October 20-22, 2023
"Bad Jews" by Joshua Harmon
Directed by Shana Gozansky
Digital Program
While its title is provocative and satirical, Harmon’s play is a heartfelt and powerful exploration of family, faith and what it means to be Jewish in today's global culture. These themes might resonate with you differently due to the current Israel-Hamas conflict, and we encourage you to consider that before attending.
If you plan to join us, please note that, out of an abundance of caution, we will limit entry to the front doors of theSpingold Theater Center, where there will be a Public Safety officer onsite and bags may be subject to search. Please avoid bringing large bags if possible.
Content Advisory: This production contains strong language, mature themes and discussions of antisemitism and the Holocaust.Click here to learn what inspired Joshua Harmon to write “Bad Jews”
Summary:
The night after their grandfather’s funeral, three cousins engage in a verbal (and sometimes physical) battle. In one corner is Daphna Feygenbaum, a “Real Jew” who is volatile, self-assured and unbending. In the other is her equally stubborn cousin Liam, a secular and entitled young man, who has his shiksa girlfriend, Melody, in tow. Stuck in the middle is Liam’s brother, Jonah, who tries to stay out of the fray. When Liam stakes claim to their grandfather's Chai necklace, a vicious and hilarious brawl over family, faith and legacy ensues.
"Bad Jews" by Joshua Harmon is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc. www.concordtheatricals.com
Show Times:
October 20-22, 2023
Friday & Saturday 8 p.m.
Saturday & Sunday 2 p.m.
The Cast
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Rebecca Perlmutter (Daphna)
Rebecca Perlmutter'24 (Daphna). She/her. Rebecca is so excited to be making her Brandeis Theater Department debut as Daphna in Bad Jews! She has previously performed in student productions such as Something Rotten (Bea) and Firebringer (Keeri), as well as high school productions such as ...Spelling Bee (Olive Ostrovsky) and Legally Blonde (Paulette). Outside of theater, Rebecca loves to make music with Proscenium! (Hi Proscenies!!) She would like to thank Shana, Sarah, Nili, and her three castmates for making this experience so wonderful, and her friends and family always cheering her on. Poutine— you are a cat and cannot come to the theater, but know this one is for you!
Soren Mark Birnbaum (Liam)
Soren Mark Birnbaum '25 (Liam). He/him. Soren Mark Birnbaum is from Evanston IL, and is excited to be making his Brandeis mainstage debut! He has previously worked with the Brandeis Undergraduate Theater Collective in their productions of Radium Girls (Tom, Berry), Demasqed (Chandler) and The Scottish Play (Macduff). He is so grateful for all of the support he has received from his wonderfully talented castmates, his friends and family, and would like to apologize in advance to all for his vulgar vocabulary!
Maya Schultz (Melody)
Maya Schultz ’25 (Melody). She/Her. Maya is from San Diego, California and is pursuing degrees in Politics and International and Global Studies. Some her past Brandeis credits include Lungs (Woman), The Wolves (#2), and Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead (The Player). She is delighted to be making her Brandeis Mainstage production debut in Bad Jews, and would like to extend her thanks to the production staff for their support and guidance and to her cast-mates for their warmth and energy. Her deepest appreciation to her friends and family, especially to those who came a long way to share in this experience!
Elliot Bachrach (Jonah)
Elliot Bachrach ’25 (Jonah). He/Him. Elliot is a Theater Arts major with a minor in Journalism and a potential minor in Yiddish. He is originally from Columbia, Missouri and was previously onstage in Susan Dibble’sFive Doors One Room. Elliot finds the themes ofBad Jewsto be particularly relevant at the microcosm of American Jewry that is Brandeis University and finds it especially fitting that it be presented during its 75th anniversary. However unhinged the story and characters become (their ability to continuously “kvetch” especially irritating), he hopes that you can see yourself or a loved one represented in the show. Elliot would like to thank his Professors, particularly those that helped him throughout the process of finding Jonah including: Adrianne Krstanksy, Jen Cleary, Mark Dellelo, Dmitry Troyanovsky and Ellie Kellman. He would also like to thank Mrs. Lusia Rosenzweig Milch, her son Dr. David Milch, painter Lauren Bergman, composer Ella Milch-Sheriff and everyone who helped create the Lives Eliminated, Dreams Illuminated interactive art exhibition at the Hadassah Brandeis Institute. Elliot would like to thank a cast and crew that always pushed him to be his best. Finally, Elliot would like to thank his parents, Bert and Sandra, for he would not be in the position to act in this play if it had not been for their love and unwavering support. His performance is dedicated to the memory of all four of his grandparents: may their memories continue to bless him each day he lives.
Artistic Team
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Shana Gozansky (Director)
Shana Gozansky (Director). she/her. Shana Gozansky has directed throughout the country at theaters large and small including Alabama Shakespeare Festival, Trinity Repertory Company, The Hangar Theatre, The Calderwood Arts Pavilion, & Manhattan Theatre Source. She has held teaching/directing positions at Brown University, Clark University, The College of the Holy Cross, Emerson College, & Boston University. She holds an MFA in Directing from the Brown University/Trinity Rep Programs and a BA from Bard College.
Jeffrey Petersen (Scenic Designer)
Jeffrey Petersen (Scenic Designer). He/Him. Jeffrey is thrilled to be making his Brandies University debut. Jeffrey is a Minnesota transplant with a fading accent. He has worked throughout New England for professional institutions including: Commonwealth Shakespeare Co., Huntington Theatre, SpeakEasy Stage, Boston Playwrights' Theatre, New Repertory Theatre, Odyssey Opera, Boston Midsummer Opera, Opera Hub, Greater Boston Stage, Gloucester Stage, White Snake Projects. He holds an MFA in Scenic Design from BU’s School of Theatre and is a proud member of the United Scenic Artists local 829. www.jeffreypetersendesign.com
Miranda Kau Giurleo (Costume Designer)
Miranda Kau Giurleo (Costume Designer, USA 829). she/her. Miranda is happy to return to Brandeis where she completed her MFA in Theatre Design and Costume Technology in 2007, and continued to work in the costume shop until 2014. While working at Brandeis, Miranda designed costumes for Visions of an Ancient Dreamer; Dead Man’s Cell Phone; A View from the Bridge; and Escape from Happiness. Currently she is designing The Band’s Visit at The Huntington. Regional credits include: The Prom; The Scottsboro Boys (IRNE Award -- Best Costume Design); School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play; and Allegiance at SpeakEasy Stage Company; The Royale (Merrimack Rep & Capital Rep - Albany); The Wickhams: Christmas at Pemberly; The Heath; Native Gardens, and A Christmas Carol at Merrimack Rep; The Convert, and Matchless/The Happy Prince at Underground Railway Theater; Dancing at Lughnasa, The New Electric Ballroom, and Lettice and Lovage at Gloucester Stage; Dry Land, Neighbors, GRIMM, and Shockheaded Peter at Company One; and Macbeth (Commonwealth Shakespeare Company’s Second Stage). Miranda is an Associate Professor and Chair of the Theatre Department at Bridgewater State University.
Amanda E. Fallon (Lighting Designer)
Amanda E. Fallon (Lighting Designer). they/she. Amanda E. Fallon is a freelance lighting designer, educator, visual artist, and director. Amanda has worked throughout New England for professional and educational institutions and also holds an MFA in Lighting Design from Boston University. Most recently, they designed Taming of the Shrew and As You Like it with Actors’ Shakespeare Project, Tall Tales from Blackburn Tavern with Gloucester Stage Company, and Romeo and Juliet with Commonwealth Shakespeare Company.
Anna Drummond (Sound Designer)
Anna Drummond (Sound Designer). They/Them. Anna Drummond is a Boston-based sound designer specializing in live theatre and SFX curation. They work within the Northeast area for professional theatre companies and educational institutions. Previous Sound Design credits include: Front Porch Arts Collective - Chicken & Biscuits; The Huntington - K-I-S-S-I-N-G (Elliot Norton Award) and Dream Boston: 3 Miles; SpeakEasy Stage - BLKS and Pass Over; Company One (C1) - Leftovers, Black Super Hero Magic Mama, and can i touch it?; Fresh Ink Theatre - Shrike and Truth or Consequences; Trinity Repertory Company/Brown University - Eurydice, Prowess, soul tapes, and The Book of Lucy; Harvard University - Married or Made; Boston Conservatory at Berklee - Everybody, Machinal, and As You Like It; Northeastern University - Deferred, This Is Treatment, and Problem Play; Emerson College - Paris. Anna holds a BA with Honors in Sound Design/Audio Post-Production from the Visual & Media Arts Department of Emerson College.
Joe Stallone (Props/Set Dressing Designer)
Joe Stallone (Props/Set Dressing Designer). he/him/his. This is Joe’s fourth production at Brandeis. The first one, The Tempest, in March 2020, was shut down early due to the onslaught of Covid-19. Joe returned in the fall of 2022 for Spring Awakening. A Boston based theater artist, Joe holds B.A. degrees in Theater and Dramatic Literature from Boston College and takes on a variety of roles as a theater artist: director, dramaturg, props & set dressing design, costume design, and dialect coach. He has worked with Central Square Theater, New Rep, Greater Boston Stage, SpeakEasy Stage, Actors Shakespeare Project, Gloucester Stage, AFD Theater, TCAN Players, Boston College, The Umbrella, and others. Joe was the props/set dressing designer for the world premiere of Albatross with Ben Evett. During the pandemic, Joe created a series of online, live-steamed theater events for AFD Theater in Arlington.
Sarah Schneider (Production Stage Manager)
Sarah Schneider (Production Stage Manager). she/her. Sarah Schneider is a Boston-based stage manager and child supervisor and is thrilled to return to Brandeis after stage managing Spring Awakening last season. She has worked with Guerilla Opera, Commonwealth Shakespeare Company, Boston Ballet, Huntington Theatre Company, Boston Playwrights’ Theatre, Wheelock Family Theatre, Company One, the Boston University Opera Institute, and more. Outside of the theatre, Sarah works at Mayyim Hayyim Living Waters Community Mikveh. Sarah is a graduate of Boston University where she earned her BFA in Stage Management. @sarahschneids
Nili Fish-Bieler (Assistant Stage Manager)
Nili Fish-Bieler (Assistant Stage Manager). she/they. Nili is a sophom*ore with an undecided major. Some of her favorite credits include The Laramie Project (Production Stage Manager) and Into the Woods (Production Stage Manager) at Gann Academy, and Space Girl (Stage Manager) with the Undergraduate Theater Collective. They spent the summer as a Technical Production Intern at the Wheelock Family Theater. Nili is so excited to be working with the Brandeis Theater Department.
Student Run Crew
- Laya Fridman
- Liza Heck
- Orly Krupp
- Ofri Levinson
- Charlie Lyster
- Skylar Neidig
- Annette Pinstein
- Jen Yang
- Yijia Yu
Director's Note and Resources
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A Note from Director Shana Gozansky
Two weeks ago the world changed in an instant and our hearts broke open. At times it has felt impossible to carry the weight of the grief, fear, and anger. At times doing anything normal has felt like a betrayal. And yet, each day, we gathered together to find our way through the shock.
"Bad Jews" was written by Joshua Harmon in 2012. President Obama was in his second term and there was a palpable sense of hope. A different time. A different world. A world that felt safer, stable, full of potential. And it was written for that world. Not our current moment.
While the title is satirical, the play is not. It is a heartfelt exploration of American Jewish identity at that time.
Three cousins from a Jewish family are reunited as they mourn the death of their beloved grandfather. Two of them, more alike than not, want the same precious heirloom. Each feeling their reasoning more righteous. One so committed to their Jewish identity they’re about to move to Israel - the other a self described atheist. The third cousin would rather be anywhere than stuck between them.
Two people weaponizing their love for something sacred. Two people fighting for the rights to something they love for very different reasons.
We have found ourselves grappling with questions about what was the right thing to do at this moment. Should we proceed with or cancel the production? Does it harm or heal our community at this tender moment? The creators and cast of this production in collaboration with the theater arts faculty and staff have thoughtfully considered these questions and today, we offer our work to you as a gesture of resiliency and connection.
As we navigated these questions I kept returning to why I do theater: It’s where we go to process our experiences and find catharsis. Where play and imagination are conduits for discovery and understanding. Theater is an empathy expanding playground - where we can safely grapple with our existence. It is an act of resistance through the human need for connection.
Also, the play is funny.
Our hope is that you find some relief in gathering together and experiencing an art form that thrives on collaboration and connection. Thank you for being here.
On behalf of Theater Arts:
After the show is over, we invite you to take a moment in the theater to process if you would like to. There is also a list of resources provided below for further dialogue and support. Thank you for gathering with us.
Brandeis Educational Resources
These are very difficult times, but Brandeis has a supportive community that can make them less overwhelming, as well as various educational resources to provide history and context.
Maurice and Marilyn Cohen Center for Modern Jewish Studies
Crown Center for Middle East Studies
International Center for Ethics, Justice and Public Life
Schusterman Center for Israel Studies
Brandeis also has faculty and staff in a number of academic departments and programs with deep knowledge of the region and the conflict, including:
- Anthropology
- Economics
- History
- Hornstein Jewish Professional Leadership Program
- Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies
- Near Eastern and Judaic Studies
- Politics
Brandeis Support Resources
Check out for a centralized listing of wellness programing.
Brandeis Counseling Center
Call781-736-3730 to talk to a counselor, available 24/7.
Care Team
Submit an I Care Form (Care Report) to connect a peer with support.
Center for Spiritual Life
Reach out to a Chaplain for support, or attend a community event or service.
Student Accessibility Support
Get help with academic and other types of accommodations.
Academic Services
Get help navigating the end of the semester.
Emergency Fund
Get assistance with emergency funding needs.
Dean of Students Office
If you need to talk, or aren't sure what you need.
Community Spaces
- Intercultural Center
- Gender and Sexuality Center
- Brandeis Hillel
