←Recommendations of The Matriarchs

Attending a reading of The Matriarchs at the 2023 National Playwrights Conference, I got the sense that a young Liba Vaynberg must have practiced stenography, or possibly worn some sort of recording device—I see no other way that Liba the playwright could have captured the rhythms of adolescence so faithfully. Not since the Peanuts has a group of young theologians been rendered with this level of humor and wisdom. You’ll never listen to John Denver the same way again.

"The Matriarchs" is a stunning portrait of girls, womxn, mothers, and friends from a brilliant mind; a story made all the more universal because of its hyper specificity. Come for the girls arguing about Halachic law as it pertains to pimple popping, stay for the gorgeously observed nuances of growing up whilst female. I eagerly await seeing this play on stages soon.

Liba Vaynberg's The Matriachs is brilliant. This play unfolds like one of those too-short nights spent (lovingly) arguing with your friends about the mysteries and complexities of human life and existence. I got to see two readings of the play at O'Neill National Playwrights Conference and both times left the theatre a little smiley, a little in awe, and a little heartbroken thinking about what it means to be a human, a parent, a child, and a friend in a world that feels more uncertain by the hour. I'd love to see this play produced ASAP!

Liba's universe is beautiful. This play reads like a novel. A beautiful, hilarious, and bittersweet journey of growing up and growing apart. And asking questions and being afraid of the answer. Achingly gorgeous, and a fascinating exploration of the Talmud and fertility.

Premiere Stages, the professional Equity theatre in residence at Kean University, is pleased to recognize “The Matriarchs” by Liba Vaynberg as a Semi-Finalist for the 2023 Premiere Play Festival. “The Matriarchs” rose through a competitive selection process conducted by Premiere staff and a panel of outside theatre professionals to become one of 40 Semi-Finalists out of 701 submissions. The panel was particularly impressed by the authentic, grounded spectrum of characters, questions, and experiences being unpacked in the play. Our congratulations and thanks to Liba.

This play...this PLAY! As a Jewish woman who went to Hebrew school in Brooklyn, this piece filled my heart til it was close to bursting. But what is truly miraculous is that regardless of religion or ethnicity, this piece has the ability to speak to any audience because it is so gorgeously universal. Someone needs to do this play because I NEED to see it!

The Matriarchs broke my heart right open. Equal parts irreverent, playful and holy in all the wrong ways, Liba's latest adventure into the questions of life and existence through teen girls is a revelation. I wanted to binge the whole series but it's a play and live and not possible BUT this is the kind of show folks would want to watch again and again. I cannot wait to see this play everywhere. Liba is a genius writer and being invited into this world of the women in the Torah as girls was a gift.