Dear Friends,
Adam Immerwahr, Artistic Director
Welcome to Theater J’s 2017-18 season. I am thrilled to offer you a season of dramas and comedies, romances and fantasies, each exploring the universal human condition with all its foibles, wonder, and beauty. Many of these professional productions celebrate a pluralistic view of Judaism, from the Jewish-Cuban experience, to the history of Southern Jews in America, to New York Orthodox communities, to the Jews of the Ukraine, and some explore values and themes drawn from our tradition and beyond. Now more than ever, it’s critical that we tell the stories of our history, and learn from lessons of the past. Now more than ever, we need plays that teach us resilience. Now more than ever, our theater needs to be a place of delight. And now more than ever, we need to understand our differences and empathize with the
other. Theater J matters now more than ever, and I hope you’ll join me as we meet inspiring people, visit astonishing places, and learn from extraordinary times. Please enjoy reading about our six plays in the following pages and consider purchasing a subscription ticket package. Not only is this a vital way of supporting the theater, but it also affords you the best seats at a terrific discount, with unprecedented flexibility. From our new “Free Refills,” which let our subscribers come back to a show they love as many times as they want, to discounted reserved parking just a short walk from the theater, Theater J’s package purchasers truly get the best in art and in value. See you in the lobby. Yours, Adam Immerwahr, Artistic Director
“The nation’s most prominent Jewish theater”
—American Theatre Magazine
SUBSCRIBE TO THE 2017-2018 SEASON
Purchase a ticket package of 4, 5, or 6 plays and get these exclusive benefits. Perennial favorites… • Up to 30% off tickets, with priority seating. • Pick your seats and keep them for every show. • Unlimited free exchanges. • One free guest ticket, for a special someone to accompany you to one of the shows you are attending. Stay for the conversation! A Cast Talk-back follows one Thursday performance and Sunday Symposium panel discussion and Creative Conversation follow two Sunday matinees. See show calendars for exact dates.
Enticing new ones… • NEW! No handling fees. The price you see is the price you pay. • NEW! Peace-of-mind parking. Before you leave home, you can reserve and pay online for your parking spot in the Colonial Garage at 1451 P Street with a special discounted price. • NEW! Free Refills—on plays! If you love a show, see it again, and again—on us. • NEW! Show insurance. Can’t let us know that you can’t get to today’s show? We’ll exchange your tickets even AFTER your originally scheduled performance.
Top left: Adam Immerwahr, Greg Kendall-Ball/For The Washington Post Bottom left: Sasha Olinick and Barbara Pinolini. Photo by C. Stanley Photography Top right: Caroline Clay and Michael Russotto. Photo by C. Stanley Photography Bottom right: Cole Sitilides, Susan Rome, Michael Glenn, Eli Pendry, and Sarah Kathryn Makl. Photo by Teresa Wood
SOTTO VOCE
By Nilo Cruz | Directed by José Carrasquillo “Exquisite, dreamlike…whimsical, sensual and heartbreaking… Cruz may be that rarity, a poet of the stage” —Miami Herald
Love transcends all borders in Pulitzer Prize-winner Nilo Cruz’s passionate and lyrical Sotto Voce. A young Cuban man’s research into the fate of the SS St. Louis leads him to a reclusive writer who refuses to talk about the ship of Jewish refugees that fled Nazi Germany only to be denied entry into both Cuba and the United States. As he strives to uncover the mysteries she’s hiding, an old romance is relived and a new one blossoms. This dreamlike sonata explores the plight of the refugee, the resilience of love, and the sensuality of imagination.
From the Artistic Director: “This haunting play is by one of the foremost Latino playwrights of our time; Nilo Cruz is a real poet for our age. It’s an important story told with wonderful imagination and poetry.”
OCTOBER 3–29, 2017 M
T
OCT 9
7:30 PM
W
T
F
3
4
5
10
11
12
18
19
7:30 PM
7:30 PM 12:00 PM
16
17
23
24
12:00 PM 7:30 PM
25
7:30 PM
7:30 PM
26
7:30 PM
S 6
8:00 PM
13
20 8:00 PM
27
S 7
8
8:00 PM
7:30 PM
2:00 PM 8:00 PM
2:00 PM 7:30 PM
8:00 PM
2:00 PM 7:30 PM
2:00 PM 8:00 PM
2:00 PM 7:30 PM
14 21
28
15
22
29
Creative Conversation Cast Talk-back
Sunday Symposium
THE LAST NIGHT OF BALLYHOO By Alfred Uhry | Directed by Amber McGinnis
“a winning play…wonderfully crafted script” —Variety
The year is 1939 and Atlanta’s posh German Jews are preparing for Ballyhoo, their annual lavish country club ball. The Freitag family hopes that the party of the year will be the chance for their daughters to meet their future husbands—but when their uncle brings home his new employee, a handsome Eastern European bachelor from Brooklyn, everyone must confront their own prejudices, desires, and beliefs. Winner of the Tony Award for Best Play, The Last Night of Ballyhoo is a comedic and enthralling romance by the writer of Driving Miss Daisy. From the Artistic Director: “This classic comedy is a quintessentially American story, set on the edge of a nation about to be transformed. It is a shy romance, an achingly beautiful memory of a time not too long ago.”
NOVEMBER 29–DECEMBER 31, 2017 M
T
W
T 29
NOV 4
5
7:30 PM
11
12
18
19
25
26
F 30
7:30 PM
7:30 PM
7:30 PM
7:30 PM
6
13 7:30 PM
20
7
14 7:30 PM
21
12:00 PM 7:30 PM
7:30 PM
12:00 PM 7:30 PM
7:30 PM
27
28
DEC
S 1 8 15
S 2
3
8:00 PM
7:30 PM
8:00 PM
2:00 PM 7:30 PM
9
16
10 17
8:00 PM
2:00 PM 8:00 PM
2:00 PM 7:30 PM
8:00 PM
2:00 PM 8:00 PM
2:00 PM
2:00 PM 8:00 PM
2:00 PM
22
29
23
30
24
31
Creative Conversation Cast Talk-back
Sunday Symposium
Jonathan Safran Foer’s
EVERYTHING IS ILLUMINATED
Adapted by Simon Block | Directed by Aaron Posner “A rambunctious tour-de-force of inventive and intelligent storytelling…” —Philadelphia Inquirer Based on the best-selling novel by Jonathan Safran Foer, this stunning and often hilarious stage adaptation tells the story of a young man — also named Jonathan Safran Foer — who sets out to find the woman who might or might not have saved his grandfather from the Nazis. Accompanied by an old man haunted by memories of the war, an amorous dog named Sammy Davis, Jr. Jr., and a young Ukrainian translator who speaks in a sublimely butchered English, Jonathan takes a quixotic journey into an unexpected past, where reality collides with fiction in a heart-stopping scene of extraordinary power. A highly anticipated East Coast premiere! From the Artistic Director: “Jonathan Safran Foer’s first novel is a masterpiece, a sly road-trip with a devastating twist. We’re honored to present the first East Coast production of this terrific adaptation.”
The production of Everything is Illuminated is funded by the Arthur Tracy “The Street Singer” Endowment Fund which honors the legacy of renowned singer and entertainer Arthur Tracy. JANUARY 11–FEBRUARY 4, 2018 M
T
W
T
F 11
JAN 15
16
7:30 PM
22
23
29
30
17
12:00 PM 7:30 PM
7:30 PM
18
31
7:30 PM
12
8:00 PM
19
7:30 PM
24
12:00 PM 7:30 PM
S
25 7:30 PM
FEB
1
7:30 PM
26 8:00 PM
2
S 13
14
8:00 PM
7:30 PM
8:00 PM
2:00 PM 7:30 PM
20
27 8:00 PM
3
2:00 PM 8:00 PM
21
28
2:00 PM 7:30 PM
4
2:00 PM
Creative Conversation Cast Talk-back
Sunday Symposium
BECOMING DR. RUTH
By Mark St. Germain | Directed by Holly Twyford Starring Naomi Jacobson “More than just another celebrity memoir…a family saga, a Holocaust drama and an exploration of 20th-century Jewish identity.” —The New York Times
She’s America’s favorite sex therapist! But before she became Dr. Ruth, Karola Siegel had to flee Germany in the Kindertransport, become a sniper in Jerusalem, and survive as a single mother in America. This heartwarming one-woman show is written by the author of Freud’s Last Session. Filled with humor and honesty, Becoming Dr. Ruth is a triumphant and life-affirming story of a girl who found her own unique place in the world. From the Artistic Director: “Pairing one of D.C.’s finest actresses, Naomi Jacobson, with the role of Dr. Ruth was too delicious to pass up! Directed by the sublime Holly Twyford, this promises to be a tour-de-force.”
FEBRUARY 21–MARCH 18, 2018 M
T
W
T 21
FEB 26
27
7:30 PM
5
12
7:30 PM
28
12:00 PM
6
13
7
12:00 PM 7:30 PM
14 7:30 PM
F
S
22
23
MAR 1
2
7:30 PM 7:30 PM
8 7:30 PM
15 7:30 PM
8:00 PM
9 8:00 PM
16 8:00 PM
S 24
25
8:00 PM
7:30 PM
8:00 PM
2:00 PM 7:30 PM
3
10 8:00 PM
17
2:00 PM 8:00 PM
4
11
2:00 PM 7:30 PM
18
2:00 PM 7:30 PM
Creative Conversation Cast Talk-back
Sunday Symposium
ROZ AND RAY
By Karen Hartman | Directed by Adam Immerwahr Starring Susan Rome and Tom Story
A “very powerful play… a great service, especially in this moment of drastic political realignment.” —Chicago Tribune
A gripping new medical drama about a doctor at the onset of the AIDS crisis in the 1980s. Dr. Roz Kagan offers a new miracle drug to save Ray Leon’s hemophiliac twins. But miracles aren’t always what they appear to be, and life on the cutting edge of biomedicine means moral ambiguity and impossible choices. Powerful, urgent, and beautiful, Roz and Ray charts the untold story of a devastating chapter of medical and queer history. From the Artistic Director: “In an era of lax regulation, the pharmaceutical industry put thousands of hemophiliac children in extraordinary danger. This stunning new play mines that history with humanity and love.”
APRIL 3–29, 2018 M
T
W 3
APR 9
7:30 PM
16 23
7:30 PM
10 17 24
T 4
7:30 PM
11
7:30 PM
18
F 5
6
12
13
7:30 PM
19
12:00 PM 7:30 PM
7:30 PM
7:30 PM
7:30 PM
25
S
26
20 8:00 PM
27
S 7
8
8:00 PM
7:30 PM
8:00 PM
2:00 PM 7:30 PM
14 21
15
22
8:00 PM
2:00 PM 7:30 PM
2:00 PM 8:00 PM
2:00 PM 7:30 PM
28
29
Creative Conversation Cast Talk-back
Sunday Symposium
TRAYF
By Lindsay Joelle | Directed by Benjamin Kamine Winner: 2016 Rita Goldberg Award, Jewish Plays Project Top 10 finalist
Zalmy lives a double life: by day, he’s the rebbe’s loyal foot soldier, driving a tricked-out “Mitzvah Tank” through NYC with his best friend Shmuel. By night, he sneaks away from his Orthodox community to roller-skate, dance in discos, and listen to rock and roll. But when he befriends a zealous young man eager to be his student, the barrier between Zalmy’s two worlds starts to crack—until he finds himself in the middle of the 1991 Crown Heights riots and must choose once and for all where he belongs. You won’t want to miss this delightful new play, overflowing with humor and heart, in its world premiere at Theater J. From the Artistic Director: “This is one of the most engaging comedies I’ve read in a long time. You’re sure to fall in love with Schmuely and Zalmy in this delicious new story by a promising new Jewish writer!” This production is supported by the Fisher Family Visiting Artist Program.
MAY 30–JUNE 24, 2018 M
T
W
T
30
MAY 4
5
11
12
18
19
7:30 PM
F 31
JUN 1
7
8
7:30 PM
7:30 PM
7:30 PM
7:30 PM
6
13
14
12:00 PM 7:30 PM
7:30 PM
7:30 PM
7:30 PM
20
S
21
15
8:00 PM
22
S 2
3
8:00 PM
7:30 PM
8:00 PM
2:00 PM 7:30 PM
9
16
8:00 PM
23
2:00 PM 8:00 PM
10
17
2:00 PM 7:30 PM
24
2:00 PM 7:30 PM
Creative Conversation Cast Talk-back
Sunday Symposium
CLASSES FOR THEATER LOVERS Beyond the Script
Taught by Artistic Director, Adam Immerwahr 7 sessions, $249 (subscriber price: $219) Mondays, September 18-October 30, 7-8:30 PM
Take a deep dive into Theater J’s 2017-2018 plays. Learn how a theater professional analyzes a script as we read and discuss the six plays in our season. (Participants will need to purchase scripts for Sotto Voce, Becoming Dr. Ruth, and The Last Night of Ballyhoo.)
ACCESSIBILITY
Inside the Rehearsal Room
Taught by Associate Artist, José Carrasquillo 6 sessions, $229 (subscriber price: $199) Wednesdays, January 3-February 7, 7-8:30 PM
Ever wondered how a director and actors work together in the rehearsal room? You’ll never watch a play the same way again after you’ve witnessed master director José Carrasquillo lead his two professional actors from a first reading to a production-ready performance, with lots of lessons and time for your questions along the way.
We are committed to ensuring access for all of our patrons.
Wheelchair spaces with companion seats are available for purchase online, by phone, and in person. Our building has ramp access from the Q Street entrance, and all of our restrooms are ADA accessible. Assistive listening devises are free-of-charge and offered on a first come, first-served basis at all performances.
OC
Behind the Scenes: Designing Roz and Ray
Taught by Artistic Director, Adam Immerwahr 5 sessions $199 (subscriber price: $179) Wednesdays, March 7-April 4, 7-8:30 PM
Get a behind the scenes look into all of the elements that go into making a production come together. Learn how a director solves the challenges of a script and weaves all the design elements (scenery, costumes, lighting, and sound) into a unified piece of theater. The registration fee includes tickets to the April 4 preview performance of Roz and Ray, which will be followed by a discussion.
Open captioning is provided for each production. The 2017-2018 performances are: Sotto Voce: October 22 at 7:30 PM; The Last Night of Ballyhoo: December 17 at 7:30 PM; Everything is Illuminated: January 28 at 7:30 PM; Becoming Dr. Ruth: March 11 at 7:30 PM; Roz and Ray: April 22 at 7:30 PM; Trayf: June 17 at 7:30 PM. Large-print programs are available for each show. Please contact the box office at theaterj@theaterj.org or 202-777-3210 to request one in advance of your show.
2017-2018 SEASON PACKAGES WEEKEND PRIME
Friday at 8:00 PM Saturday at 2:00 PM Saturday at 8:00 PM Sunday at 2:00 PM
7:30 SAVINGS
Wednesday at 7:30 PM Thursday at 7:30 PM Sunday at 7:30 PM
WEEKDAY MATINEE Wednesday at noon
6 PLAYS
5 PLAYS
single ticket price $414.00
single ticket price $345.00
*with eligible discount: $264.60
*with eligible discount: $234.00
you pay $294.00
you pay $260.00
single ticket price $312.00
single ticket price $260.00
*with eligible discount: $194.40
*with eligible discount: $180.00
you pay $216.00
you pay $200.00
single ticket price $234.00
single ticket price $195.00
*with eligible discount: $148.50
*with eligible discount: $135.00
you pay $165.00
you pay $150.00
4 PLAYS single ticket price $276.00
you pay $222.00
*with eligible discount: $199.80
single ticket price $208.00
you pay $168.00
*with eligible discount: $151.20
The 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.
single ticket price $156.00
you pay $130.00
*with eligible discount: $117.00
*Eligible discounts: Senior (65+), Student, Edlavitch DCJCC Member, Military Personnel/Veteran. Don’t see what you are looking for? We have six-play and ten-play flex passes. Call the box office for details.
Subscribe online at theaterj.org or contact the box office at 202.777.3210 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.
/theaterjdc
@theaterj
Join us for theater that entertains, excites, and explores the complexities of our times. 2017-2018 PLAYS
1529 SIXTEENTH STREET, NW WASHINGTON, DC 20036
SOTTO VOCE by Nilo Cruz
THE LAST NIGHT OF BALLYHOO by Alfred Uhry Jonathan Safran Foer’s EVERYTHING IS ILLUMINATED adapted by Simon Block
BECOMING DR. RUTH by Mark St. Germain ROZ AND RAY by Karen Hartman TRAYF by Lindsay Joelle
EDLAVITCH DCJCC Stephen Kelin, President Carole R. Zawatsky, Chief Executive Officer THEATER J Adam Immerwahr, Artistic Director Rebecca Ende Lichtenberg, Managing Director Illustrations by Donald Ely
THEATERJ.ORG | 202.777.3210
GET YOUR TICKET PACKAGE TODAY!