Newish Jewish Play Readings are staged readings, directed by a professional director and performed by a cast of prominent Sarasota actors. The audience will receive evaluation forms which will help determine if any of the plays might be appropriate for inclusion in the 2026-27 season.

by Pamela Weiler Grayson  

July 21, 7:30 p.m.

Three generations of women in one family confront their relationships to their Jewish identities, and to each other, when a 2019 mass temple shooting rocks their suburban New York community. Comedy and tragedy entwine, as family members grapple with what it means to be a Jewish American. Directed by Steve Black.

Pamela Weiler Grayson is a New York City-based playwright and musical theatre writer whose award-winning shows have been seen in theatres throughout the country. “Observant” received a grant from the New York State Council on the Arts, was a Jewish Plays Project semi-finalist, and a 2024 Broadway World Best New Play nominee.

by Jeffery Kin

August 4, 7:30 p.m.

Jeffery Kin fell in love with the writings of Isaac Bashevis Singer as a struggling actor in NYC.  One story in particular stayed close to his heart: “Two” from the collection of short stories called “Old Love.”  A dramatic and, for him at the time, groundbreaking story of true love … and how it’s rarely perfect. He is overjoyed to share this unconventional love story that has been updated for today’s audience. Directed by Sharon Ohrenstein.

Jeffery Kin was lured to the area for its lively cultural arts scene in 1991. He has been an award-winning actor, director, teacher, coach, producer, and playwright. A graduate of Otterbein University with a B.F.A. in performance, Jeffery loves our region and enjoys the many opportunities to help connect our incredible community through the arts. A strong proponent of volunteerism, he loves helping area organizations as an emcee, host, cheerleader, and arts enthusiast. Jeffery’s plate spinning continues with producing the second annual Living Arts Festival – Sarasota, an arts centric festival for our cultural coast, happening November 2-9, 2025. Look for more creativity and more excitement from Jeffery and his festival team at SarasotaRising.org!

by Gary Morgenstein

August 11, 7:30 p.m.

In this Broadway World Best Original Play award winner, an exorbitant rent increase forces Harold Wilson, a conservative African American, to close his Manhattan newsstand after 30 years and retire to Florida to live with his niece Carol. Enter long-time customer Albie Sands, an eccentric Jewish Communist, who persuades Harold to fight back. The two lonely seniors overcome their differences to forge a powerful friendship, showing there is more that unites us than divides us. Directed by Diane Cepeda.

Award-winning playwright Gary Morgenstein’s plays have been performed all over the United States, including “A Tomato Can’t Grow in the Bronx,” “Dancing on Glass,” the romantic dramedy “Walking Charlie,” and “The Silence of Our Friends.”