SETTLEMENTS by Seth Rozin

When the resident theatre at a Jewish Community Center commissions a new play about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict from a half-Jewish/half-Jordanian playwright, the Center finds itself pulled in several directions. One of the Center’s major donors, the Center’s Board President, the theatre’s Artistic Director and the playwright each fight for a different outcome, while the Center’s Executive Director tries...
When the resident theatre at a Jewish Community Center commissions a new play about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict from a half-Jewish/half-Jordanian playwright, the Center finds itself pulled in several directions. One of the Center’s major donors, the Center’s Board President, the theatre’s Artistic Director and the playwright each fight for a different outcome, while the Center’s Executive Director tries to keep the institution from falling off its foundation. In these polarized times when extreme voices on the left and the right threaten to pull America one way or the other, SETTLEMENTS examines the difficult balancing act of holding onto the center.
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SETTLEMENTS

Recommended by

  • David Winitsky:
    18 Oct. 2022
    “ This is going to sound hyperbolic, but I truly think if the American Jewish community can figure out how to talk about Israel, then the whole country can recover from disabling partisanship. That's how important Seth's play is; it's world peace. ”
  • Emma Goldman-Sherman:
    24 Jan. 2021
    “ As a playwright who lived this experience with a play that I wrote based on my travels in Gaza and the West Bank of Palestine during the first Intifada (now a period piece), I find SETTLEMENTS to be spot on, pitch perfect in exposing the corporate realities of most American theatres. Rozin writes with compassion - the characters are never 1-dimensional - and humor that helps these realities go down even as he breaks our hearts and reminds us of the limits of our art. ”
  • Cheryl Bear:
    22 Jan. 2021
    “ Art and politics is a tale as old as time yet we're often more silent than we should be on it if we ever want to help change it. Terrific! ”
View all 7 recommendations

Character Information

Individual roles, no doubling.

  • YASMINE
    Late 20s-early 30s,
    Half-Jordanian/half-Jewish
    ,
    non-binary female
    An early career playwright. Whip smart and not afraid to ruffle feathers. From privilege, but recently discovering their political identity
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      20s, 30s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Middle Eastern, North African, or Arab American, White
    • Gender: 
      Female, Non-binary
  • NOAH
    40s,
    Jewish
    ,
    a cis Male
    Artistic director of a professional Jewish theatre. Brash and brilliant. A born provocateur.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      40s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      White
    • Gender: 
      Male
  • MARIAN
    60s,
    Jewish
    ,
    a cis Female
    President of the Board of the Jewish Community Center. A smart and savvy socialite who is very status conscious.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      60s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      White
    • Gender: 
      Female
  • JUDITH
    50s,
    Jewish
    ,
    a cis Female
    Executive Director of a Jewish Community Center. Grounded, wise, exceedingly pragmatic.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      50s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      White
    • Gender: 
      Female
  • CESAR
    70s,
    Jewish
    ,
    a cis Male
    A retired opthalmologist and philanthropist. Dignified and cultured, with a strong sense of purpose.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      70s+
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      White
    • Gender: 
      Male

Development History

  • Reading
    ,
    Alliance for Jewish Theatre
    ,
    2021
  • Reading
    ,
    Palm Beach Dramaworks
    ,
    2020
  • Reading
    ,
    New Jersey Repertory Theatre
    ,
    2020
  • Reading
    ,
    Quarantine Players
    ,
    2020

Production History

  • Professional
    ,
    InterAct Theatre Company
    ,
    2022

Awards

Finalist
,
Alliance for Jewish Theatre Conference
,
Alliance for Jewish Theatre
,
2021
Finalist
,
2020 Jewish Playwriting Contest
,
Jewish Plays Project
,
2020