We’re excited to share

our 2015-2016 season with

you—a lineup that takes us

ever deeper into the themes and

conversations we’ll be exploring on—and

beyond—our stage. We’re committed to

tackling challenging topics that inspire

deep discussion, to gender parity within

our artistic community, to supporting

playwrights in the development of their

work and to expanding the notion of what

a Jewish theater can be. We hope you will

join us.

We open with an all-star lineup of Caleen

Sinnette Jennings, Eleanor Holdridge and Dawn

Ursula in Queens Girl in the World. This is a

world premiere that was developed as part of

The Locally Grown Festival and it chronicles

the coming-of-age experience of an African-

American teenager in Queens, NY—in the midst

of the Civil Rights Movement.

Stephen Karam’s quirky comedy-drama Sons of

The Prophet about a tragedy-stricken Lebanese-

American family in small town Pennsylvania

explores issues of ethnic, sexual and familial

Hello and welcome to Theater J

identity with refreshing wit and pathos that

resonates across many communities.

Wendy Wasserstein humorously grapples with

shifting gender roles and mid-life decisions

through the lives of three very different sisters

in The Sisters Rosensweig. On the 10th

Anniversary of her death we’re honored to bring

this classic American playwright to our stage for

the first time for a full-length production.

Continuing Theater J’s imperative to produce

work that reflects an authentic Israeli experience,

we will bring acclaimed Israeli author David

Grossman’s book, Falling Out of Time, to our

stage in a new adaptation created by director

Derek Goldman. This lyric piece about enduring

loss distills the experience of accepting death,

specifically the death of a child, in a way that is

moving and timely in Israeli society and

across cultures.

What impact can a single photograph have

on global and personal events? Dan O’Brien

eloquently sets out to answer this question

with The Body of an American, which recounts

his personal relationship with Pulitzer Prize-

winning photojournalist Paul Watson and

the unforgettable, ultimately world-

changing photo of a dead American

soldier he took in Somalia.

We end the season at summer camp with

Anna Zeigler’s Another Way Home. When

a runaway son forces a family to confront

their own relationships with each other they

have to face the fact that while they love

each other, they don’t always like each other.

We’re proud to work with Anna on the second

production of this relatable, moving new play.

Beyond our main productions, we’ll have a lot

more panel discussions, talk-backs, readings,

workshops of new plays by local playwrights

during our Locally Grown Festival, and a

special week-long run of the musical revue

Stars of David: Story to Song. We hope you’ll

be part of the conversation all season long, as

we move from Queens to rural Pennsylvania

to London, Israel, Afghanistan, The Canadian

Arctic and Maine.

Rebecca Ende Shirley Serotsky

Managing Director Acting Artistic Director

It’s summer 1962 in Queens, New York. The sounds of doo-wop music

fill the night and 12-year-old Jacqueline Marie Butler is on the verge

of adulthood. When Jacqueline’s parents abruptly transfer her to a

progressive, predominantly Jewish school in Greenwich Village, she is

thrust out of her comfort zone and, as one of only four black students, into

a new city and a whole new world.

Part of the 2015 Women’s Voices Theater Festival and the Locally Grown Community Supported Art Initiative.

Queens Girl in the Worldby Caleen Sinnette Jennings

Directed by Eleanor Holdridge

Starring Dawn Ursula

September 16 – October 11, 2015

S M T W T F S

16 17 18 19

20 21 22 23 24 25 26

27 28 29 30 1 2 3

4 5 6 7 8 9 10

11

Sept & Oct

After Joseph’s father dies in the wake of a freak accident involving

a plastic deer decoy, he’s pretty sure lightning won’t strike twice.

But it does, as Joseph’s health, sanity and family are called into

question. Add in fending off his off-kilter boss, and Joseph’s to-do

list is looking pretty long. But he’ll get to everything – just as soon

as he can get someone from his insurance company on the phone.

A 2012 Pulitzer Prize finalist dark comedy that laughs in the face of

human suffering.

“Explosively funny.” –The New York Times

Sons of the Prophetby Stephen Karam

Directed by Gregg Henry

Featuring Brigid Cleary, Chris Dinolfo, Michael Willis

November 18 – December 20, 2015

S M T W T F S

18 19 20 21

22 23 24 25 26 27 28

29 30 1 2 3 4 5

6 7 8 9 10 11 12

13 14 15 16 17 18 19

20

Nov & Dec

A funny and captivating musical revue celebrating the lives of your favorite

Jewish public figures. This adaptation of Abigail Pogrebin’s best-selling

book is a celebration of Jewish identity drawn from interviews with famous

American Jews – from Gwyneth Paltrow to Ruth Bader Ginsburg and

everyone in between, including Gloria Steinem, Joan Rivers, Aaron Sorkin,

Leonard Nimoy, Fran Drescher and more. With original music by an all-star

lineup of composers and lyricists including Marvin Hamlisch (A Chorus Line),

Jeanine Tesori (Fun Home), Sheldon Harnick (Fiddler on the Roof), Duncan

Sheik and Steven Sater (Spring Awakening), and Tom Kitt (Next to Normal).

“Entertaining, witty and poignant.” - The Miami Herald

Stars of David: Story to Songbased on the book by Abigail Pogrebin

Conceived by Aaron Harnick and Abigail Pogrebin

Directed by Shirley Serotsky

Featuring Joshua Dick, Sherri L. Edelen, Emily Levey and Aaron Serotsky

December 22 – 27, 2015

S M T W T F S

1 2 3 4 5

6 7 8 9 10 11 12

13 14 15 16 17 18 19

20 21 22 23 24 25 26

27 28 29 30 31

Dec

The Rosensweig sisters are different as can be – a no-nonsense international

banker, a kvelling mother of four and a bohemian world-traveling journalist.

When the three hilariously reunite at Sara’s London home for her 54th

birthday celebration, a barrage of suitors and unexpected revelations make

for one interesting weekend. A heartfelt comedy about women grappling

with their life choices. The show will be accompanied by a Wasserstein

retrospective featuring readings of two of her plays, Uncommon Women and

Others and Third.

“A funny and deeply felt look at finding one’s identity.” – The Boston Globe

The Annual Arthur Tracy “The Street Singer” Endowment Production: Honoring the memory and musical legacy of Arthur Tracy – the renowned radio, stage and screen singer and entertainer whose talents delighted millions around the world – the arts programs supported by this fund continue Tracy’s ability to entertain for years to come.

The Sisters Rosensweigby Wendy Wasserstein

Directed by Kasi Campbell

January 13 – February 21, 2016

Featuring Susan Lynskey, Michael Russotto and Kimberly Schraf

S M T W T F S

13 14 15 16

17 18 19 20 21 22 23

24 25 26 27 28 29 30

31 1 2 3 4 5 6

7 8 9 10 11 12 13

14 15 16 17 18 19 20

21

Jan & Feb

The Walking Man leaves on an expedition to find his lost son in that

shadowy and mysterious place where the living and the dead may meet

again. As he paces in ever-widening circles, townsfolk fall into step with him

and share their grief over their own departed loved ones. A new adaptation

of acclaimed Israeli author David Grossman’s book about enduring loss.

This incandescent fable of parental grief powerfully distills the experience

of accepting death in a way that is moving, beautiful and timely in Israeli

society, and across cultures.

“A richly emotional, mystical and philosophical tapestry… [in the] tradition of

art that pushes back against catastrophe.” - The Jewish Daily Forward

*Fisher Family Foundation Visiting Artist

Falling Out of Timebased on the novel by David Grossman

Based on the novel by David Grossman*

Book Translation by Jessica Cohen, Adapted and directed by Derek Goldman

Featuring Nanna Ingvarsson and Michael Russotto

March 17 - April 17, 2016

S M T W T F S

17 18 19

20 21 22 23 24 25 26

27 28 29 30 31 1 2

3 4 5 6 7 8 9

10 11 12 13 14 15 16

17

Mar & Apr

War reporter Paul Watson has been haunted since the day he snapped

his Pulitzer Prize-winning photograph of a dead American soldier being

dragged through the streets of Mogadishu. Playwright Dan O’Brien has

also felt haunted by his own past for years. The two form a friendship and

begin a journey that spans from Rwanda to Afghanistan to the Canadian

Arctic. A breathtakingly provocative drama, based on a true story, about the

resonance of history.

“A play that tightens its grip as it probes where war lives, and discovers we

each carry it inside ourselves.” - The Guardian

The Body of an Americanby Dan O’Brien

Directed by José Carrasquillo

April 27 – May 29, 2016

S M T W T F S

27 28 29 30

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

8 9 10 11 12 13 14

15 16 17 18 19 20 21

22 23 24 25 26 27 28

29

Apr & May

It’s visiting day at Camp Kickapoo, and Joey Nadelman is nowhere to

be found. As the search parties come up empty, Joey’s parents are left

wondering not only where he’s gone, but also why their marriage feels

lacking, and what might have happened if they had taken a different path.

An insightful, sardonic drama about the strangers we all live with – our family.

“Engagingly told, with flashes of poignant humor.” – San Francisco Chronicle

Another Way Homeby Anna Ziegler

Directed by Shirley Serotsky

Featuring Rick Foucheux and Shayna Blass

June 23 - July 24, 2016

S M T W T F S

22 23 24 25

26 27 28 29 30 1 2

3 4 5 6 7 8 9

10 11 12 13 14 15 16

17 18 19 20 21 22 23

24

Jun & Jul

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Theater J takes dialogues beyond the

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public discussion forums, readings and

programs that explore the theatrical,

cultural and social elements of our art

throughout the year. Includes Tea@2

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Washington DCJCC

Morris Cafritz Center for the Arts

Irwin P. Edlavitch Building

1529 Sixteenth Street NW

Washington, DC 20036

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Washington DCJCC LeadershipStephen Kelin, PresidentCarole R. Zawatsky, Chief Executive Officer

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Illustrations created by Donald Ely, cargocollective.com/donaldely

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