Be a part of the JPP and Reinvent the future of Jewish Theater
Become a Community Panel Reader
Since 2011, the Jewish Playwriting Contest has ignited a revolution in Jewish theater that is reverberating around the nation. Now, you can join their ranks and have your voice be a part of 21st Century Jewish theater. Here’s how it works.
1.YOU READ
The JPP delivers all the plays via a private, pass-word protected website to Panel Readers. (A full set of plays is equivalent to one mid-sized novel.) Read as many as you like!
Six Weeks (1 Week per play)

2. YOU GATHER
Readers in each city, region or virtual panel gather for a fascinating 90-minute full of conversation and disagreement, Jewish-style.
1 Night

3.YOU VOTE
Panelists vote on the Top Three plays that best represent the Jewish conversation in their community. Fun fact – 95% of groups choose a different Top Three!
10 Minutes

OR START YOUR OWN THEATER CHAVURAH!
Hosting a JPP Community Panel is perfect for JCC arts departments, synagogue teen and adult education directors, community arts leaders, and anyone who can gather a minyan (10 Jews over the age of 13).
BE A PART OF THE CONTEST!
You can be a part of this incredible movement in Jewish Art and Identity by hosting a JPP theater Chavurah!!
What is a Chavurah?
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A chavurah (lit. “fellowship”) traditionally is a small group of like-minded Jews who gather together with a common purpose.
-
A JPP chavurah is a community gathering in which you and friends come together to read and discuss the best new Jewish plays of the year.
-
Your community selects the top three new Jewish plays in your area!
-
Your votes count towards the national Jewish Playwriting Contest winner, announced in June!
How does it work?
-
The JPP connects you with this year’s Jewish Playwriting Contest finalist plays.
-
You and your community read and evaluate these plays ahead of the chavurah.
-
Everyone at the chavurah discusses the plays and important, contemporary Jewish ideas.
-
You all vote on the top three new Jewish plays for your region.
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There is a sliding scale fee starting at $1,800. The JPP has a variety of tools to help you meet this commitment.
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You will also (virtually!) invite at least 36 attendees to the national celebration in June, where they’ll see videos of the top three plays chosen nationally. (Tickets to this are $10 per person, ie. there is an ask of an additional $360; however, that is ideally raised through ticket sales to your community)
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If your organization brings more than 36 attendees to the June celebration, you receive a portion of ticket sales.
What do you need to do?
- Invite your community to the chavurah! Gather a group within your community who are excited to be some of the first people in the country to read these new Jewish plays. Four participants? Great! Fourteen? Also great!
- Read the Jewish Playwriting Contest finalist plays
- Vote at the chavurah!
- Attend the national celebration in June, with your community, to find out the winner!
BE A PART OF THE CONTEST!
You can be a part of this incredible movement in Jewish Art and Identity by hosting a JPP theater Chavurah!!
What is a Chavurah?
-
A chavurah (lit. “fellowship”) traditionally is a small group of like-minded Jews who gather together with a common purpose.
-
A JPP chavurah is a community gathering in which you and friends come together to read and discuss the best new Jewish plays of the year.
-
Your community selects the top three new Jewish plays in your area!
-
Your votes count towards the national Jewish Playwriting Contest winner, announced in June!
How does it work?
-
The JPP connects you with this year’s Jewish Playwriting Contest finalist plays.
-
You and your community read and evaluate these plays ahead of the chavurah.
-
Everyone at the chavurah discusses the plays and important, contemporary Jewish ideas.
-
You all vote on the top three new Jewish plays for your region.
-
Participation costs your organization only $360.
-
You will also (virtually!) invite at least 36 attendees to the national celebration in June, where they’ll see videos of the top three plays chosen nationally. (Tickets to this are $10 per person, ie. there is an ask of an additional $360; however, that is ideally raised through ticket sales to your community)
-
If your organization brings more than 36 attendees to the June celebration, you receive a portion of ticket sales.
What do you need to do?
- Invite your community to the chavurah! Gather a group within your community who are excited to be some of the first people in the country to read these new Jewish plays. Four participants? Great! Fourteen? Also great!
- Read the Jewish Playwriting Contest finalist plays
- Vote at the chavurah!
- Attend the national celebration in June, with your community, to find out the winner!