the old jew who begat scrooge, on his deathbed

by Sarah Jae Leiber

As Jewish banker Ephraim Stein prepares to meet his maker, he's visited by three ghosts — Shylock, Scrooge, and Mrs. Maisel — who've come to warn him about how he'll be remembered to history, immortalized by Dickens.

Written as part of the 2021 McCarter Theatre Center's Paula Vogel Christmas Carol Bake-Off.

As Jewish banker Ephraim Stein prepares to meet his maker, he's visited by three ghosts — Shylock, Scrooge, and Mrs. Maisel — who've come to warn him about how he'll be remembered to history, immortalized by Dickens.

Written as part of the 2021 McCarter Theatre Center's Paula Vogel Christmas Carol Bake-Off.

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the old jew who begat scrooge, on his deathbed

Recommended by

  • Emmet L.F. Cameron: the old jew who begat scrooge, on his deathbed by Sarah Jae Leiber
    “

    Phew, if you thought the original Christmas Carol covered a lot of ground in 1 night, these ghosts are doing it all simultaneously, in 10 minutes, covering hundreds of years of holly jolly antisemitism. Funny, poetic, & won’t soon be forgotten.

    Phew, if you thought the original Christmas Carol covered a lot of ground in 1 night, these ghosts are doing it all simultaneously, in 10 minutes, covering hundreds of years of holly jolly antisemitism. Funny, poetic, & won’t soon be forgotten.

    ”
  • Ally Duvak: the old jew who begat scrooge, on his deathbed by Sarah Jae Leiber
    “

    I was lucky enough to be in the same Bake-Off group as Sarah and have thought of this play regularly since. Her cleverness and frankness really shine in this.

    I was lucky enough to be in the same Bake-Off group as Sarah and have thought of this play regularly since. Her cleverness and frankness really shine in this.

    ”
  • Zoe Senese-Grossberg: the old jew who begat scrooge, on his deathbed by Sarah Jae Leiber
    “

    Sharp, funny, and at times so surprisingly beautiful. Asks all the questions about Jews in the literary canon that every Jewish reader and writer has ever been troubled by.

    Sharp, funny, and at times so surprisingly beautiful. Asks all the questions about Jews in the literary canon that every Jewish reader and writer has ever been troubled by.

    ”
View all 5 recommendations
stein — a curmudgeonly but kind old jewish man, dying before our eyes
past — shylock as played by al pacino
present — scrooge, post-redemption, as played by michael caine
future — the marvelous mrs. maisel as played by rachel brosnahan

Development History

  • Reading, McCarter Theatre Center, 2021

Production History

  • Professional, Jewish Plays Project, 2025

Awards

  • On One Foot! Jewish Playwriting Competition
    Jewish Plays Project
    Winner
    2025