A world premiere stage adaptation of Zibby Owens' bestselling anthology "On Being Jewish Now" will open March 22 in Torrance, bringing to life personal stories exploring the American Jewish experience amid rising antisemitism.
The production by The Braid, a nonprofit theater company dramatizing true Jewish stories for 18 years, transforms essays from Owens' anthology into ensemble performances featuring tales of humor, heartbreak and hope.
"It is a struggle being Jewish now," Owens said. "Every Jewish person I know has had to redefine what it means given the rapidly shifting landscape around us."
The anthology spent 27 weeks atop the USA Today Bestseller list and features an array of Jewish writers, thinkers and cultural voices.
"Our goal is to give voice to the unscripted interior lives of American Jews in this moment," said Ronda Spinak, founder and artistic director of The Braid. "In bringing Zibby's acclaimed book to the stage, I hope the Jewish community feels seen, and in doing so, be a unifying force in a deeply divided world."
A small cast dressed in plain black clothing becomes multiple narrators, transporting audiences from a college campus in Cambridge, Massachusetts, to a boat in Ha Long Bay, Vietnam, from a Dallas neighborhood to the world of social media.
The show includes stories by author Joanna Rakoff, actor Mark Feuerstein, Rabbi Sharon Brous and Owens herself, along with contributions from novelists, journalists and filmmakers.
Director Susan Morgenstern, The Braid's producing director, said actors make audiences feel as if they're witnessing actual moments of discovery rather than simply narrating stories.
The Southern California run continues through April 23, with Bay Area performances April 11 at 7:30 p.m. and April 12 at 2 p.m. Global Zoom performances are scheduled for April 16 at 4 p.m. PT and April 19 at 11 a.m. PT.
Tickets are $45 regular, $60 angel and $20 for students. For information, visit the-braid.org/beingjewishnow
Edited by SMDP Staff