Sarasota Jewish Theatre Presents Three New Plays in August 2026 Reading Series
Sarasota Jewish Theatre will give local audiences an early look at three contemporary plays during its 2026 Newish Jewish Play Reading Series, scheduled for three consecutive Monday evenings in August. The organization also presented a Newish Jewish Play Reading Series in 2025, continuing its support for developing theatrical works.
The summer series features “A Punchline” by Michael Schwartz on August 17, “Un Hombre: A Golem Story” by Stephen Kaplan on August 24, and “Dry Summer” by Robert Axelrod on August 31. Each staged reading begins at 7:30 p.m. at The Sarasota Players, located inside The Crossings at Siesta Key at 3501 S. Tamiami Trail, Suite 1130, Sarasota.
The entrance to the theater is next to Connors Steak & Seafood.
Tickets are $18 for an individual reading or $45 for the complete three-play series. Tickets and additional information are available through Sarasota Jewish Theatre.
Giving Audiences a Role in Developing New Theatre
The Newish Jewish Play Reading Series is more than a collection of performances. It offers audiences an opportunity to experience new theatrical works while they are still being developed.
Unlike a fully produced play with elaborate scenery, costumes and technical effects, a staged reading places the emphasis on the script, characters and performances. Professional directors and experienced Sarasota-area actors bring each work to life while allowing audiences to concentrate on the playwright’s words and ideas.
Following each reading, audience members will be invited to complete evaluation forms. The comments provide useful feedback to the playwrights and help Sarasota Jewish Theatre determine whether a selected work might be appropriate for a future fully staged production.
Sarasota Jewish Theatre says the program reflects its commitment to presenting new works that explore changing values, contemporary issues and important events affecting people’s lives. That commitment also extends to fully staged work, including the recent production of “Cherry Docs” at Sarasota Jewish Theatre.
More Than 150 Plays Submitted
The three selected works were chosen from more than 150 submissions received from playwrights across the country.
The submissions were narrowed to 47 plays that met the program’s requirements. Eligible works were required to tell a Jewish story or be written by a Jewish playwright. They also had to be new, relatively new or have received only limited recent production.
A panel of theater professionals read and evaluated the qualifying scripts, reduced the field to nine semifinalists and ultimately selected the three plays that Sarasota audiences will hear in August.
Sarasota Jewish Theatre Artistic Director Carole Kleinberg said the winning selections feature fresh storylines while addressing compelling and broadly relatable subjects.
Together, the three plays examine survival, grief, identity, addiction, family relationships and the complicated ways people try to rebuild their lives.
“A Punchline” — Monday, August 17
- Written by Michael Schwartz
- Directed by Jeffery Kin
- Performance time: 7:30 p.m.
“A Punchline” centers on Leah, a Holocaust survivor who moves to Hollywood and creates a controversial television program featuring what are described as “funny Nazis.”
The show becomes popular, but its subject matter also offends many viewers and raises difficult questions about comedy, trauma and who has the right to turn painful history into entertainment.
Leah recounts her experiences while appearing at a synagogue lecture and discussion program. As she speaks, she remembers a meaningful relationship formed inside a concentration camp and the price she paid to survive on her own terms.
The play uses an intentionally provocative premise to examine how survivors process trauma, how painful memories are presented to later generations and whether humor can help people confront events that seem beyond comprehension.
The production contains strong adult language and sexual content.
The announced cast includes H. Todd Freeman, Jeremy Guerreo-Heideman, Melissa Ingrisano, James Kassees, Kevin Moroney, Jan Neuberger and Jill Schroeder.
“Un Hombre: A Golem Story” — Monday, August 24
- Written by Stephen Kaplan
- Directed by Yinoelle Colon
- Performance time: 7:30 p.m.
“Un Hombre: A Golem Story” combines Jewish folklore, family drama and magical realism in a story about grief and healing.
Rebecca Wolfson is a sculptor struggling to resume her life and creative work following the unexpected death of her husband. Her son has become withdrawn, is failing Spanish and is unprepared for his approaching Bar Mitzvah.
Rebecca’s artistic block appears impossible to overcome until wine, desperation and a touch of magic transform a piece of clay into what initially seems like the solution to the family’s problems.
The story draws inspiration from the Jewish legend of the golem, a humanlike figure traditionally formed from clay and brought to life. In this contemporary interpretation, the creation begins questioning his purpose and existence, forcing Rebecca and her son to face the loss they have been avoiding.
The play explores what happens when people seek a magical answer to emotional pain and discover that genuine healing requires them to confront grief rather than escape it.
The announced cast includes Charlie Agurcia, Dariel Caro Cruz, Noelma Colon and Yinoelle Colon.
“Dry Summer” — Monday, August 31
- Written by Robert Axelrod
- Directed by Preston Boyd
- Performance time: 7:30 p.m.
“Dry Summer” follows a depressed gay Jewish man in his 20s who returns home hoping to regain control of his life.
While there, he accepts an unusual job as a sober companion for an alcoholic former neighbor attempting to reach 90 days of sobriety. Their arrangement places two emotionally vulnerable people together, each carrying personal struggles and searching for a way forward.
The play examines addiction, mental health, responsibility and the unexpected relationships that can develop when people are asked to support one another during difficult periods.
Rather than presenting recovery as a simple or predictable process, “Dry Summer” focuses on the complicated human connections that can emerge when two people are trying to rebuild their lives.
The announced cast includes Preston Boyd, Drake Crandus, Ruth Shaulis, Tami Vaughan and Doug Wetzel.
A Chance to Discover a Play Before Its Full Production
For Sarasota theatergoers, the Newish Jewish Play Reading Series offers the unusual experience of encountering a work before it reaches a traditional mainstage production.
Audience members are not simply watching finished plays. Their reactions and written comments can become part of the development process, providing playwrights with insight into how characters, dialogue and themes connect with viewers.
The program also supports new voices in American theater while introducing Sarasota audiences to stories that are Jewish in origin or perspective but universal in their examination of family, loss, resilience, identity and human connection. The organization’s continued growth also includes a recent $10,000 grant supporting its 2027 mainstage season.
2026 Newish Jewish Play Reading Series Details
- “A Punchline” — Monday, August 17, 2026, at 7:30 p.m.
- “Un Hombre: A Golem Story” — Monday, August 24, 2026, at 7:30 p.m.
- “Dry Summer” — Monday, August 31, 2026, at 7:30 p.m.
Location: The Sarasota Players, The Crossings at Siesta Key, 3501 S. Tamiami Trail, Suite 1130, Sarasota, Florida 34239. The entrance is next to Connors Steak & Seafood.
Tickets: $18 for one reading or $45 for all three readings.
For tickets and additional information, visit Sarasota Jewish Theatre or call The Sarasota Players box office at 941-365-2494.
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