On The Bimah: Spotlighting Jewish Theatre Artists On The Bimah

"Theory from Theater" (Season 4, Episode 2), the new episode of our season, dropped Monday, May 6. We called to the Bimah director, playwright, and performance artist Jesse Freedman (he/him).

Based in New York City, Jesse is the Artistic Director of Meta-Phys Ed., a multidisciplinary performance group that grapples with philosophical and political ideas through a Jewish lens. His genre-defying works often blend theater, dance, music, and absurdist humor to interrogate questions of morality, identity, and power.

We spoke with Jesse about his recent production "The Banality of Evil", which went up at The Brick Theater in Brooklyn last month. Inspired by the seminal writings of political theorist Hannah Arendt, the show uses neo-noir aesthetics and vaudevillian spectacle to wrestle with the disturbing implications of Arendt's coverage of the Eichmann trial. Jesse shared his process for physicalizing intellectual debates on stage, and how Jewish thought and performance traditions inform his approach to such challenging material.

As the founder of Meta-Phys Ed., Jesse also reflected on the company's evolution over the past decade, from its origins to its current explorations of secular Jewish identity through experimental performance. We discussed the unique possibilities of using theater as a form of philosophical inquiry.

Looking ahead, Jesse gave us a preview of Meta-Phys Ed.'s upcoming projects, including a new devised work that will use machine learning to generate a fragmented, dystopian take on Hamlet. He shared his hopes for inspiring more artists to engage with the spiritual and cultural dimensions of Jewishness in their practices.

"On the Bimah" continues to illuminate the heart, soul, and diversity of contemporary Jewish theatre, guided by your host Danielle Levsky.

This podcast is an Alliance for Jewish Theatre program, produced by Danny Debner and Danielle Levsky. Our theme music is by Ilya Levinson and Alex Koffman, and our logo is by Alize Francheska Rozsnyai.

CORRECTION: In this episode, we mistakenly referred to a specific project being inspired by the work of Tony Kushner. The correct attribution would be to Moises Kaufman. We apologize for any confusion this may have caused in your listening experience.

"A World of Difference" (Season 4, Episode 1), the new episode of our season, dropped Wednesday, April 3. We called to the Bimah casting director Daryl Eisenberg (she/her), founder of Eisenberg Casting.

Based in New York City, Daryl has cast an impressive range of projects across theater, film, television and new media. Her office is committed to prioritizing diversity, authentic representation and inclusion throughout the casting process.

We spoke with Daryl about the unique challenges and opportunities that come with casting for the stage compared to on-camera projects. She shared insights into what she looks for in theater auditions and how she collaborates with directors and playwrights to bring their vision to life through thoughtful casting choices.

As a Jewish casting professional, Daryl also discussed how her identity has informed her work and advocacy for increased representation of Jewish stories and artists in the industry. We explored the importance of casting Jewish actors in specifically Jewish roles, and of expanding the canon of stories written for Jewish characters.

Daryl opened up about how her Jewish background makes her gravitate towards certain projects, and how her Jewishness impacts the way she connects with actors in the audition room. She also shared her hopes for the future of casting and how Jewish casting directors like herself can support up-and-coming Jewish talent.

"On the Bimah" continues to illuminate the heart, soul, and diversity of contemporary Jewish theatre, guided by your host Danielle Levsky.

This podcast is an Alliance for Jewish Theatre program, produced by Danny Debner and Danielle Levsky. Our theme music is by Ilya Levinson and Alex Koffman, and our logo is by Alize Francheska Rozsnyai.

"All of It and None of It" (Season 3, Episode 8), the final episode of our season, dropped Wednesday, November 29. We called to the Bimah the comedian and theater artist Antonia Lassar (she/they).

Based in Los Angeles, Antonia has earned viral fame on TikTok for her sketches about Jewish cultural quirks. They have toured the country with their productions "Post Traumatic Super Delightful" and "God Box", tackling topics from sexual assault to interfaith family tensions through their signature blend of humor and heart.

We spoke with Antonia about developing new shows highlighting intersections of Jewish singing, illness, pleasure, and obligation in her personal life that resonate universally. We also discussed their experience as a queer Jewish stand-up performing in different venues, plus how they balance their comedy, acting, and content-creating careers.

"On the Bimah: Spotlighting Jewish Theatre Artists" continues to illuminate the heart, soul, and diversity of contemporary Jewish theatre, guided by your host Danielle Levsky.

This podcast is an Alliance for Jewish Theatre program, produced by Danny Debner and Danielle Levsky. Our theme music is by Ilya Levinson and Alex Koffman, and our logo is by Alize Francheska Rozsnyai.

For "Pride is the Opposite of Shame" (Season 3, Episode 7), which dropped Thursday, September 7, we called to the Bimah Founding Artistic Director of National Queer Theater Adam Odsess-Rubin.

Based in New York City, Adam founded NQT in 2018 to provide a creative home for LGBTQ+ artists and showcase unheard voices within the community.

We had an enlightening discussion about how the Jewish concept of Tikkun Olam, meaning "to repair the world", has shaped Adam's artistic mission and informed NQT's focus on uplifting marginalized queer stories. He shared insights into curating NQT's 5th Annual Criminal Queerness Festival this past June, which spotlighted Eastern European and Ukrainian LGBTQ+ artists.

Adam also gave us a preview of exciting new NQT initiatives like Staging Pride, a free theatre education program for LGBTQ+ youth, and the Write It Out! playwriting workshop for people living with HIV/AIDS. Through these impactful programs and productions, Adam and his team at NQT are truly working to repair the world for LGBTQ+ communities.

"On the Bimah: Spotlighting Jewish Theatre Artists" continues to illuminate the heart, soul, and diversity of contemporary Jewish theatre, guided by your host Danielle Levsky.

This podcast is an Alliance for Jewish Theatre program, produced by Danny Debner and Danielle Levsky. Our theme music is by Ilya Levinson and Alex Koffman, and our logo is by Alize Francheska Rozsnyai.

For "Our Complex Selves" (Season 3, Episode 6), which dropped today, Tuesday, July 11, we called to the Bimah the newest Artistic Director of Theater J, Hayley Finn, based in Washington DC.

Hayley joined us to discuss her approach to her new role, influenced by her diverse professional theatre experiences including her time at the Playwrights' Center and on Broadway. Host Danielle Levsky delves into an enriching conversation with Hayley about the intersection of her Jewish identity and theater artist identity, and how these dimensions have shaped her vision for Theater J. They explore the theater's mission of addressing the culture's significant values and questions through the lens of the Jewish experience and the universal human condition, and discuss the themes of assimilation highlighted in the upcoming season, along with the introduction of the solo play series, 'Here I Am'.

"On the Bimah: Spotlighting Jewish Theatre Artists" continues to illuminate the heart, soul, and diversity of contemporary Jewish theatre, guided by your host Danielle Levsky.

This podcast is an Alliance for Jewish Theatre program, produced by Danny Debner and Danielle Levsky. Our theme music is by Ilya Levinson and Alex Koffman, and our logo is by Alize Francheska Rozsnyai.

Our podcast has a new name! The podcast formerly known as Theatre Schmooze is now called "On the Bimah: Spotlighting Jewish Theatre Artists". We're excited to have you here!

For "A Thousand Faces" (Season 3, Episode 5), which dropped today, Wednesday, April 4, we called to the Bimah a very special guest: writer, cultural critic, arts advocate, administrator, and AJT Board member Gwydion Suilebhan, who is based in Silver Spring, Maryland. Tune in as Danielle and Gwydion Suilebhan, who is the co-author of an upcoming book on Jewish American comedy, discuss the role of comedy in society, particularly in the context of Jewish identity and American culture. They also discuss the significance of Jewish theater and art in fostering understanding, empathy, and social change, particularly in light of recent anti-Semitic hate crimes and censorship efforts. Additionally, Suilebhan, who is also the Project Director of the New Play Exchange, discusses the future of digital platforms in supporting the development and sharing of new plays and the opportunities and challenges they present for playwrights and artists.

On the Bimah: Spotlighting Jewish Theatre Artists is a monthly podcast from Alliance for Jewish Theatre where we chat with Jewish theatre makers from around the world about their art, Judaism, and vision for theater’s future.

Hosted by Danielle Levsky (AJT Board Member, clown, writer, educator, and theatre maker), On the Bimah feature one-on-one conversations with artists that will illuminate the heart, soul, and diversity of contemporary Jewish theatre.

On the Bimah is an Alliance for Jewish Theatre program, produced by Danny Debner and Danielle Levsky. Our theme music is by Ilya Levinson and Alex Koffman, and our logo is by Alize Francheska Rozsnyai.