Out of Character

OUT OF C HA R AC T E R

Written and performed by Ari’el Stachel Directed by Tony Taccone

JANUARY 8 – 26 , 202 5

TH E ATE R J ARTISTIC DIREC TOR , HAYLE Y FI N N Dear Patrons, Thank you for being with us today for Ari’el Stachel’s stirring play Out of Character. When I discovered the play, I knew we had to bring it to Theater J. Ari is a riveting performer whose deeply personal story speaks to our mission.

In Out of Character, Ari fearlessly tells of growing up in a household with a Yemeni father and an Ashkenazi mother and how he performed his identity, constantly shaping himself as a character to fit in until accepting the complexity of his authentic self.

In Ari’s words, “I’ve latched on to all of these different identities in an effort to try and somehow feel American. But what I’ve learned is that the idea of having a fractured identity is actually the very thing that is most American of all.”

It has been a joy to partner with Reg Douglas and Mosaic Theater on this project, and I’m thrilled that Tony Taccone, who has been collaborating with Ari on this play since its earliest development, is here directing the piece. Tony and Ari’s work has been seen on Broadway and across the country, and I’m honored to have these stellar artists at Theater J. As we continue to tell stories that reflect the breadth and diversity of the Jewish experience, I invite you to return to Theater J on February 2, when we will share excerpts of the work of 6 racially and ethnically diverse Jewish writers who have received commissions from Theater J. In addition to seeing parts of their plays, you will hear about their creative journeys. At Theater J, we are committed to ensuring that theater is alive and vibrant, performing the plays for today and investing in artists and the plays of tomorrow.

Thank you for being here and sharing this story together.

With appreciation,

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Hayley Finn, Theater J Artistic Director

M OS AI C TH E ATER A RTISTIC DIREC TOR , R E G I N AL D DO U G L AS As the Artistic Director of Mosaic Theater, I am honored to welcome you to the DC premiere of Out of Character, produced in partnership with the wonderful team at Theater J. This co-production is a hallmark for Mosaic as we celebrate our company’s 10th Anniversary Season and stands as a testament to our deep beliefs in collaboration, new play development, and the DC theater community. Thank you for joining us!

I first encountered Out of Character in June 2023 and I knew that we had to find a way to bring this unique and moving story to Washington.

I am so glad that my dear colleague Hayley Finn agreed and that now we can together share Ari’el’s work with you. Over the past year, we have pooled our creative resources to provide Ari’el and his collaborators the vital space to explore, discover, rewrite, and reimagine his play in an all too rare, but oh so important second production – a shining example of the power of partnership. By working together, we have been able to support these talented artists and deepen this bold new play for you and future audiences.

Out of Character is a story about being a mosaic. We follow Ari’el as he navigates how to bring the disparate parts of his identity - being Jewish, Yemeni, a person with anxiety, an actor, a son, an American - together into a more beautiful whole. Producing plays that honor the difficulty and resilient power of this effort is the mission of Mosaic Theater. As we celebrate our 10th Anniversary, we commit to another decade of this urgent and joyful work. Thank you to the members of the vibrant Mosaic community for their steadfast belief in this aim, especially core Mosaic partners Amy Weinberg & Norbert Hornstein for their generous support of this production.

Mosaic’s Managing Director Serge Seiden and I look forward to welcoming all of you, especially our new friends at Theater J, to our home at the Atlas Performing Arts Center on H Street to see more of Mosaic’s work, including our upcoming productions of cullud wattah and Andy Warhol in Iran. As we kick off 2025, let us all remember this special joy of being together as one DC community and continue to celebrate the many parts that make our City a uniquely beautiful mosaic.

Reginald Douglas, Mosaic Theater Artistic Director

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T H ANK YO U TO THEATER J' s 2024 /202 5 SEASON SPONSORS LEADING PRODUCER Covenant Foundation DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities Robert M. Fisher Memorial Foundation Arlene and Robert Kogod, The Robert and Arlene Kogod Family Foundation SPONSORING PRODUCER Cathy S. Bernard CANVAS Cheryl Gorelick Norbert Hornstein and Amy Weinberg Sari R. Hornstein Kay Richman and Daniel Kaplan The Marinus and Minna B. Koster Foundation Dianne and Herb Lerner Alfred Munzer and Joel Wind Patricia Payne Revada Foundation of the Logan Family Hank Schlosberg* Shapiro Family Foundation, Inc. Share Fund The Shubert Foundation George Vradenburg Helaine Zinaman and Roselyn Abitbol* SUPPORTING PRODUCER The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation Bruce A. Cohen* Patti and Mitchell Herman The Morgan Fund at the Seattle Foundation Nussdorf Family Foundation Helene and Robert Schlossberg Bella Rosenberg PRODUC TION ANGEL S Mindy Gasthalter M. Craig Pascal Stuart Sotsky Jim Feldman and Natalie Wexler This production is supported in part by the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, an agency supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts.

Theater J gratefully ackowledges these donors who have supported Theater J since December 2023 through December 2024.

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*of blessed memory

E DL AV ITC H D C JCC

A ARON & CECILE GOLDMAN THEATER • TRISH VR ADENBURG STAGE THEATER J Hayley Finn, Artistic Director David Lloyd Olson, Managing Director

MOS AIC THEATER COMPANY OF DC Reginald L. Douglas, Artistic Director Serge Seiden, Managing Director

PRESENT The Berkeley Rep production of

O U T O F C HAR AC TER

Written and performed by Ari’el Stachel

With additional development support from Theater J and Mosaic Theater Company of DC Director...............................................................Tony Taccone**

Scenic Designer.................................................Afsoon Pajoufar+ Costume Designer............................................Maggi Yule

Lighting and Projections Designer..............Alexander V. Nichols+ Sound Designer and Dramaturgy................Madeleine Oldham Properties Artisan............................................Pamela Weiner

Assistant Scenic Designer..............................Sarah Beth Hall

Associate Projections Designer....................Ahren Buhmann Production Stage Manager...........................Shayna O’Neill* Assistant Stage Manager...............................Grace Carter CAST

Ari.........................................................................Ari’el Stachel* The video or audio recording of this performance by any means is strictly prohibited.

Out of Character is 80 minutes with no intermission.

World Premiere produced by Berkeley Repertory Theatre, Berkeley, CA Johanna Pfaelzer, Artistic Director / Susan Medak, Managing Director

Out of Character is sponsored by Mosaic Partners Circle Activists Norbert Hornstein & Amy Weinberg.

Out of Character is made possible in part by the Bruce A. Cohen Memorial Theater J Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Fund.

*Appearing through an Agreement between this theater, Theater J, and Actors' Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States

**The director is a member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society (SDC), a national theatrical labor union. +Member of United Scenic Artists Local 829

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A B OU T T H E A RT I ST S Ari’el Stachel* Ari’el was featured in Olivia Wilde’s Warner Brother’s Don’t Worry Darling, opposite Florence Pugh, Harry Styles, and Chris Pine. Previously, Ari’el was seen in A24’s production of Zola, directed by Janicza Bravo. He can also be found recurring on NBC’s Law & Order: SVU. Other TV credits include Showtime’s Billions, Netflix’s Jessica Jones, and CBS’ Blue Bloods. He received the 2018 Tony Award® for his role in The Band’s Visit on Broadway. His previous performance of this role at The Atlantic Theatre Company also garnered him 2017 Lucille Lortel and Drama Desk Award nominations for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical.

Tony Taccone (Director) was raised by a large family of artists who believed that art is the highest calling of mankind. His dad was Italian and his mom Puerto Rican, which made for a lot of very loud Sunday dinners. He was heavily influenced by the counter-culture movement of the 1960’s, developing a rambunctious political perspective and a love for rock n’ roll that remain strong to this day. He toyed with the idea of becoming an archeologist, until he discovered that he’d have to take courses in statistics. He met a group of actors at a bar, and thought, “Hey, these people are really fun”. Acting on this insight, he made a long and lucky life for himself in the theatre.

Afsoon Pajoufar+ (Scenic Designer) is a NYC based designer of stage and environment for play, opera, and live performances. Recent works include Cyrano de Bergerac (Pasadena Playhouse), Fuente Ovejuna (Theatre For A New Audience), Adoration (Beth Morrison Projects/LA Opera), Out of Character (Berkeley Rep), Molière's Dom Juan (Fisher Center at Bard SummerScape), English (Studio Theatre/ Barrington Stage), Lady M (HeartBeat Opera), MONIN[MORNING/MOURNING] (PROTOTYPE 2022), Word. Sound. Power (Brooklyn Academy of Music), Paper Pianos (EMPAC), Will You Come With Me (The Play Company). Internationally her work has taken her to Alte Münze (Berlin) and Schauspiel Köln (Cologne). She is a proud member of USA 829. afsoonpajoufar.com

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Maggi Yule (Costume Designer) Maggi is the Costume Director at Berkeley Repertory Theatre, where Out of Character was first performed. She also designed The Guys and Latin History for Morons at Berkeley Rep. Other Bay Area credits include, Sisters Matsumoto and Mamma Mia! (Shellie Award Winner) at CenterREP. Frog & Toad, Pinkalicious, Where the Mountain Meets the Moon, Ivy and Bean and others at Bay Area Children’sTheatre. She also designed The Great Divide and By and By for Shotgun Players. Pygmalion, Picasso at the Lapin Agile, It’s a Wonderful Life, Proof and Sly Fox at Town Hall Theatre as well as The Chairs, Wilder Times and Wittenberg for Aurora Theatre. Her work has received both TBA and Shellie Award nominations.

A B O U T T H E A RT I ST S Alexander V. Nichols+ (Lighting and Projections Design) Alexander V. Nichols’ design work has been presented on Broadway, off-Broadway and in opera houses, concert halls, theaters, warehouses and vacant lots throughout the world. Recent projects include scenic and projection design for Fidelio at Lyric Opera of Chicago, scenic and projection design for The Headlands at American Conservatory Theater, production design for Yuri Possokhov’s Swan Lake at Hong Kong Ballet, and lighting design for Christopher Wheeldon’s Finale Finale at San Francisco Ballet. Upcoming projects include the new musical Prison Dancer, John Leguizamo’s musical Kiss My Aztec! and All That We Are by Les Sept Doigts de la Main. At Theater J, Mr. Nichols previously designed the set and lighting for Andy Warhol: Good For The Jews?

Madeleine Oldham (Sound Designer and Dramaturgy) is a sound designer and DJ based in Oakland, CA. She has designed sound for theaters around the country including ACT, Berkeley Rep, Portland Center Stage, Kansas City Rep, Marin Theatre Company, Crowded Fire, and more. You can hear her on KALX radio as DJ Madame X. Madeleine believes that stories hold power for both good and evil, and it’s up to us to keep this knowledge close and use it well. She also understands that the best sport is ice hockey, and wiener dogs are the embodiment of joy.

Sarah Beth Hall (Assistant Scenic Designer) is a freelance scenic designer based in the greater DC area. Select local credits include: Orlando (Constellation Theatre), Winnie the Pooh, A Year with Frog and Toad (Imagination Stage), Sleeping Giant, Sometimes the Rain… (Rorschach Theatre), Quilters (1st Stage), Frankenstein (NextStop Theatre), Make Way for Ducklings (Adventure Theatre). Select regional credits include: The Book of Will, The Rose Tattoo, The Caretaker (Shakespeare Theatre of NJ), God of Carnage (The Cape Playhouse), The Hobbit (Adirondack Theatre Festival), Neverwhere, Listen for the Light, SuperTrue, The Fisherman’s Wife (Know Theatre), Little Women (Cincinnati Shakespeare Company), Bonnie & Clyde, Pippin, Mamma Mia! (Summer Rep Theatre Festival). sarahbethhalldesign.com Shayna O’Neill* (Production Stage Manager) Shayna O'Neill (pronoun inclusive) is the Resident Stage Manager and Production Manager for Mosaic Theater, where their credits include The Art of Care, Mexodus, Nancy, Confederates, one in two, Bars and Measures, and The Till Trilogy. Career highlights include the National Symphony Orchestra's Pops! Series at the Kennedy Center, working on concerts with Diana Ross, Leslie Odom Jr., will.i.am, and others; eight years with the Yale Baroque Opera Project; world premieres of Hindsight and Round Table and the NYC premiere of The Oregon Trail at Fault Line Theatre, where they are an Artistic Associate; and producing the podcast Dirty Laundry: Unpacking the Costume Closet.

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A B OU T T H E A RT I ST S Mosaic Theater Company of DC: Mosaic Theater Company of DC produces bold, culturally diverse theater that illuminates critical issues, elevates fresh voices, and sparks connection among communities throughout our region and beyond. Under the leadership of Artistic Director Reginald L. Douglas and Managing Director Serge Seiden, Mosaic produces plays that both entertain and enlighten, using art to build empathy amongst diverse people united by the magic of theater, and hopes to build community by reflecting the many cultures that call DC home.

Actors’ Equity Association (AEA) was founded in 1913 as the first of the American actor unions. Equity’s mission is to advance, promote and foster the art of live theatre as an essential component of our society. Today, Equity represents more than 40,000 actors, singers, dancers and stage managers working in hundreds of theatres across the United States. Equity members are dedicated to working in the theatre as a profession, upholding the highest artistic standards. Equity negotiates wages and working conditions and provides a wide range of benefits including health and pension plans for its members. Through its agreement with Equity, this theatre has committed to the fair treatment of the actors and stage managers employed in this production. AEA is a member of the AFL-CIO and is affiliated with FIA, an international organization of performing arts unions. For more information, visit actorsequity.org.

THEATER J

S UM ME R MUS ICAL TH EATER CAMP Rising 2nd – 9th graders

Leap into the magic of musical theater this summer.

Young artists entering 2nd–9th grade will spend the day singing, dancing, acting, and learning the history of musical theater in America. Each session will culminate with a performance for families and friends, followed by a celebration. There’s no place like Theater J!

SUMMER 2025 DATES Three Week Camp (The Wizard of Oz: Youth Edition): June 30 – July 17 One Week Camp Session 1 (Summer Spooktacular): July 21 – 25 One Week Camp Session 2 (Kids in Charge!): July 28 – August 1 One Week Camp Session 3 (Fairy Tale Fantasy Week): August 4 – 8

Registration Now Open! theaterj.org/summer-camp 8

Please contact Hester Kamin at hester@theaterj.org with any questions.

THE AT ER J L E ADE RSH I P Hayley Finn** (Theater J Artistic Director) (she/her/hers) is an accomplished director and producer with over twenty-five years of experience in professional theatre across all aspects of the profession, including producing, directing, casting, education, fundraising, and has been instrumental in creating national partnerships for theatres across the country. Prior to joining Theater J, she was the Associate Artistic Director at the Playwrights’ Center, where worked with some of the nation’s leading playwrights and, in her tenure, produced over 1,000 workshops. She also served as a Co-Artistic Director of Red Eye Theater from 2019-2023 where she co-produced and curated the New Works 4 Weeks Festival—an annual four-week festival that commissions 11 artists each year to make new performance works—and co-led the fundraising and development of a new 150-seat black box theater in Minneapolis.

She has directed nationally and internationally, including at Cherry Lane Theatre (New York, NY), Curious Theatre Company (Denver, CO), the Edinburgh Fringe Festival (Edinburgh, Scotland), Ellis Island (New York), Guthrie Theatre (Minneapolis, MN), HERE Arts Center (New York, NY), History Theatre (St. Paul, MN), Flea Theater (New York, NY), The Kitchen (New York, NY), LAByrinth Theater Company (New York, NY), Marin Theater Company (Mill Valley, CA), New Dramatists (New York, NY), O’Neill Theater Center (Waterford, CT), Pillsbury House (Minneapolis, MN), People’s Light (Malvern, PA), Public Theater (New York, NY), Playwrights’ Horizons (New York, NY), Red Eye Theater (Minneapolis, MN), Six Point Theater (St. Paul, MN), South Coast Repertory Theater (Costa Mesa, CA), and the Nine Gates Festival in Prague. Finn was Assistant Director on several Broadway productions, including the Tony Award-winning production of Arthur Miller’s A View from the Bridge. Most recently at Theater J, she directed the regional premiere of Jonathan Spector's This Much I Know.

Finn is an Alumna of the Drama League Director’s Program, recipient of the Ruth Easton Fellowship, TCG Future Leader Grant, National Endowment for the Arts support, and a Minnesota State Arts Board Artist Initiative Grant. She received her BA and MA from Brown University.

David Lloyd Olson (Theater J Managing Director) made his stage debut at age five at the Marcus JCC of Atlanta preschool and is now proud to be one of the leaders of the nation’s largest professional Jewish theater. He most recently served as managing director of Quintessence Theatre Group in Philadelphia where he oversaw the organization’s largest ever fundraising campaign and the doubling of their annual foundation support. He was manager of the executive office and board engagement at the Shakespeare Theatre Company where he supported the transition of the theater’s artistic directorship from Michael Kahn to Simon Godwin. He has also held positions at Arena Stage, GALA Hispanic Theatre, the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, and Pointless Theatre. He was an Allen Lee Hughes management fellow at Arena Stage, a Fulbright English teaching assistant in Valmiera, Latvia, and the recipient of two DC Commission on Arts and Humanities Fellowship program grants. He proudly serves on the board of the Alliance for Jewish Theatre (alljewishtheatre.org) and the board of Adas Israel Congregation.

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THE MOST INFLUENTIAL JEWISH THEATER COMPANY IN THE NATION. – THE WASHINGTON P OST

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, intercultural 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.

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.

All of the programs at the Edlavitch DCJCC are supported in part by a generous gift from the Jewish Federation of Greater Washington.

DEEPEN YOUR IMPAC T Theater J is dedicated to producing work that illuminates ethical questions of our time, examines the changing landscape of Jewish identities, and celebrates inter-cultural experiences. Less than half of Theater J’s budget comes from ticket revenue. We are reliant on generous gifts from audience members like you, who see the value of having a thriving Jewish cultural center in the heart of the city.

We invite you to join your friends and neighbors in supporting our work. With your gift, you’ll be recognizing the vital role Theater J plays in our community–a place where the stories of immigrants are proudly told, where we ask that theater engage both the head and the heart, and where we produce art that reminds you of who you are.

WAYS TO GIVE Theater J accepts contributions by mail, phone, online, or through stock donation. Checks can be made payable to Theater J and mailed to 1529 Sixteenth Street, NW, Washington, DC 20036.

For more information or to make a donation visit theaterj.org/donate or contact rmuha@theaterj.org and 202.777.3225.

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EDC JCC & T H E AT E R J STA FF, PRO DU C TION STAFF EDLAVITCH DCJCC LEADERSHIP

Edlavitch DCJCC Chief Executive Officer: Jennifer Zwilling Chief Finance and Administrative Officer: Charlie Winters Chief Experience Officer: Jesse Bordwin Senior Director of Institutional Advancement: Emily Jillson THEATER J STAFF

Artistic Director: Hayley Finn Managing Director: David Lloyd Olson

Production Production Manager: Mark T. Berry Technical Director: Tom Howley Associate Producer: Charlotte La Nasa Technical Coordinator: Willow McFatter Company Management Associate: Grace Carter Head Electrician: Garth Dolan Resident Properties Artisan: Pamela Weiner Scenic Charge: Danielle Harris

External Affairs EDCJCC Arts Marketing Manager: Jill Gershenson EDCJCC Arts Marketing Coordinator: Byron Escobar Development Executive Assistant: Ryan Muha Director of Donor Engagement: Emma Wesslund Ticket Office and Front of House Manager: Nino Porter Assistant Ticket Office Manager: Lauren McNeal Marketing Consultants: Rachel Hewitt, Adriana Cisneros Emerson, and Jasmine Jones, Rachel Media Publicist: Kendra Rubinfeld and Travis Hare, Kendra Rubinfeld PR Graphic Design: Molly Winston House Managers and Ticket Office Associates: Sophia Bonde, Steve Chazanow, Emily Eason, Allen Eldridge, Lily Goldberg, Sarah Moosadzeh, Robert Reeg, Hadiya Rice, Kaneeka Rice, Sam Rollin, Alia Schreiber-Goldstein, and Mary-Margaret Walsh.

Education & New Play Development Education Programs Manager: Hester Kamin Expanding the Canon Rosh Beit: Sabrina Sojourner Expanding the Canon Commissioned Writers: Harley Elias, Zachariah Ezer, Caroliva Herron, Jesse Jae Hoon, MJ Kang, and Kendell Pinkey Teaching Artists: Rebecca Berman, Erin Cleary, Nikki Crawford, Noah Israel, Jen Jacobs, James Carlos Lacey, Aaron Posner, Lynette Talya Rathnam, Howard Shalwitz, Jamie Steinman, Holly Twyford, and Erin Weaver.

Founding Artistic Director: Martin Blank

OUT OF C H AR ACT ER STA F F Head Electrician: Garth Dolan Associate Head Electrician: Ben Harvey Audio Engineer: Elisabeth Dupuy Light Board Operator: Willow McFatter Followspot Operator: Lorna Ryan Paint assistants: Sarah Phillips-Hooley; Carolyn Hampton Load-in Crew: Barrett Doyle; Matty Griffiths; David Higgins; Tad Howley

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2024–202 5 T H EAT E R J CO UN C I L Mara Bralove, Chair Mindy Gasthalter Ann Gilbert Cheryl Gorelick Rae Grad Patti Herman Aimee Imundo Daniel Kaplan Arlene Klepper Liz Kleinrock

Kenneth Krupsky Stephen Lachter Karen Lehmann-Eisner Ellen Malasky Meredith Margolis Howard Menaker Alfred Munzer Sherry Nevins Patricia Payne

T HEATE R J H ONOR A RY CO U N C I L Patty Abramson* Marion Ein Lewin Paul J. Mason Michele G. Berman Bunny Dwin Evelyn Sandground Hank Schlosberg* Lois Fingerhut

Saul Pilchen Bella Rosenberg Mita M. Schaffer Robert Schlossberg Terry Singer Stuart Sotsky Manny Strauss Bob Tracy Kathryn Veal Trish Vradenburg* Patti Sowalsky Irene Wurtzel

EDLAVI TC H D C JCC 2024 – 202 5 B OA R D O F D I R EC TORS Johanna Chanin, President Eva Davis, Vice President Meredith Margolis, Vice President Janis Schiff, Vice President Janet B. Abrams Olufunmike Adeyemi* Andrew Altman Joan Berman Michele G. Berman Jordan Lloyd Bookey Jennifer Bradley Jaclyn Lerner Cohen Sara Cohen Eva Davis Jonathan Edelman Myrna Fawcett Meg Flax Brian Gelfand

Jonathan Grossman, Treasurer Amie Perl, Assistant Treasurer Benjamin Loewy, Secretary

Daniel Glickman Dina Gold Debra Goldberg David Goldblatt Rena Gordon Brad Lackey Joshua Maxey Alyssa Moskovitz Sid Moskowitz Alfred Munzer Alyson Myers Melanie Franco Nussdorf Amie Perl Arnold Polinger

Shannon Powers Norm Rich Ilene Rosenthal Michael Salzberg Max Sandler Rhea Schwartz Michael Singer Tina Small Mimi Tygier Diane Abelman Wattenberg Jessika Wellisch Eric Zelenko Jennifer Zwilling, Chief Executive Officer, Ex Officio

Stephen Kelin William Kreisberg Saul Pilchen John R. Risher Jr.* Lynn Skolnick Sachs

Deborah Ratner Salzberg Mindy Strelitz Francine Zorn Trachtenberg Robert Tracy Ellen G. Witman

FO UN DI NG DI R E C TO R Ginny Edlavitch DIREC TOR S E M E R I T I Stephen Altman Rose H. Cohen Jill Granader Martha Winter Gross Daniel O. Hirsch

VICE PRE SI DE NT E M E RI T U S Lee G. Rubenstein HON OR ARY DI R E C TO R Barbara Abramowitz 12

List as of December 2024

*of blessed memory

MOS A IC T H E AT ER CO M PA N Y B OA R D O F D I R E C TORS Officers Cathy Solomon: President Jeffrey Banks: Vice President David Grosso: Vice President Bill Tompkins**: Treasurer Serge Seiden: Managing Director Myrna Sislen: Secretary Reginald L. Douglas: Artistic Director

Members Craig Benson Jordan Lloyd Bookey Bill Braithwaite Vince Brown Deborah Carliner** Susan Clampitt Steven Clay Bobbie Gottschalk David Alan Grier Juanita Hardy Cornell Harris, Executive Committee Member-At-Large Carroll Johnson-Welsh Ted May David J. Nolan Damión Perkins Leslie Scallet Andy Shallal Michael Singer, Executive Committee Member-At-Large Elizabeth Steinglass Stephen Stern, Executive Committee Member-At-Large Muriel Wolf Cynthia Wolloch, Executive Committee Member-At-Large Julie Zalkind MOS A IC STAFF

Leadership Reginald L. Douglas: Artistic Director Serge Seiden: Managing Director

Artistic and Production Chris Banks: Director of Production Nadir Bey: Technical Director Jacob Ettkin: Education and Engagement Manager Shayna O'Neill: Resident Stage Manager Psalmayene 24: Andrew W. Mellon Playwright in Residence Chelsea Radigan: Artistic Producer Business and Administration Michael Cottrell: Finance & Accounting Manager Lina Khawaldah: Business & Operations Manager Development Dina Soltan: Donor Relations Manager

Marketing and Communications Sabrina Garland-Sash, Marketing Manager

**Indicates Past Mosaic Board President

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Bravo

The Bralove Group at Morgan Stanley is proud to support Theater J. The Bralove Group at Morgan Stanley 7500 Old Georgetown Road, 10th Floor Bethesda, MD 20814 301-657-6376 mara.bralove@morganstanley.com advisor.morganstanley.com/ the-bralove-group L-R: Mara R. Bralove, CFP®, Financial Advisor; Nils Vidal, Financial Advisor; Tara M. Tucker, Wealth Management Associate; Magda Alcan, Portfolio Associate; Zach Harber, Wealth Management Analyst

CFP Board owns the marks CFP® in the U.S. © 2024 Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC. Member SIPC.

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SUP020 CRC 40722290 12/24

Theater J, as part of the Edlavitch DCJCC, embraces inclusion in all of its programs and activities. Theater J strives to make our productions accessible to all by providing the following to meet the needs of our patrons, and to enhance their experience at the theater. For information, please contact our ticket office at 202.777.3210 or boxoffice@ edcjcc.org.

ACCE SSI B LE S E AT I N G The Edlavitch DCJCC has ramp access from the Q Street entrance and all our restrooms are ADA accessible. In the Goldman Theater, removable seats provide patrons with the opportunity to be seated with their companions while sitting in their wheelchair.

ASSI ST I V E LI ST E N I N G Assistive listening devices are available at our Ticket Office. They are free-ofcharge and offered on a first-come, first-served basis at all performances.

OC

OPE N CAPT I O N I N G Captions will be offered at three shows this production. Contact the Ticket Office and selected dates. Captioning sponsored by Dianne and Herb Lerner L ARG E PR I NT P RO G R A M S Large print programs are available at our Ticket Office, located on the first floor. Or read a low vision digital program on your mobile device by scanning the QR code outside the theater.

Theater J respects and welcomes gender diversity. Please use the restroom which makes you most comfortable or most closely fits your gender identity or expression. An allgender restroom is located on the Lower Level.

AN TI-DI SCR I M I NAT I O N Theater J and the Edlavitch DCJCC commit to being an inclusive, safe, and welcoming space for all. This institution does not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age, national origin, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status, in any of its activities or operations from either patrons or staff. Please visit our website at theaterj.org to learn more about our policies and procedures LAND ACK NOW LE DG E M E N T Our building sits on the traditional homeland of the Nacotchtank (Anacostan), farmers and traders who lived along the banks of the Anacostia River. Beginning in 1608, European settlers decimated the Nacotchtank with disease, warfare, and forced removal.

By the 1700s, the survivors fled to join other tribes to the north, south, and west, including the Piscataway Peoples, who continue to steward these lands from generation to generation. We know this acknowledgement is only a small step towards justice, and we ask that all of us learn about the past and present and invest in the future of our country’s Indigenous communities wherever we are.

P H OTOS : • Page 2: Hayley Finn. Photo by Josh Olson • Page 3: Photo of Reginald Douglas courtesy Mosaic Theater of DC. • Page 4: (Top to Bottom) Danielle Skraastad, Ethan J. Miller, and Dani Stoller in Prayer for the French Republic by Joshua Harmon.

Photo by Ryan Maxwell Photography. Maboud Ebrahimzadeh and Tyler Herman in The Hatmaker's Wife by Lauren Yee. Photo

by Ryan Maxwell Photography. Sara Kapner, Jake Horowitz, and Michael Perrie Jr. in Hester Street A play by Sharyn Rothstein, with original music and songs by Joel Waggoner, based on the film by Joan Micklin Silver. Photo by Ryan Maxwell Photography.

(Left to Right) Firdous Bamji, Ethan J. Miller, and Dani Stoller in This Much I Know by Jonathan Spector. Photo by Ryan Maxwell Photography.

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This winter, JxJ presents eye-opening documentaries and captivating music that transcends borders and cultures. Tickets are available now!

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THE BIBI FILES Thursday, January 23, 7:15 PM The Bibi Files is a documentary with never-before-seen interrogation footage of Benjamin Netanyahu and his inner circle.

SOUL OF A NATION Sunday, January 26, 7:30 PM This inspiring and eye-opening film delves into Israel's most perilous chapter in recent history.

BECOMING BEACONS: IN THE STUDIO WITH NEFESH MOUNTAIN Saturday, February 1, 7:30 PM Join us for a very special live in-person work-in-progress screening of a new short film about the band Nefesh Mountain as they record their new Americana/Bluegrass album.

THE AFRO-SEMITIC EXPERIENCE Sunday, February 9, 11:30 AM Founded in 1998 by pianist Warren Byrd and bassist David Chevan, they have been performing, recording, and teaching together for over 25 years.

NANI VAZANA Sunday, March 2, 11:30 AM With a ship’s-horn power voice & irresistible stage presence, Nani defends the endangered Ladino language.

JANIS IAN: BREAKING SILENCE Thursday, March 6, 7:30 PM This documentary chronicles the remarkable journey of the Jewish singer-songwriter Janis Ian.

See the full lineup and buy tickets at JxJDC.org

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FR I E N DS O F T H E AT E R J

Theater J gratefully acknowledges the following donors who have given to Theater J from December 1, 2023 through December 1, 2024.

Leading Producer ($100,000+) Covenant Foundation+ DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities

Robert M. Fisher Memorial Foundation Theater for Youth Fund Δ

Arlene and Robert Kogod, The Robert and Arlene Kogod Family Foundation

Cathy S. Bernard 0 CANVAS Cheryl Gorelick 0 Norbert Hornstein and Amy Weinberg 0 Sari R. Hornstein Kay Richman and Daniel Kaplan +0

The Marinus and Minna B. Koster Foundation Δ Dianne and Herb Lerner Alfred Munzer and Joel Wind Δ+0 Patricia Payne 0 Revada Foundation of the Logan Family

Hank Schlosberg* Shapiro Family Foundation, Inc. Δ Share Fund Δ The Shubert Foundation George Vradenburg Helaine Zinaman and Roselyn Abitbol*

The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation Bruce A. Cohen*

Patti and Mitchell Herman Δ 0 The Morgan Fund at the Seattle Foundation 0

Nussdorf Family Foundation Helene and Robert Schlossberg 0 Bella Rosenberg 0 ¶

Friends at the Theodore H. Barth Foundation James Beller and Christopher Wolf 0 James A. Feldman and Natalie Wexler

Marion Ein Lewin 0 Paul and Zena Mason 0 M. Craig Pascal Diane and Arnold Polinger

Evelyn Sandground and Bill Perkins 0 The Leshowitz Family Foundation, Terry Singer Δ + Manny Strauss and Betsy Karmin +

Michele and Allan Berman 0 Stuart and Martha Bindeman Charitable Trust 0 Susan and Dixon Butler Myrna Fawcett Ann Gilbert 0 ¶

Rae Grad and Manuel Schiffres 0 Meg and John Hauge Daniel Hirsch and Brenda Gruss 0 Karen E. Lehmann 0 Sherry Nevins 0 Andrea Boyarsky-Maisel

Nora Roberts Foundation April Rubin and Bruce A. Ray Dr. Kathryn Veal + Judy and Leo Zickler

Sponsoring Producer ($25,000–$99,999)

Supporting Producer ($18,000–$24,999)

Leading Angels ($10,000–$17,999)

Sponsoring Angels ($6,000–$9,999)

Supporting Angels ($3,000–$5,999)

Martha Winter Gross and Robert Tracy 0 Anonymous Saul and Nancy Pilchen 0 Bonnie and Alan Hammerschlag Ilene and Steven Rosenthal The Family of H. Max & Josephine F. Mita M. Schaffer and Tina M. Martin* 0 Ammerman and Andrew R. Ammerman 0 Arlene and Martin Klepper Barry Kropf Mara Bralove and Ari Fisher 0 Rhea Schwartz 0 0 Sandra and Stephen Lachter Bonnie and Louis Cohen Leslie Sewell and James Jaffe Clark-Winchcole Foundation Jacob and Charlotte Lehrman Foundation Barney Shapiro and Susan Walker 0 Bunny Dwin 0 Marion Ein Lewin Les Silverman 0 Ellen and Gary Malasky 0 Lois and Michael Fingerhut 0 Stuart Sotsky 0 0 0 David and Patricia Fisher Paul and Zena Mason Patti and Jerry Sowalsky 0 Jay Freedman and Irma Reshefsky 0 Howard Menaker and Patrick Gossett 0 ¶ The George Wasserman Family Foundation Joan S. Wessel Mindy Gasthalter 0 ¶ Jeff Menick Carl and Undine Nash Rae Grad and Manuel Schiffres 0 Enthusiasts ($1,000–$2,999)

David and Deborah Astrove 0 Sherry and David Berz 0 Joyce and Fred Bonnett Carol and Robert Burman 0 Johanna Chanin and Randall Levitt 0 Debra Lerner Cohen and Edward Cohen Marcy and Neil Cohen, Ryna Cohen Janet and Michael Cornfeld 0 Linda Goldsmith and Howard Berger Michael Gross Susan and Allen Hannenbaum 0 Erez Harari Aimee Imundo and Neil Gurvitch 0

Richard Kaufmann 0 Hillel Kaye The Matthew Korn & Cynthia Miller Family Foundation Kenneth and Amy Krupsky 0 Mary Lynne Martin Alan McAdams and Ellen Dykes Rona and Allan Mendelsohn 0 Jean and Richard Meyer 0 Morgan Stanley Foundation Linda Rosenzweig and Sandy Bieber 0 Iris and Gene Rotberg 0 Steve and Ann Roth 0

Anonymous 0 Friends at Temple Beth Ami Susan and Steven Bralove 0 Charles and Rochelle Curtis 0 Kathy and Jody Dreyfuss 0 John Edelmann 0 Michelle and Glenn Engelmann Enrique and Suzanne Fefer Gail Ginsberg Dina Gold 0 Jerry Grossman 0 Helaine Harris Jim Henderson 0 Toby May Horn 0

Lauren and Glen Howard 0 James & Theodore Pedas Foundation Michael Rabinowitz Aviva Kempner 0 Vicki Robinson Bruce and Ann Lane June and Marvin Rogul Zev Lewis Bruce Rosenblum 0 Nancy Limprecht and Rick Haines Meredith Margolis and Gary Goodweather Douglas and Charlotte Siegler 0 0 Kenneth & Ellen Marks Arlene Farber Sirkin and Stuart Sirkin Steuart & Linda Thomsen 0 Mary Lynne Martin Ilene Meiseles Lori and David Vise 0 Sylvan Mintz 0 Donald and Loretta Walters 0 0 Martin Mintz Jonathan Weinberg 0 0 Donald and Lynne Myers Sylvia & Peter Winik 0 Jason Najjoum Janet and Robert Wittes 0 Cathy O'Kelly 0 Richard Young 0

Admirers ($500–$999)

Trina and Lee G. Rubenstein 0 Ruth and Samuel Salzberg Family Foundation Pat and Bob Shapiro 0 Peggy and David Shiffrin Mindy Strelitz and Andrew Cornblatt Philip Teitelbaum Ziva and Aaron Tomares Bunny Weinstein 0 Jeff Weiss 0 Helene Weisz and Richard Lieberman

¶ Denotes a member of the EDCJCC’s Community Pillars program. These supporters have committed to leaving a legacy by including Theater J in their estate planning. + Denotes support of our New Play Development programs. Δ Denotes support of our Family and Education Programming. 0 Denotes support of the 2024 Theater J Benefit.

*of blessed memory 17

EDLAV I TC H D C J CC DO N O RS

The Edlavitch DCJCC wishes to thank the following donors who enable us to serve the commnity. This list includes all fiscal year 2024 gifts to date (July 1, 2023 - June 30, 2024) from donors who made commitments or donations of $1,000 or more. The Edlavitch DCJCC thanks all of our donors for the important impact they have on our work. $300,000+

Diane and Norman Bernstein Foundation

Jewish Federation of Greater Washington

Samuel G. Rose

Anonymous Bruce A. Cohen* The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation

DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities Susie and Michael Gelman, The Morningstar Foundation

Daniel Hirsch and Brenda Gruss Arlene and Robert Kogod, The Robert and Arlene Kogod Family Foundation

Covenant Foundation Sari R. Hornstein Norbert Hornstein and Amy Weinberg Low Income Investment Fund (LIIF)

Nussdorf Family Foundation Howard and Geraldine Polinger Family Foundation

Revada Foundation of the Logan Family Share Fund The Shubert Foundation

The Aviv Foundation, Inc. Cathy S. Bernard Johanna Chanin and Randall Levitt Naomi and Nehemiah Cohen Foundation The Dweck Family Lois and Richard England Family Foundation Rena Gordon The Kay Family Foundation

The Marinus and Minna B. Koster Foundation Dianne and Herb Lerner Alfred Moses Sid and Linda Moskowitz Alfred Munzer and Joel Wind National Endowment for the Arts Patricia Payne Diane and Arnold Polinger

Kay Richman and Daniel Kaplan Ilene and Steven Rosenthal Martha and Philip Sagon Family Foundation Deborah and Michael Salzberg Hank Schlosberg* Rhea Schwartz and Paul Wolff Shapiro Family Foundation, Inc.

Ronald and Anne Abramson Suevia and Rudolph B. Behrend Fund Bender Foundation Michele and Allan Berman Lisa and Josh Bernstein Bookey Family Foundation Abby and Andrew Cherner CIBC Private Wealth Management Sara Cohen and Norm Rich, Cyna and Paul Cohen, and Family Myrna Fawcett Ann Gilbert Cheryl Gorelick Jill and Robert Granader Patti and Mitchell Herman JCC Association

Elise and Marc Lefkowitz Karen E. Lehmann Jacob and Charlotte Lehrman Foundation Thelma Z. Lenkin The Annette M. and Theodore N. Lerner Family Foundation Marion Ein Lewin Dan Mendelson and Jennifer Loew Mendelson Amy and Alan Meltzer The Morgan Fund at the Seattle Foundation Katharina Otto-Bernstein M. Craig Pascal Evelyn Sandground and Bill Perkins Saul and Nancy Pilchen

Norman Pozez and Melinda Bieber Bella Rosenberg Trina and Lee G. Rubenstein The Abe & Kathryn Selsky Foundation Janis and Philip Schiff Lisa Silver and Barry Kopit and the Silver Family Foundation The Leshowitz Family Foundation, Terry Singer Rae Grad and Manuel Schiffres Helene and Robert Schlossberg Richard Solloway Manny Strauss and Betsy Karmin Martha Winter Gross and Robert Tracy James A. Feldman and Natalie Wexler James Beller and Christopher Wolf

Janet Beth Abrams Monica and Gavin Abrams AllShifts The Family of H. Max & Josephine F. Ammerman and Andrew R. Ammerman Anonymous Carol and Gary Berman Joan and Alan Berman Jordan Lloyd Bookey and Felix Lloyd Andrea Boyarsky-Maisel Susan and Dixon Butler Bonnie and Louis Cohen Cyna and Paul Cohen Rose and Robert Cohen Eva Davis and Justin Kramer Bunny Dwin Cindy Barad Elias David and Patricia Fisher Mara Bralove and Ari Fisher Robert M. Fisher Memorial Foundation Meg and Samuel Flax Mindy Gasthalter Edith Gelfand, Brian and Jenny Gelfand GMP LLP Dina Gold

Debra Goldberg and Seth Waxman Michelle and Jonathan Grossman Meg and John Hauge Embassy of Israel Arlene and Martin Klepper William Kreisberg Kenneth and Amy Eisen Krupsky Stuart S. Kurlander and David L. Martin Sandra and Stephen Lachter Gary Laden, Esq. Joy Lerner and Stephen Kelin Dale and William Lipnick Saskia and Benjamin D. Loewy Ellen and Gary Malasky Marshfield Associates Paul and Zena Mason Howard Menaker and Patrick Gossett Jeff Menick Sherry Nevins Cozen O'Connor Nora Roberts Foundation April Rubin and Bruce A. Ray Joan and Barry Rosenthal Susan Sachs Goldman Ruth and Samuel Salzberg Family

Foundation Lynn and John Sachs Deserie and Allen Saunders Mita M. Schaffer and Tina M. Martin The Schoenbaum Family Foundation, Inc. Les Silverman Michael Singer and James Smith Tina and Albert Small, Jr. Charles E. Smith Family Foundation The Sosland Foundation Dr. Stuart Sotsky Mindy Strelitz and Andrew Cornblatt Summit Print & Design, Inc. Francine Zorn Trachtenberg and Stephen Joel Trachtenberg Mimi Tygier and Robert Rubin Dr. Kathryn Veal The George Wasserman Family Foundation Diane Abelman Wattenberg Jessika and David Wellisch Eric Zelenko Judy and Leo Zickler Eric and Kathryn Zimmerman

$100,000 - $299,999

$50,000 - $99,999

$25,000 - $49,999

$10,000 - $24,999

$5,000 - $9,999

$2,500 - $4,999

Babs and Rabbi A.N. Abramowitz, Wendi and Daniel Abramowitz Andrew Altman Stephen and Amy Altman Anonymous Jamie and Joseph A. Baldinger Joy and Leonard Baxt Devorah and Kevin Berman Lynn and Wolf Blitzer Deborah and Charles Both Debra Vodenos and Samuel Boxerman Fani and Dan Brandenburg Susie and Kenton Campbell Marcy and Neil Cohen, Ryna Cohen Susan Cohn Dave Connick Sara Cormeny and Peter Miller Cornerstone Research, Inc.

Scott Eric Dreyer and Ellen Clare Gillespie Dreyer Nancy and Marc Duber Jay Freedman Lois and Michael Fingerhut Rhoda and Daniel Glickman Paula Seigle Goldman Leslie and Samuel Kaplan Stacey Kluck Aviva Kempner Tamara Korolnek Brad and Ali Lackey The EJL98 Charitable Trust, on behalf of Edward Lenkin and Roselin Atzwanger Johanna Chanin and Randall Levitt Johannah and Jeremiah Lowin Meredith Margolis and Gary Goodweather

Carol Mates and Mark Kahan Alyson Myers Carl and Undine Nash Shannon and William Powers Suzanne Priebatsch Eric Salzberg Rubin Schron Leslie Sewell Peggy and David Shiffrin United Bank Heidi Wachs Wealthspire Advisors Susan Wedlan and Harold Rosen Joan S. Wessel Janice White Carolyn and William Wolfe Rebecca Wolozin and Louis Beckman

Adas Israel Congregation Eric Adler Bette Ann S. Albert Clement and Sandra Alpert Laurence and Agatha Aurbach Alison Baraf and Aryeh Portnoy Cheryl and Herbert Baraf Linda Goldsmith and Howard Berger Emily and Adam Berman State of Israel Bond (Bernstein Endowment) Elaine and Richard Binder Paul Blank Joyce and Fred Bonnett Susan and Steven Bralove Ito Briones and Warren Coates Marian and James Brodsky Anita Wolke and Ken Brooks Nancy Taylor Bubes and Alan Bubes Morris J. Chalick, MD Chevy Chase Trust Howard and Carol Cohen Jacqueline and Edward Cohen Debra Lerner Cohen and Edward Cohen Jeffrey Colman and Ellen Nissenbaum Peggy and Morris Dahan Toby Dershowitz Yvonne and Jeffrey Distenfeld Sonnie Dockser Jessica Dodson and Jeremy Levine Ilana Drimmer Tamara Dunietz and David Dunn Jonathan Edelman John Edelmann Anna Faure Suzanne and Enrique Fefer Rachel and Pete Federowicz Daniel Freeman and Rebecca Zylberman Laurie and Jerry Friedman Natalie Friedman and Daniel Winston Tova Geller Morgan and Josh Genderson Marsha Gentner

Ellen Gertsen Bernard Gewirz Catherine and Micah Gibson Cathy and Michael Gildenhorn Audrey Goldstein Richard and Sue Goldstein Lois and Hadar Granader Helen Greenfeld and Richard Mintz Michael Gross Erwin Gudelsky Erez Harari Margaret Hoeger Sandra Hoexter Mariana Levinas Huberman Maya Hyman Nancy and Steven Jacobson Rob Kallman Sandy and Eliot Kalter Sid Kaplan Jared Kassoff and Jaime Creighton Irene and Lou Katz Ellen Kay Hillel Kaye The Kresge Foundation Barry Kropf Janet Leno and Peter Harrold Kimberly and Bruce Levin Jesse and Alyssa Levine Kay Klass and Mark Levitt Margery and Sheldon London Melanie and Hal Marcus and Family Philip Margolius Ellen and Ken Marks Alan McAdams and Ellen Dykes Rona and Allan Mendelsohn Elaine and William Miller Gary Mintz Rachel Moskowitz and Ari Moskowitz Simor Moskowitz Joan Nathan Miriam Morsel Nathan and Harvey Nathan Gayle and Steven Neufeld

Victoria Odinotska Ellen and Scott Paseltiner James & Theodore Pedas Foundation Marsha and Jamey Pelton Amie Perl and Evan Goldman Linda and Bruce Pollekoff Joel and Nancy Poznansky Deborah and Juan Prawda Michael Rabinowitz Rabbi Fred N. Reiner and Susan Liss Renay and Bill Regardie Suzanne and Bruce Rosenblum Norman L. and Caryl G. Rosenthanl Linda Rosenzweig and Sandy Bieber Alfred Sanders Lewis Schrager and Frances Marshall Yechiel Schron Dolores Seigel David Selden and Julie Wallick Susan Brett and Rob Shesser Dale and Alan Sorcher Barbara Silverstein and Alan Kirschenbaum Mindy and Jeff Sosland Leslie and Howard Stein Susan Rubin Suleiman Lise Van Susteren and Jonathan Kempner Philip Teitelbaum Ziva and Aaron Tomares United Way of the National Capital Area Janet B. Weiner Helene Weisz and Richard Lieberman Janyse and Bernie Weisz Sharon Wilkes and Robert Kinberg Carol and Michael Winer Ellen Witman Janet and Robert Wittes Barbara Yellen and Phil West Lynda Zengerle Jennifer Zwilling Rosenwasser and Jon Rosenwasser

$1,000 - $2,499

*of blessed memory

With the support from our community of donors, the Edlavitch DCJCC remains the premier address in our nation's capital for an expanding, diverse, and vibrant urban Jewish community. To make a tax-deductible contribution to the Edlavitch DCJCC today, please visit edcjcc.org/donate or contact Emily Jillson at 202-777-3231 or ejillson@edcjcc.org.

19

Written and Directed by José Rivera

Starring Naomi Jacobson and Sara Koviak M ARCH 12–A P RI L 6, 2025 T I CK E T S ON S ALE N OW the a t e r j .o r g | 202 .777. 32 10