Izolda Trakhtenberg

Robert James stumbles into a stark white office with no memory of how he got there—only to learn from the no-nonsense Mrs. King that he has "expired." This is the Post-Expiration Date office, where the recently deceased must decide their next step: move on to whatever’s next or return for a do-over. But there’s a catch—his late wife, Melanie, has already been through this process, and Robert has no idea what she chose.

As Mrs. King methodically questions him, Robert wrestles with memories of love, regret, and the life he built with Melanie. If he picks the right door, he could reunite with her. Choose wrong, and she might slip from his memory forever. The only way forward? To do what Melanie always did—stop and listen for the right story.

With sharp wit, heartfelt emotion, and a touch of cosmic bureaucracy, Expiration Date is a poignant exploration of love, memory, and the choices that define us—both in life and beyond.

Semi-finalist: Off Broad Street Play Festival

When you're at a crossroads and there's no one to talk to, what do you do? You listen. Listen! explores the profound and often hilarious wisdom we express when we think no one is listening.

Chorus, a world-renowned writer has spent the last 25 years eavesdropping on every-day conversations and writing about the human experience. Her funny and profound commentary on what we say in our unguarded moments has made her a household name (think of her as a modern-day Greek Chorus).

Chorus returns to her favorite coffee shop in New York City and faces a monumental decision about the rest of her life.

On Election Day, Madison and her grandma Natalia bring pizza to a local polling station, sparking a discussion about the significance of voting. Madison expresses her disillusionment with the electoral process, but Natalia, a new citizen from the former Soviet Union, shares her appreciation for the right to vote, having never experienced it before. Inspired by her grandmother's story, Madison decides to raise her voice and participate in the election.

In the gray hush before dawn, a woman and a man dig a grave in the dunes burying the last of the monsters who destroyed her life. Rock Bottom unfolds in the quiet brutality of trauma, survival, and the ferocious clarity of truth. As Jen finds her footing on the bedrock of her past, she learns that justice sometimes demands action no one else will take. This is a story of strength reclaimed and silence shattered, where vengeance and healing walk the same path. When you hit rock bottom, you're finally no longer falling. Instead, you rise, and sometimes, you bury what broke you.

Set in 1975, this play follows a Jewish immigrant family who has recently arrived in the United States from the Soviet Union. Mama, harried and cautious, tries to adapt to her new life while protecting her precocious 10-year-old daughter, Bella, from the challenges of assimilation. Meanwhile, adult Bella, now a successful author, looks back on her childhood, grappling with the memories of fear, resilience, and identity that shaped her.

When their decision to put up a New Year’s Tree—a tradition from their homeland—sparks conflict with their nosy neighbors in their predominantly Jewish neighborhood, the family faces a poignant question: How much of their identity must they trade to fit in? This heartfelt story weaves humor, tension, and self-reflection to explore the price of freedom and the power of reclaiming one’s voice.

In a not-so-distant future where memory and grief collide with the promises of technology, "Irreparable Damage" follows Dr. Caroline MacArthur as she navigates the messy remnants of heartbreak, humor, and unfinished love. Using the Mem-o-matic, a cutting-edge holographic simulation device, Caroline conjures vivid recreations of her past partners including David, a pompous opera aficionado, Mark, a charm-laced dudebro, and Jillian, the one who mattered most but left. What starts as a snarky glass-of-wine-and-memory-lane night with a friend becomes a raw, tangled confrontation with the limits of memory and the haunting persistence of loss.

Through sharp dialogue, tenderness, and unexpected laughter, the play reveals the emotional blind spots we all carry — those places tech can probe but never truly heal. Caroline keeps rebooting the program, chasing an answer she already fears: that some questions stay unanswered not because we didn’t ask, but because the person who held the answer is gone. Equal parts biting and tender, Irreparable Damage invites us to ask not just whether closure is possible but whether we really want it when it arrives in pixels instead of presence.

In Saving the Grand, a group of determined artists and activists joins together to save their community’s cherished theater from demolition. Led by Gina, a passionate activist, they transform their protest into a powerful showcase of creativity, performing impromptu songs and iconic monologues to inspire their neighbors. This eclectic group—ranging from a shy newcomer finding his voice to a diner owner and a resourceful lighting designer—proves that art has the power to unite and ignite change. With humor, heart, and unshakable determination, they fight to preserve their theater and its role as a cornerstone of the community. This musical is a celebration of resilience and a reminder that protecting the arts means protecting the spirit of the people. Will they succeed in saving the Grand Theater before time runs out?

On a busy afternoon ride on New York City's A Train, a group of women—tourists, locals, and a mother—share a subway car. The mother, MOM, is caught in a humorous yet tense FaceTime exchange with her ten-year-old son, Drake, repeatedly urging him not to board a train. As the conversation unfolds, the other women become involved, sharing their own maternal experiences and offering advice. The play captures the humor and camaraderie that arise from their shared struggles, culminating in a heartwarming reunion between MOM and Drake at Times Square. "Don’t Get On the Train" is a slice-of-life comedy-drama that celebrates everyday connections and small victories.