Who We Are
Mission & History
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.
Mission
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.
Theater J draws audiences from all eight wards of the District, as well as Maryland and Virginia, and reflects the diverse residents of the metropolitan DC region including both Jewish and non-Jewish professionals, African-Americans, Arab-Americans, Asians, Hispanics, the LGBTQ community, students, and senior citizens. Theater J is committed to creating partnerships that deepen our connections to our community. Through our Passports Free Ticket Program, we provide over 400 free tickets to senior citizens, clients of homeless and women’s shelters, and students throughout DC every season, reaching populations that are historically underserved by arts organizations.
Theater J has been honored with the DC Mayor’s Arts Award for Excellence in an Artistic Discipline, over 70 Helen Hayes nominations, and nine Helen Hayes Awards. Notable productions include: Dan O’Brien’s The Body of an American, winner of the 2014 Horton Foote Prize for Outstanding New American Play; the world-premiere of Caleen Sinnette Jennings’ Queens Girl in the World; and Tony Kushner’s The Intelligent Homosexual’s Guide to Capitalism and Socialism with a Key to the Scriptures.
History
Founded in 1990 as a program of the Edlavitch DC Jewish Community Center (EDCJCC), Theater J has become “the nation’s most prominent Jewish theater” (American Theatre Magazine). Theater J began with a series of staged readings and productions in 1990 under the leadership of founding Artistic Director Martin Blank. Theater J’s initial home was a 50-seat black box theater at 1836 Jefferson Place, NW, the original home of the EDCJCC. In 1993, Artistic Director Randye Hoeflich took the helm, producing the first full season and preparing the theater to move to a larger, permanent home.
In 1997, the EDCJCC moved into its current space, the Irwin P. Edlavitch Building, at 1529 Sixteenth Street, NW, which housed a newly built 238-seat proscenium theater, named for Aaron and Cecile Goldman. Ari Roth was brought on as Artistic Director after the move, growing the theater during his eighteen-year tenure from an annual budget of under $100,000 to a budget of well over a million and a half dollars. During that time, Theater J earned an international reputation as the nation’s premier Jewish theater. In 2005, The New York Times recognized the quality of Theater J’s new play development programs, hailing it as “the premiere theater for premieres.” Theater J also became known for producing work from and about Israel and the Middle East, with the signature Voices from a Changing Middle East Festival.
Artistic Director Adam Immerwahr joined the theater in 2015 and under his leadership, 2017 was the first year of the Yiddish Theater Lab, which aims to revitalize the great works of Yiddish theater and make them relevant to modern audiences In 2023, Hayley Finn joined Theater J as Artistic Director, with the goal of telling stories that illuminate the complexities and nuances of both the Jewish experience and the human condition through diverse perspectives and authentic visions.
30th Anniversary
Watch our 30th anniversary documentary celebrating many of the people instrumental to Theater J’s beginnings as a small theater in a rented townhouse and our three decades growing into the leading Jewish theater in the United States.
30th Anniversary History Report
Written in celebration of Theater J’s 30th Anniversary in 2020, this special report brings together oral histories, testimonials, facts and figures, historic photos, and our production history for the first time.
Production History
THE CHAMELEON
Written by Jenny Rachel Weiner, Directed by Ellie Heyman
SEE YOU TOMORROW
Written, Directed, and Performed by Iris Bahr
MOSES
Written By Michele Lowe, Directed by Johanna Gruenhut
HOW TO BE A KOREAN WOMAN
Written by Sun Mee Chomet, Directed by Zaraawar Mistry
THIS MUCH I KNOW
Written by Jonathan Spector, Directed by Hayley Finn
HESTER STREET
Written by Sharyn Rothstein, Music by Joel Waggoner, Based on the film by Joan Micklin Silver, Directed by Oliver Butler
THE HATMAKER’S WIFE
Written by Lauren Yee, Directed by Dan Rothenberg
OLD STOCK
Written by Hannah Moscovitch, Ben Caplan, and Christian Barry, Directed by Christian Barry
INTIMATE APPAREL
Written by Lynn Nottage, Directed by Paige Hernandez
THE PIANIST OF WILLESDEN LANE
Based on the book The Children of Willesden Lane by Mona Golabek and Lee Cohen, Adapted and Directed by Hershey Felder
TWO JEWS WALK INTO A WAR
Written by Seth Rozin, Directed by Adam Immerwahr
GLORIA: A LIFE
Written by Emily Mann, Directed by Holly Twyford
ONE JEWISH BOY
Written by Stephen Laughton, Directed by Johanna Gruenhut
BECOMING DR. RUTH
Written by Mark St. Germain, Directed by Holly Twyford
TUESDAYS WITH MORRIE
Written by Jeffrey Hatcher and Mitch Albom, Based on the book by Mitch Albom, Directed by Jenna Place
THE KINSEY SICKS’ OY VEY IN A MANGER
COMPULSION OR THE HOUSE BEHIND
Written by Rinne B. Groff, Directed by Johanna Gruenhut
NATHAN THE WISE
Written by Gotthold Ephraim Lessing, Adapted by Michael Bloom, Directed by Adam Immerwahr
FIRES IN THE MIRROR: CROWN HEIGHTS, BROOKLYN AND OTHER IDENTITIES
Conceived, written, and originally performed by Anna Deavere Smith, Co-directed by Adam Immerwahr and January LaVoy
INCIDENT AT VICHY (Cancelled due to COVID-19)
Written by Arthur Miller, directed by Joe Calarco
TUESDAYS WITH MORRIE (Postponed to 21/22 Season)
By Jeffrey Hatcher and Mitch Albom, based on the book by Mitch Albom, directed by Jenna Duncan
OLD STOCK: A REFUGEE LOVE STORY (Postponed to 22/23 Season)
By Hannah Moscovitch, Ben Caplan, and Christian Barry, directed by Christian Barry
NATHAN THE WISE (Postponed to 21/22 Season)
By Gotthold Ephraim Lessing, adapted by Michael Bloom, directed by Adam Immerwahr
Produced in association with Folger Theatre
THE RED BEADS (Cancelled due to COVID-19)
By Rinne B. Groff, based on THE SINGER OF HIS SORROWS by Osip Dymov as adapted by Adrian Guo-Silver and Rinne B. Groff from a translation by Adrian Guo-Silver, directed by Johanna Gruenhut
FIRES IN THE MIRROR: CROWN HEIGHTS, BROOKLYN, AND OTHER IDENTITIES (Postponed to 21/22 Season)
Conceived, Written, and Originally Performed by Anna Deavere Smith, Co-directed by Adam Immerwahr and January LaVoy
LOVE SICK
Written and adapted by Ofra Daniel, Music by Ofra Daniel and Lior Ben-Hur, directed by Christopher Renshaw, choreographed by Matt Cole, and Music Direction by Ali Paris
Edward Albee’s OCCUPANT
Directed by Aaron Posner
SHELTERED
By Alix Sobler, directed by Adam Immerwahr
THE WANDERERS
By Anna Ziegler, directed by Amber McGinnis
BECOMING DR. RUTH (Postponed to 21/22 Season)
By Mark St. Germain, directed by Holly Twyford
FIRES IN THE MIRROR: CROWN HEIGHTS, BROOKLYN, AND OTHER IDENTITIES (Postponed to 21/22 Season)
Conceived, Written, and Originally Performed by Anna Deavere Smith, Co-directed by Adam Immerwahr and January LaVoy
THE PIANIST OF WILLESDEN LANE
Based on the book The Children of Willesden Lane by Mona Golabek and Lee Cohen, adapted and directed by Hershey Felder
ACTUALLY
By Anna Ziegler, directed by Johanna Gruenhut
TALLEY’S FOLLY
By Lanford Wilson, directed by Aaron Posner
THE JEWISH QUEEN LEAR
Jacob Gordin’s Mirele Efros, English translation by Nahma Sandrow, Directed by Adam Immerwahr
SOTTO VOCE
By Nilo Cruz, Directed by José Carrasquillo
THE LAST NIGHT OF BALLYHOO
By Alfred Uhry, Directed by Amber McGinnis
Jonathan Safran Foer’s
EVERYTHING IS ILLUMINATED
Adapted by Simon Block, Directed by Aaron Posner
BECOMING DR. RUTH
By Mark St. Germain, Directed by Holly Twyford
ROZ AND RAY
By Karen Hartman, Directed by Adam Immerwahr
TRAYF
By Lindsay Joelle, Directed by Derek Goldman
THE LAST SCHWARTZ
By Deborah Zoe Laufer, Directed by Adam Immerwahr
THE CHRISTIANS
By Lucas Hnath, Directed by Gregg Henry
OY VEY IN A MANGER
Written and performed by The Kinsey Sicks
COPENHAGEN
By Michael Frayn, Directed by Eleanor Holdridge
THE HOW AND THE WHY
By Sarah Treem, Directed by Shirley Serotsky
BRIGHTON BEACH MEMOIRS
By Neil Simon, Directed by Matt Torney
BROKEN GLASS
By Arthur Miller, Directed by Aaron Posner
QUEENS GIRL IN THE WORLD
A World Premiere by Caleen Sinnette Jennings, Directed by Eleanor Holdridge
SONS OF THE PROPHET
By Stephen Karam, Directed by Gregg Henry
STARS OF DAVID: STORY TO SONG
Based on the book by Abigail Pogrebin, Conceived by Aaron Harnick and Abigail Pogrebin
Directed by Shirley Serotsky
THE SISTERS ROSENSWEIG
By Wendy Wasserstein, Directed by Kasi Campbell
FALLING OUT OF TIME
Based on the novel by David Grossman, Translation by Jessica Cohen
Adapted and Directed by Derek Goldman
THE BODY OF AN AMERICAN
By Dan O’Brien, Directed by José Carrasquillo
ANOTHER WAY HOME
By Anna Ziegler, Directed by Shirley Serotsky
AFTER THE REVOLUTION
By Amy Herzog, Directed by Eleanor Holdridge
THE ARGUMENT
By Alexandra Gersten-Vassilaros, Directed by Shirley Serotsky
WOODY SEZ: THE LIFE AND MUSIC OF WOODY GUTHRIE
Devised by David M. Lutken with Nick Corley and Darcie Deaville, Helen Jean Russell and Andy Teirstein
OUR SUBURB
A World Premiere by Darrah Cloud, Directed by Judith Ivey
YELLOW FACE
By David Henry Hwang, Directed by Natsu Onoda Power
THE ADMISSION
A Workshop Presentation by Motti Lerner, Directed by Sinai Peter
GOLDA’S BALCONY
By William Gibson, Starring Tovah Feldshuh
FREUD’S LAST SESSION
By Mark St. Germain, Directed by Serge Seiden
THE PROSTATE DIALOGUES
A World Premiere written and performed by Jon Spelman. Directed by Jerry Whiddon
AFTER THE REVOLUTION
By Amy Herzog, Directed by Eleanor Holdridge
THE ARGUMENT
By Alexandra Gersten-Vassilaros, Directed by Shirley Serotsky
WOODY SEZ: THE LIFE AND MUSIC OF WOODY GUTHRIE
Devised by David M. Lutken with Nick Corley and Darcie Deaville, Helen Jean Russell and Andy Teirstein
OUR SUBURB
A World Premiere by Darrah Cloud, Directed by Judith Ivey
YELLOW FACE
By David Henry Hwang, Directed by Natsu Onoda Power
THE ADMISSION
A Workshop Presentation by Motti Lerner, Directed by Sinai Peter
GOLDA’S BALCONY
By William Gibson, Starring Tovah Feldshuh
FREUD’S LAST SESSION
By Mark St. Germain, Directed by Serge Seiden
THE PROSTATE DIALOGUES
A World Premiere written and performed by Jon Spelman. Directed by Jerry Whiddon
BODY AWARENESS
By Annie Baker, Directed by Eleanor Holdridge
OUR CLASS
By Tadeusz Słobodzianek, Translated by Ryan Craig, Directed by Derek Goldman
WOODY SEZ: THE LIFE AND MUSIC OF WOODY GUTHRIE
Devised by David M. Lutken with Nick Corley and Darcie Deaville, Helen Russell and Andy Teirstein
APPLES FROM THE DESERT
By Savyon Liebrecht, Directed by Johanna Gruenhut, Translated by Shir Freibach
BOGED (TRAITOR): AN ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE
Presented in partnership with Georgetown University, in association with StreetSigns Center for Literature and Performance
English-language premiere by Boaz Gaon & Nir Erez, Based on the play by Henrik Ibsen, Directed by Joseph Megel
RACE
By David Mamet, Directed by John Vreeke
ANDY AND THE SHADOWS
A World Premiere by Ari Roth, Directed by Daniella Topol
THE HAMPTON YEARS
A World Premiere by Jacqueline E. Lawton, Directed by Shirley Serotsky
IMAGINING MADOFF
By Deb Margolin, Directed by Alexandra Aron
PARADE
A Special Co-production with Ford’s Theatre
Book by Alfred Uhry, Music by Jason Robert Brown, Directed by Stephen Rayne
AFTER THE FALL
By Arthur Miller, Directed by José Carrasquillo
OY VEY IN A MANGER
Written and Performed by The Kinsey Sicks
THE RELIGION THING
By Renee Calarco (World Premiere), Directed by Joe Calarco
ELECTILE DYSFUNCTION: THE KINSEY SICKS FOR PRESIDENT!
Written and Performed by The Kinsey Sicks (World Premiere)
NEW JERUSALEM: THE INTERROGATION OF BARUCH DE SPINOZA
By David Ives, Directed by Jeremy Skidmore
THE WHIPPING MAN
By Matthew Lopez, Directed by Jennifer Nelson
THE HISTORY OF INVULNERABILITY
By David Bar Katz, Directed by Shirley Serotsky
SOMETHING YOU DID
By Willy Holtzman, Directed by Eleanor Holdridge
THE ODD COUPLE
By Neil Simon, Directed by Jerry Whiddon
OY VEY IN A MANGER
Written and Performed by The Kinsey Sicks
RETURN TO HAIFA
The Cameri Theatre Production, Adapted by Boaz Gaon from the novella by Ghassan Kanafani, Directed by Sinai Peter
THE CHOSEN
On The Fichandler Stage at Arena Stage
Adapted and Directed by Aaron Posner, Based on the novel by Chaim Potok
PHOTOGRAPH 51
By Anna Ziegler, Directed by Daniella Topol
THE MOSCOWS OF NANTUCKET
By Sam Forman (World Premiere), Directed by Shirley Serotsky
ZERO HOUR
Written and Performed by Jim Brochu, Directed by Piper Laurie
LOST IN YONKERS
By Neil Simon, Directed by Jerry Whiddon
JUDY GOLD IS MOMMY QUEEREST
Book by Judy Gold, Eric Kornfeld and Bob Smith, Lyrics by Eric Kornfeld, Music by John McDaniel, Directed by Amanda Charlton
THE FOUR OF US
By Itamar Moses, Directed by Daniel DeRaey
ANDY WARHOL: GOOD FOR THE JEWS?
Written & Performed by Josh Kornbluth in collaboration with Director David Dower (World Premiere)
IN DARFUR
By Winter Miller, Directed by Derek Goldman
MIKVEH
By Hadar Galron, Directed by Shirley Serotsky
NEW JERUSALEM:THE INTERROGATION OF BARUCH DE SPINOZA
By David Ives, Directed by Jeremy Skidmore
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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. Join us in our mission today.