Bris Amiss! The Musical at Carpenter Square Theatre

Jewish Theatre of Oklahoma brings comedy with a musical twist to town -
“Bris Amiss! The Musical”
A murder-mystery, musical farce with every mother’s best intentions

OKLAHOMA CITY – Jewish Theatre of Oklahoma will present two staged-reading presentations of the new musical, Bris Amiss! The Musical, as part of their 2024-25 season in May. The performances of the new murder-mystery farce will take place Saturday, May 3rd and Sunday, May 4, 2025, at the Carpenter Square Theatre. 

Babs Goldberg is throwing her new grandson the circumcision of the century. But when the storm of the millennium hits, forcing the cancellation of the proceedings… who will make the cut? Everything that can go wrong, does go wrong (except the circumcision itself; guys, fear not) including the wrong clergy person arriving, Babs’ nemesis Aunt Lenore crashing the party, and Hillary (the unwed mother of the baby) finding her mom dead in the powder room (too much pickled herring, Babs!) This 90-minute, one-act musical just wants what every mother wants: a better future for their child, while driving them absolutely crazy.

The show is a mix of comedy and the concept of tikkun olam (repairing the world); the lead character of Hillary (mother of the baby in question) is a climatologist who predicted the coming storm. She looks for a brighter future for the next generation; she meets Javier, the bartender who makes it to the event via rowboat – it turns out he’s studying law and is interested in fighting for social justice. Everyone has their own motivation to make the world a little better, but love gets in the way of everyone’s best intentions. Book and lyrics are by Jennie Fahn and music is by Mary Ann McSweeney. The production will be directed by Rodney Brazil.

Book-writer/lyricist, Jennie Fahn, is no stranger to the JTO stage: her award-winning, one-woman comedy Under the Jello Mold was presented at the Rodeo Cinema in 2023. Under The Jello Mold follows the end-of-life antics of Jennie’s mom and the secret she hid in a specific spot. Audiences raved about the show, and when artistic director, Roberta Sloan, heard Fahn was writing a musical, she requested the script. Soon after, the reading of Bris Amiss! was scheduled.

Composer Mary Ann McSweeney is a renowned jazz bass player and makes her living as a Broadway musician, most recently playing the show Water For Elephants, and will soon move into the upcoming Operation: Mincemeat. She was the bassist for Tony winning shows: Girl From the North Country, Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder, and Avenue Q and can be heard on the Grammy-winning recording of Some Like It Hot. Collaborators Fahn and McSweeney have experience dealing with mother-issues together: in real life, the pair are sisters-in-law.

Bris Amiss! won an Alliance for Jewish Theatre Regrant; a recording grant from the Songbyrd Foundation; a staged reading from Musical Writers Academy; was a quarterfinalist in the Screencraft Stageplay Script Competition; and a featured musical at the 2024 Musical Writers Festival in Frisco, TX. 

The performances of Bris Amiss! The Musical will take place at the Carpenter Center Theatre on Saturday, May 3, at 8pm and Sunday, May 4th at 2pm. For information, go to https://jewishtheatreok.org/this-season-at-jto.

Bris Amiss! The Musical

WHAT:
Bris Amiss! The Musical – Babs Goldberg is throwing the circumcision of the century for her new grandson. But when the storm of the millennium hits… who will make the cut? A murder-mystery farce. 

WHO:

Book/Lyrics by Jennie Fahn

Music by Mary Ann McSweeney

Directed by Rodney Brazil

Artistic Director of JTO - Roberta Sloan

WHEN:

Saturday, May 3rd, 8pm

Sunday, May 4th, 2pm 

(running time: 90 minutes)

WHERE:

Carpenter Square Theatre

1009 W. Reno

Oklahoma City, OK 73106

(405) 232-6500

TICKETS:

$25 – general admission

HOW:

https://jewishtheatreok.org/this-season-at-jto