Out of Character by Ari’el Stachel
Come see a new presentation of a tour de force comedy about what it means to belong in America, before it heads on to productions in Washington, D.C. and New York City!
Before he won the Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical (The Band’s Visit), Ari’el Stachel grew up in Berkeley, an Israeli American of Yemeni Jewish descent. Then came 9/11. Desperate to avoid taunts and threats at school, Ari hides his Middle Eastern background, setting off a years-long journey of trying on different identities, code switching and navigating debilitating anxiety. Out of Character explores the intersections of race, mental health and survival in a way that’s raw, authentic and entertaining.
This event is a part of The Festival of New Jewish Plays running Thursday, August 15 through Saturday, August 17.
Produced by Berkshire Theatre Group, Jewish Plays Project and plays2gather
The transformative power of the performing arts is able to illuminate, instill hope and nurture empathy. Teaming up with the esteemed Jewish Plays Project (JPP) and plays2gather (p2g), we present an immersive three-day experience celebrating the depth and diversity of Jewish theatre from near and far.