Bad Jews

Cast

In October 2023, I had the distinct privilege to direct Joshua Harmon’s sharp 2013 comedy, Bad Jews. The play follows two cousins—Daphna, the volatile and unbending "Real Jew"—and Liam, the entitled and equally stubborn "Bad Jew"—who engage in a vicious battle over a family heirloom the night after their grandfather's funeral. Jonah—Liam’s timid brother—and Melody—Liam’s shiksa girlfriend—attempt to stay out of the fray. Despite its comedic approach, the play explores serious and vital themes surrounding generational trauma of the Holocaust, patriarchy within Judaism, and how to navigate practicing religion in an increasingly secular and progressive world.

Directing Bad Jews was an extremely enriching experience that taught me how to mindfully execute a full-length play from selection to performance. This production gifted me my first forays into casting, lighting, set and costume design, and  many more aspects of theatre production. Throughout the process, I learned in real time how to run a rehearsal room, assemble a schedule, and realize a directorial vision. I’m endlessly thankful to my exceptionally intelligent actors who made the show their own, exploring their characters and mining new nuances each performance.

My goal with this project—when I selected it in April and even more so amidst the global turmoil of October 2023—was to carve out a space on Wesleyan’s campus for Jews to reflect on what our Judaism means to us today, enabled by the power of storytelling, and particularly comedy. With Bad Jews, I wanted to showcase the multidimensionality of the 21st century American Jewish experience through the hilariously dysfunctional Haber-Feygenbaum family. What a gift!