Variations of Crossing the Alps

by Deborah Yarchun

Rachel, displaced during the pandemic, immerses herself in her grandparents’
harrowing history surviving World War II— traversing the battlegrounds of the Red Army with
her grandfather and outrunning the Nazis through Polish woods with her grandmother into the
vastness of Soviet Russia. She steps into their story, playing multiple characters from their
lives—following their journey from their separation at the...

Rachel, displaced during the pandemic, immerses herself in her grandparents’
harrowing history surviving World War II— traversing the battlegrounds of the Red Army with
her grandfather and outrunning the Nazis through Polish woods with her grandmother into the
vastness of Soviet Russia. She steps into their story, playing multiple characters from their
lives—following their journey from their separation at the start of the war to their quest to find
one another after the war and their reunion – where what they don’t tell each other is just as
important as what they share. This begins to impact her relationship with Luke, her non-Jewish
partner, bringing to the surface issues they haven’t addressed, including what role religion will
play in how they’ll raise their future children. Variations of Crossing the Alps explores the
hunger to understand one’s family’s history, the challenges of confronting the truth, and the
complexities of survival.

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Variations of Crossing the Alps

Recommended by

  • Liam Castellan: Variations of Crossing the Alps by Deborah Yarchun
    “

    A haunting, urgent story of family, faith & survival. Protagonist Rachel as the only character who doubles smaller roles is a v. smart choice: elevates the cost savings + added theatricality (assigning the doubling to whoever) to something greater: an expression of Rachel's search for her grandparents' story. While many small-cast plays also end up making their ideas and issues also feel small, Yarchun's skill keeps the ideas and feelings feel very very big. I'm so glad I read this.

    A haunting, urgent story of family, faith & survival. Protagonist Rachel as the only character who doubles smaller roles is a v. smart choice: elevates the cost savings + added theatricality (assigning the doubling to whoever) to something greater: an expression of Rachel's search for her grandparents' story. While many small-cast plays also end up making their ideas and issues also feel small, Yarchun's skill keeps the ideas and feelings feel very very big. I'm so glad I read this.

    ”
  • Jewish Plays Project: Variations of Crossing the Alps by Deborah Yarchun
    “

    Jewish Plays Project congratulates VARIATIONS OF CROSSING THE ALPS for receiving our COMMENDED status for the 15th National Jewish Playwriting Contest in 2025. Commended plays received strong advocacy for consideration through our signature Jewish Artistic Democracy community reading process out of the 315+ plays we received. Our readers appreciated the exact feeling of needing to know a Holocaust family member's story and what bubbles up in the present due to generational trauma.

    Jewish Plays Project congratulates VARIATIONS OF CROSSING THE ALPS for receiving our COMMENDED status for the 15th National Jewish Playwriting Contest in 2025. Commended plays received strong advocacy for consideration through our signature Jewish Artistic Democracy community reading process out of the 315+ plays we received. Our readers appreciated the exact feeling of needing to know a Holocaust family member's story and what bubbles up in the present due to generational trauma.

    ”
  • Premiere Stages at Kean University: Variations of Crossing the Alps by Deborah Yarchun
    “

    Premiere Stages, the professional Equity theatre company in residence at Kean University, is pleased to recognize Variations of Crossing the Alps as a Semi-Finalist for the 2025 Premiere Play Festival. The play rose through a competitive process conducted by Premiere staff and an external panel of professionals to become distinguished among 805 submissions. The panel was impressed by the well-developed characters and the themes of family and identity. Our congratulations and thanks to Deborah.

    Premiere Stages, the professional Equity theatre company in residence at Kean University, is pleased to recognize Variations of Crossing the Alps as a Semi-Finalist for the 2025 Premiere Play Festival. The play rose through a competitive process conducted by Premiere staff and an external panel of professionals to become distinguished among 805 submissions. The panel was impressed by the well-developed characters and the themes of family and identity. Our congratulations and thanks to Deborah.

    ”

Character Information

  • Rachel
    A writer. Jewish.
    28
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Woman
  • Luke
    Rachel’s boyfriend. A software engineer. Not Jewish.
    30
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s
  • Leah
    Rachel’s grandmother. On the run. Works as a midwife. Theatrical and lively. Jewish.
    20-26
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Woman
  • Josef
    Rachel’s grandfather. A printer turned Polish soldier turned Red Army soldier. Handsome and charming, with an intense and rough side. Jewish.
    24-30
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s

Development History

  • Reading, The Old Globe / The Lipinsky Family San Diego Jewish Arts Festival's The Whole Megillah New Play Festival., 2025
  • Workshop, New Dramatists, 2025
  • Workshop, The Playwrights' Center, 2024
  • Residency, Eugene O'Neill Foundation / Tao House , 2024