The Red Jews (working title)
Created by Shai Cohen, Sam Hunter, Claire Kaplan, Sean Robinson, Sarah Maria Sander, Bryan Schall, and Lisa Ulrich
A team of actors has a diary, which grandpa Max brought from The Old Country. Max was directing a Purimshpiel, and rumor has it that when it was performed it stopped a pogrom. This show is dedicated to that one.
The ensemble experiments with different performance techniques, argues about how to be Jewish today, and even lists every pogrom in history all in an attempt to recreate this miraculous performance. Or are they simply trying to capture a time that was somehow more Jewish?
Development History
The Red Jews began development in October 2022 with a residency at the Jarvis Street Theatre in Chicago, IL. Sam Hunter and Claire Kaplan, developed the story.
In March 2023, Sam and Claire worked with Shai Cohen, Sean Robinson, Sarah Maria Sander, Bryan Schall, and Lisa Ulrichn at Theaterhaus Mitte in Berlin to develop imagery, movement, and character.
Research Gallery
Below are links, images, videos, and other references which may be useful while reading the script.
Dueling Shylocks
Black Hundreds insignia