Olga's Strike by Abigail Henkin

A headstrong young Russian-Jewish woman comes to live with her sister in a cramped Bronx apartment. When her Communist ideals come into conflict with her brother-in-law’s capitalist ambitions, she decides to unionize his dress shop as the personal clashes with the political.
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Olga's Strike

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Character Information

All of the characters are Russian Jews. Ideally they would be played by actors who are practicing Jews or are of Jewish descent. Jews of color should be considered, as should nonbinary and transgender Jews.

  • Olga
    21,
    Any / Jewish (but not all Jews are white)
    ,
    She/her
    Dedicated to her Communist ideals and idealistic enough to believe she can put them into practice. Headstrong. Big emotions.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      20s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female
  • Jennie
    30,
    Any / Jewish (but not all Jews are white)
    ,
    She/her
    Also called Henya. Loud, dramatic. Deeply invested in Alta’s business.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      30s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female
  • Lillian
    18,
    Any / Jewish (but not all Jews are white)
    ,
    She/her
    Sweet. Suffers from rheumatoid arthritis. More religious than the rest of the family, but not in-your-face about it.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Teens
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female
  • Alta
    33,
    Any / Jewish (but not all Jews are white)
    ,
    he/him
    Also called Betzalel, Tzali and Charlie. Jennie’s husband. Owns the dress shop. Quiet, paternalistic. Can be condescending. But thinks he’s doing the right thing.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      30s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Male
  • Morris
    24,
    Any / Jewish (but not all Jews are white)
    ,
    he/him
    Calm, quiet, even-headed.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      20s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Male

Awards

Selection
,
Yonder Window Ascending Playwright's Program
,
Yonder Window
,
2022
Winner
,
Olga and Paul Menn Foundation Prize
,
2021