Slated for October 10–12, the weekend features four readings plus a special event
This October, Shakespeare & Company presents Celebrating Jewish Plays, an immersive weekend of staged readings held over the holiday weekend from Friday, Oct. 10, through Sunday, Oct. 12.
The weekend will feature four enhanced, staged readings of acclaimed plays, plus a special literary event. Barry R. Shapiro, co-chair of the weekend’s core planning committee, said the events have been planned to honor the tradition and impact of storytelling.
“This festival celebrates the depth, humor, and resilience of Jewish storytelling – past and present – through the vibrant voices of playwrights who explore identity, history, and the human spirit,” he said.”In a time when connection matters more than ever, the Jewish plays remind us that humor heals, memory matters, and every story is a kind of survival.”
Shakespeare & Company’s Artistic Director Allyn Burrows added that the heart of Celebrating Jewish Plays is a belief in the power of art to foster understanding, unity, and belonging.
“We selected these extraordinary plays because each, in its own way, reflects our mission to explore what we share in our humanity – even in the face of difference,” he said. “This is a celebration of resilience, creativity, and community.”
Celebrating Jewish Plays will take place during the October holiday weekend, including
- The Price by Arthur Miller – Friday, Oct. 10, 7 p.m.
- Roz & Ray by Karen Hartman, featuring Tony-nominated actor John Douglas Thompson (The Gilded Age, HBO) – Saturday, Oct. 11, 2 p.m.
- Here There Are Blueberries by Moisés Kaufman and Amanda Gronich – Saturday, Oct. 11, 7 p.m.
- The Sisters Rosensweig by Wendy Wasserstein – Sunday, Oct. 12, 2 p.m., generously supported by Beverly Hyman and Larry Birnbach.
In addition to these staged readings, the weekend will include an event on Sunday, Oct. 12 at 4:30 p.m., open to all A+ ticket holders to any of the four plays; those who’ve purchased tickets at any price to all four plays, and those making a donation of $100 or more to the weekend. Select scenes will be presented from a new theatrical adaptation of the National Jewish Book Award-winning novel The Weight of Ink by Rachel Kadish, currently in development by Kate Kohler Amory and Tamara Hickey. These excerpts will be followed by a talk and Q&A session with Kadish and a reception at 6 pm. All of Sunday’s events are presented in partnership with the Jewish Federation of the Berkshires.
To make a donation, visit shakespeare.org/donate and write “Weight of Ink” in the notes section, or email development@shakespeare.org. All events will be held on the 33-acre campus of Shakespeare & Company in Lenox, Mass. Tickets are $34 – $105 including fees; $5 Card to Culture tickets* for ConnectorCare, EBT, and WIC families are also available. Tickets are available now at shakespeare.org or by calling the Box Office at 413.637.3353.
* To access Card to Culture tickets, call the Box Office at 413.637.3353.
About Shakespeare & Company
Shakespeare & Company was founded in 1978 by Tina Packer. Located in the Berkshires of Massachusetts, the Company offers performance, education, and actor-training opportunities year-round, and attracts more than 40,000 patrons annually with a core of more than 150 artists.
