Theater J Announces Off-Site 2018-2019 Season

Theater J, the nation's pre-eminent professional Jewish theater, announces its 2018-2019 season, which will be presented "around town" in top cultural venues throughout the city as the historic Edlavitch DCJCC building undergoes major renovation. Artistic Director Adam Immerwahr has selected a diverse group of plays including an acclaimed one-woman show with music at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, a new contemporary drama by Anna Ziegler at Arena Stage, a period love story by Lanford Wilson at GALA Hispanic Theatre, and a new adaptation of a Yiddish theater classic at Georgetown University.

Theater J starts its season with The Pianist of Willesden Lane, adapted and directed by Hershey Felder and featuring Mona Golabek performing the story of her mother's life and career as a concert pianist. The show plays in the Family Theater at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts from September 12 - 30, 2018. Golabek is herself a concert pianist, and has performed The Pianist of Willesden Lane in a number of cities to great acclaim. Next up is Actually by Anna Ziegler, whose play Photograph 51 was produced by Theater J in 2011. The show, a contemporary look at the complexity of sexual misconduct on a college campus, plays in Arena Stage's Kogod Cradle from October 17 - November 18 and is directed by Johanna Gruenhut. Third is Talley's Folly by Lanford Wilson, which earned Wilson a Pulitzer Prize and a Tony Award nomination for its original Broadway production in 1980. Talley's Folley plays at GALA Hispanic Theatre from December 6 - 31 and is directed by Aaron Posner. Fourth is The Jewish Queen Lear in partnership with the Georgetown University Theater and Performance Studies Program. Written in 1898 by Jacob Gordin, it is a masterpiece of the Yiddish theater. The Jewish Queen Lear plays March 19 -- April 14 and is translated into English by Nahma Sandrow and directed by Theater J's Artistic Director, Adam Immerwahr. It is the first play to receive a full production as part of Theater J's new initiative, the Yiddish Theater Lab.

While creating a season outside of Theater J's home at the Edlavitch DCJCC on 16th Street, Immerwahr took inspiration from the off-site venues. The plays are all quintessentially Theater J works, and will, for different reasons, shine in the guest venues. Immerwahr summarizes: "I've truly never seen anything like The Pianist of Willesden Lane -and when the opportunity came up to offer a production at a venue known for top-tier music and arts, it was an immediate fit. Actually dovetails beautifully with Arena Stage's commitment to searing engagement of contemporary American political issues, and being at lovely GALA Hispanic Theatre for our December slot, I knew that we wanted a beautiful classic of the Jewish theater like Talley's Folly." And The Jewish Queen Lear is, continues Immerwahr, "possibly the most ambitious play that Theater J has ever produced: a truly profound, epic, story of a widow whose children thrust her out of her business in her old age. It deserves its place among the great classics of the world theater. But how could we produce it, with a cast of nearly 20 and a slew of roles for 18-20 year olds? Fortunately, opportunity struck, in the form of a partnership with Georgetown University."

Theater J offers its subscribers, exclusively, a chance to continue their journey around town with three "Ticket Package Add-On" productions at other distinguished DC theaters. As part of their Theater J subscription, they may purchase tickets to one, two, or all three of the following plays: Indecent by Paula Vogel at Arena Stage, November 23 - December 30, 2018; Oslo by J.T. Rogers, produced by Round House Theatre at the Lansburgh Theatre, April 24 - May 19, 2019; and Describe the Night by Rajiv Joseph at Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company in May 21 - June 23, 2019. Immerwahr has curated these additional opportunities to make a "full meal" of works that fulfill Theater J's mission of celebrating, exploring and struggling with the complexities and nuances of both the Jewish experience and the universal human condition. "As the DC theater season coalesced," states Immerwahr, "it became clear that a number of local theaters were producing excellent new plays that we knew our subscribers would love. We reached out to our sister theaters and quickly formed a network."

Patrons will return to the newly renovated historic building of the Edlavitch DCJCC in the fall of 2019 and will enjoy a renovated Aaron and Cecile Goldman Theater, a new box office, improved accessibility features, and an overall enhanced theater-going experience.

Theater J's 2018-2019 Season

THE PIANIST OF WILLESDEN LANE

At The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Family Theater, 2700 F St NW, Washington, DC 20566

Based on the book The Children of Willesden Lane by Mona Golabek and Lee Cohen, adapted and directed by Hershey Felder
September 12-30, 2018

Set in Vienna in 1938 and London during the Blitzkrieg, The Pianist of Willesden Lane tells the true and inspiring story of Lisa Jura, a young Jewish pianist whose dream of making her concert debut at the storied Musikverein concert hall is dashed by the onset of World War II. Despite devastating personal loss, music enables Jura to endure and pursue her dreams. Performed by Jura's daughter, Grammy-nominated pianist Mona Golabek, The Pianist of Willesden Lane combines enthralling story telling with breath-taking live performances of Bach, Beethoven, Chopin, Rachmaninoff, and more. This tour de force performance is a celebration of hope, resilience, and the power of music to help us survive even the darkest times.

ACTUALLY

At the Mead Center for American Theater in the Arlene and Robert Kogod Cradle, 1101 6th St SW, Washington, DC 20024

By Anna Ziegler, directed by Johanna Gruenhut

October 17 - November 18, 2018

Tom and Amber, freshmen at Princeton University, seem to be on the same page about where their relationship is heading, until suddenly they aren't. What begins as a casual hook up turns into a Title IX trial in which both students have everything to lose. Tackling the highly charged topic of sexual consent, this provocative new play by Anna Ziegler (Photograph 51) investigates the intersection of gender and race in campus politics today, offering a nuanced and psychologically rich portrait of a generation.

TALLEY'S FOLLY

At GALA Hispanic Theatre, 3333 14th St NW, Washington, DC 20010

By Lanford Wilson, directed by Aaron Posner
December 6 - 31, 2018

This Pulitzer Prize-winning romantic comedy is a poignant valentine to unlikely love. On a moonlit night in 1944 Missouri, middle-aged Jewish accountant Matt Freidman has only one chance to win the heart of Sally Talley, a 31-year-old "old maid" from a bigoted Protestant family. After a lifetime of believing they'll never truly belong in the world around them, Matt and Sally reawaken one another to love, ultimately finding that they do belong - together. Directed by Aaron Posner, Talley's Folly is a funny and heart-warming theatrical duet. Featuring Erin Weaver as Sally Talley.

THE JEWISH QUEEN LEAR
>From MIRELE EFROS
At Georgetown University's Davis Performing Arts Center, in the Gonda Theatre, 149 Old N Way, Washington, DC 20007

By Jacob Gordin, Translated by Nahma Sandrow, Directed by Adam Immerwahr
March 13 - April 7, 2019

At long last, the most widely performed script in the Yiddish theatrical canon receives its English-language world premiere. Written in 1898, Gordin's story of power and pride revolves around Mirele Efros, a wealthy widow and clever business woman who wants to find a good wife for her son. When her children turn against her, Mirele experiences a fall of Shakespearean proportions. Wildly successful in its time, Gordin's masterpiece shines in a scintillating new translation. Don't miss this once-in-a-lifetime chance to experience one of the great classics of the Yiddish theatrical repertoire! Presented in partnership with the Georgetown University Theater and Performance Studies Program.

Ticket Package Add-Ons:

INDECENT

By Paula Vogel

Produced by Arena Stage

November 23 - December 30, 2018

OSLO
by J.T. Rogers
Produced by Round House Theatre at the Lansburgh Theatre
April 24 - May 19, 2019

DESCRIBE THE NIGHT
By Rajiv Joseph

Produced by Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company

May 21 - June 23, 2019

PURCHASING TICKETS: Subscription ticket packages go on sale March 28. Single tickets go on sale July 15. Please call our box office at 202-777-3210 or visit www.theaterj.org

For discounts for groups of 10+ call (202) 777-3210 or email Brian@theaterj.org

All theater locations are handicapped accessible and offer assistive listening devices for interested patrons. For specific questions about accessibility, locations and parking please check the specific theater websites.

Theater J is a nationally-renowned, professional theater that celebrates, explores and struggles with the complexities and nuances of both the Jewish experience and the universal human condition. Our work illuminates and examines ethical questions of our time, inter-cultural experiences that parallel our own, and the changing landscape of Jewish identities. As the nation's largest and most prominent Jewish theater, we aim to preserve and expand a rich Jewish theatrical tradition and to create community and commonality through theater-going experiences.

Edlavitch DCJCC embraces inclusion in all its programs and activities. We welcome and encourage the participation of all people, regardless of their background, sexual orientation, abilities, or religion, including interfaith couples and families.

To post a comment, you must register and login.