THE LAST YIDDISH SPEAKER

NNPN Rolling World Premiere

by Deborah Zoe Laufer directed by Seth Rozin

March 29th-April 21st

Run Time: 90 minutes

*The Last Yiddish Speaker was originally commissioned by Lucille Lortel Theatre, Caridad Svich, Artistic Director of New Play Development. *

In the years following a successful January 6th insurrection, a white supremacist regime has come into power. Paul and his teenage daughter, Sarah, live under the radar in a small town upstate as Christian-passing, despite being Jews who fled New York City. When an ancient Yiddish-speaking woman arrives on their doorstep, Paul and Sarah are forced to decide between fleeing again or fighting for their faith, their heritage and their identity.

THE LAST YIDDISH SPEAKER Company

Cast

Kaitlyn Zion - SARAH/MARY

Dan Hodge - PAUL

Gabriel Elmore - JOHN

Stephanie Satie- CHAVA

Production Team

Seth Rozin - Director

Hunter Smith - Stage Manager

Eli Lynn - Intimacy Director

Colin McIlvaine - Scenic Designer

Katherine Fritz - Costume Designer

TalkBacks at InterAct

Speaker Saturdays

Following our Saturday 2pm non-preview matinees, join Literary Manager Charlotte Martin with an expert speaker in a moderated conversation digging into the themes of THE LAST YIDDISH SPEAKER.

April 6- Dan Hodge, Actor in THE LAST YIDDISH SPEAKER. Dan Hodge is an actor and director with a strong foundation in the classics, who has worked with many classical theatres across the country as an actor, director, and text/vocal coach. April 13- Deborah Zoe Laufer is THE LAST YIDDISH SPEAKER playwright. Deborah Zoe Laufer is an American playwright and theatre director. Her plays have been performed at the Steppenwolf Theatre Company, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, the Everyman Theatre in Baltimore and more. April 20- Stephanie Satie, Actor in THE LAST YIDDISH SPEAKER. Stephanie has appeared both on and off-Broadway, on national tours and in regional theatres, in plays ranging from those of Shakespeare to Neil Simon, Shaw to Ionesco. Her first solo play Duse, Heartburn & Me, directed by Jennie Ventriss, a semi-autobiographical piece about growing up in New York City and surviving in the theatre, was developed at the prestigious Ensemble Studio Theatre in N.Y. and toured under the auspices of The American Theatre Wing.

Speaker Sundays

Following our Sunday 2pm non-preview matinees, join Producing Artistic Director Seth Rozin with an expert speaker in a moderated conversation digging into the themes of THE LAST YIDDISH SPEAKER.

April 7- Alan Scher, CEO, Kaiserman JCC “As a leader within the Jewish Community Center movement, I strive to “pray with my feet,” in order to foster an innovative, multicultural community built upon Jewish values and true to our ideals. In our tradition, it is said that Jacob wrestled an angel to “become greater.” I call it “making waves”, and seek always to utilize my skill set of results-driven ruach, client-focused kehillah and a commitment to an ever-empowering, ever-improving L’Dor Vador in the service of that vision.”

April 14- Dr. Ian Lustick, Professor at The University of Pennsylvania Dr. Ian Lustick is an American political scientist and specialist on the modern history and politics of the Middle East. He currently holds the Bess W. Heyman Chair in the department of Political Sciences at the University of Pennsylvania.

April 21- Mick Brewer, Engagement Associate at Tribe 12 Mick Brewer is a community organizer, activist and student of life. Born in sunny S. Florida, he has been migrating up the east coast since he was 18. He completed his undergraduate degree in social philosophy at Guilford College in 2017. He worked in student life at the American Hebrew Academy as a mentor to high school students and taught Hebrew School before moving to Philadelphia to attend the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College. Though he ultimately decided the rabbinate was not the path for him, he maintains a passion for Jewish community organizing, Jewish learning and exploring the ever-changing landscape of Jewish identity in America.

* see below for a bonus WEEKDAY SPEAKER!

Audience Discussions

Discussions occur after every Wednesday and Thursday non- preview 7pm performance. Facilitated by Seth Rozin.

Wednesday, April 10 | Thursday, April 11 | Wednesday, April 17 | Thursday, April 18

*Rabbi Lonnie Kleinman, rabbinical council for JEWISH VOICE FOR PEACE, will join Seth on Wednesday, April 10.

Rabbi Lonnie Kleinman (she/they) holds a BA in Religious Studies and Art History from Lewis and Clark College and a MA in Hebrew Letters and Ordination from the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College. She currently serves as Keshet's associate director of education and training. She is passionate about relational organizing and pastoral care in dreaming of a future in which all LGBTQ+ people are seen and affirmed, and liberation exists for us all. They love gathering inspiration for dreaming and living out this world through Talmud study, especially as exemplified in the holy connections of hevruta study. Lonnie is a trained spiritual director, ritualist, and death educator. She is a member of the Jewish Voice for Peace Rabbinical Council.

Please note:

• InterAct’s COVID Policies: We are currently mask optional, but offer COVID safety performances on select dates. Click here for more about COVID safety nights!

• Speaker Hosts & Guests are subject to change. Please call the BOX OFFICE before your show date to hear about any possible changes.