud to announce a new ten-minute play festival that seeks to heal the world. The “OOF! On One Foot Contest”. Inspired by Hillel the Sage's teaching, given when he was asked if he could summarize the whole of the Torah while standing on one foot: “That which is hateful to you, do not do unto your fellow. That is the whole Torah; the rest is commentary. Now, go and learn." 

Enjoy a fantastic and diverse array of six 10-minute plays, four from competing writers from all over the world, directed by JPP Artistic Producer Illana Stein and BTG regular Katie Birenboim. 

Boston's Adam Theater Presents The Library Lion

 

Based on the New York Times bestselling book, written by Michelle Knudsen and illustrated by Kevin Hawkes

musical play by Eli Bijaoui

directed by Ran Bechor 

music by Yoni Rechter

Lion Puppet by Jim Henson's Creature Shop

at The Colonial Theatre

Performance Date: Saturday, August 17 at 12pm

Tickets: $18

In the library, there are books. There are also rules: no shouting, no running, no eating or drinking. These rules are not so hard for people to follow. But what happens when one day a lion comes to the library? He doesn't roar or rampage; in fact, he peacefully joins story hour. The children are delighted, but others are not so sure about this visitor. Can he learn to behave properly in the library? Maybe...but when disaster strikes, the lion comes to the rescue the only way he knows how. Is it ever okay to break the rules? Prepare for a theatrical experience that will roar its way into your heart. Don't miss this enchanting adaptation, where stories come alive and where even the wildest of guests might just find a place to belong.

This play will have its World Premiere on September 17, 2024 at Boston Public Library, Main Branch.

Out of Character by Ari'el Stachel

 

at The Colonial Theatre

Performance Date: Saturday, August 17 at 7pm

Tickets: $36

Join us for an exclusive presentation of Out of Character, a tour de force solo comedy by Tony Award winner Ari'el Stachel. Experience this captivating performance before it heads to Washington, D.C., and New York City!

Out of Character delves into what it means to belong in America. Ari'el Stachel, known for his role in The Band's Visit, draws from his own life as an Israeli American of Yemeni Jewish descent growing up in Berkeley. After 9/11, Ari hides his Middle Eastern background to escape taunts and threats, embarking on a complex journey of identity, code-switching and navigating anxiety. And then 10/7 changes everything again. 

This raw and authentic comedy explores the intersections of race, mental health, and survival, offering an entertaining and thought-provoking experience. Don't miss your chance to see this powerful performance before it heads to Washington D.C. in a co-production between Theater J and Mosaic Theater! 

At The Colonial Theatre

Festival of New Jewish Plays

Produced by Berkshire Theatre Group, Jewish Plays Project and plays2gather

at The Colonial Theatre 

Performance Dates: Thursday, August 15 through Saturday, August 17

Tickets: 3-Day Passes $90

Single Tickets for events are available.

Season Discounts & Ticket Information

 

EBT Card to Culture Program

EBT Card to Culture is a collaboration between the Mass Cultural Council and the Executive Office of Health and Human Services' Department of Transitional Assistance. This is available to anyone with EBT, WIC, or ConnectorCare Insurance. This offer includes two tickets to the majority of BTG's shows at the rate of $5 each. All additional fees are also waived. These tickets are subject to availability as seating is limited. This offer is available by phone or in person only.

Tickets for these events are on sale now. The box office is open Tuesday through Saturday 12pm to 5pm or on any performance day from 12pm until curtain. BTG's Pittsfield Campus is located at 111 South Street, (The Colonial Theatre) Pittsfield, MA.

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