EXAGOGE
Music by Avner Finberg
Play/Libretto/Direction by Edward Einhorn
based on the 2nd Century BCE play
by Ezekiel the Tragedian
An immersive opera/play/Passover seder
April 26 - May 12
Thu - Sat at 7pm, Sun at 3pm
and Mon, April 29 at 7pm
at La MaMa
66 E 4th Street, New York
Livestream: May 3 at 7pm Eastern Time
Tickets CLICK HERE: suggested $25, minimum $10
Sat May 4:
Havdalah at 8:45 pm, just after show
Conducted by Rabbi/Cantor Jill Hausman
The Actors’ Temple, Congregation Ezrath Israel
Read the Librettist’s Note here
Synopsis: An immersive opera/play/Passover seder, based on the oldest known Jewish play, written in Alexandria in the second century BCE by Ezekiel the Tragedian. The audience gathers round the seder table or watches from the risers, joining the performers for a traditional 15-part modern seder. An opera composer, Zeke, has brought home his girlfriend Aliya, a non-practicing Muslim, for the first time. Meanwhile, in the middle of it all, opera performers sing an adaptation of the ancient Greek interpretation of the Book of Exodus.
Running time: 90 minutes
Performers:
Zeke: Hershel Blatt
Pharoah, Reuel, God: Matthew Curran
Tzipporah, Messenger, God: Tharanga Goonetilleke
Aliya: Meena Knowles
Moses: James Rodgers
Avraham: Maxwell Zener
Cover for Moses: Cristóbal Arias (May 11)
Cover for Pharoah etc: Matt Mueller (May 9)
Cover for Tziopprah: Alize Francheska Rozsnyai (May 9)
Puppeteers:
Rebecca Jay Caplan, Yanniv Frank, Parker Sera
Music:
Music director/Pianist: Mila Henry
Percussion: Mariana Ramirez
Violins: Sunny Sheu, Johnna Wu
Viola: Sara Dudley
Cello: Paul Swensen
Percussion on May 2, 3, 10 & 11: Andrew Beall
Crew:
Stage manager: Berit Johnson
ASM/Food coordinator: D Henry Hanson
Set design and related puppets: Tom Lee and Grace Needlman
Puppet design: Evolve Puppets (Tanya Khordoc and Barry Weil)
Costume/Mask Design: Ramona Ponce
Lighting Design: Federico Restrepo
Art: Eric Shanower
Special fabrication/electronic effects: Jim Freeman
Wardrobe: Erica Reichler
Associate Producer at La MaMa: Sarah Murphy
Publicist: David Gibbs, DARR Publicity
This program is supported, in part, by the NYSCA-A.R.T./New York Creative Opportunity Fund (A Statewide Theatre Regrant Program); as well as The Schapiro Fund.
“The hundred-minute play-opera, which is expertly acted and directed, brought new meaning to me despite my familiarity with the story; it also allowed us all to make merry. And in these difficult times, at least for one special night, that is enough.”
- Mark Rifkin, This Week in New York
Photos by Richard Termine