Mission, Staff and Values

Jake Allen (he/they) is a New York based dramaturg and devising artist. They proudly serve as the current Literary Apprentice for Jewish Plays Project. Jake received their BFA in Drama with a Dramaturgy Emphasis from the University of Oklahoma. They have devised works for OKC’s Theatre Crude Fringe Festival and had their own play “The Battle of Cable Street” produced by Co.llective Arts Productions in Oklahoma.

Robert Sherman:

Executive Director, Jewish Education Project (New York, NY)

Randy Ellen Lutterman:

Vice President of Arts and Culture, JCCA (New York, NY)

Dede Jacobs-Komisar:

Giving Manger, Huntington Theater (Baltimore, MD)

Elizabeth Samet:

Creative Director and Senior Vice-President, Philadelphia Inquirer (Philadelphia, PA)

Rabbi Joel Soffin:

Retired Clergy, President Jewish Helping Hands (New York, NY)

Robin Chaplik, Gail Duberchin, Corrine Engelhart, Aviva Katz, Merril Prager, Donna  Puccini, Devorah Richards, Sarah Sapperstein, James  Sherman, Anita Silvert, Brian Zakem

Clare Bachner, Sarah Berry, Eileen Billinson, Corinne Brager, Jeff Dannick, Alison Drucker, Laura Fargotstein, Joshua Greene, Michael Halpern, Thomas Holzman, Richard Jaffe, Andrea Jaffe, Ellen Katkin, Sasha Olnick, Ronnie Oppenheim, Chip Rome, Deborah Shprentz, Samuel Simon, Glenda Turner, David Yaffe, Deborah Yaffe

Genine Babakian, Judy Bowman, Abby Henig, Stephanie Kane, Dora Kianovsky, Felica Kobylanski, Jacob Levy, Jonathan Lipnick, Alex Shaykis, David Siegel, Daniel Wallach, Joan Winitsky

Avi Pareto, Barbara Wallace Grossman, Bram Shapiro, Deborah Putnoi, Heather Levin, Jane Lewis, Jennifer Prizant, Lauren Lapat, Leah Portnow, Michelle Feller-Kopman, Rachel Ollagnon, Valya Shapiro

Laurie Albert, Lonny Hoffman, Devorah Richards, Rabbi Donna Berman, Jacques Lemarre, Neil Tuch, Daniella Crankshaw, Susan Solomon Sims, Danielle Faitelson, Deborah Radin

David Alex, Kristie Berger, William Davison, Maryan Fine, Ruth Garte, Devorah Greenfield, Perry Hoffman, Judith Iglarsh, Gail Juris, Bonnie Kaufman, Elizabeth Kleins, Hyma Levin, Sheri Morrison, Eleanor J. Reiter, Devorah Richards, Judy Rossignuolo-Rice, Alice Sachs, Sarah Sapperstein, Eliakim Schwarz, James Sherman, Sari Steinberg, Brian Zakem, Haia Bchiri, Philip Bloch, Corinne Englehart, Eric Fisher, Sumner Garte, Ron Hirsen, Rosalind Hurwitz, Eileen Jacobs, Judith Kaufman, Ann Kirschner, Sarah Malka Krinsky, Faye Levinson, Merril Prager, Bernard Rice, Sandy Robbins, Alice Sachs, Robert Schwartz, Michael Shapiro, Rhoda Stamell, Elana Weiner Kaplow

Amy Brown, Judy Kitt, Barbara Marcum, Emeri Handler, Deborah Sloss, Randy Brenowitz, Stacy Sanders, Jeremy Burns, Ora David, Ross DeHovitz, Robin Leiman, Patti Sue Plumer, Lauren Berman, Jonathan Radin, Megan Pope, Kelly Lo, Marti Jacobs, Lori Krolik

Maida Asofsky, Margie Beegle, Nada Chandler, Elizabeth Frankel, Steve Garfinkel, Marilyn Hassid, Lonny Hoffman, Jerry LaBita, Diane Lee, Kenn McLaughlin, Eileen Morris, Marilyn Nathan, Bunny Radoff, Bobbi Samuels, Jeremy Samuels, Shayna Schlosberg, Stefani Shapiro, Anat Kelman Shaw, Luke Wrob

Laurie Albert, Alona Bach, Franklin C. Coleman, Alison Drucker, Laura Fargotstein, Jonathan Galub, Carol Gordon, Josh Greene, Tom Holtzman, Margie Jervis, Ellen Katkin, Alex Levy, Paul Michnewicz, Sasha Olinick, Ronnie Oppenheim, Jane Petkofsky, Jacob Savage, Kira Simon, Caroline Frankil Warren, Elena Widder, Alex Zaloum

Adlyn Loewenthal, Al Vesdesi, Avinoam Patt, Brendon Gallagher, Cin Martinez, Donna Berman, Eric Ort, Godfrey Simmons, Jacques Lemarre, Jeffrey Shoulson, Joshua Cape, Julia Rosenblatt, Mark Overmyer-Velazquez, Melia Bensussen, Melissa Tero, P Shipper, Rona Gollob, S Ginsburg, Taneisha Duggan, Tianna, David Alex, Kristie Berger, William Davison, Maryan Fine, Ruth Garte, Devorah Greenfield, Perry Hoffman, Judith Iglarsh, Gail Juris, Bonnie Kaufman, Elizabeth Kleins, Hyma Levin, Sheri Morrison, Eleanor J. Reiter, Devorah Richards, Judy Rossignuolo-Rice, Alice Sachs, Sarah Sapperstein, Eliakim Schwarz, James Sherman, Sari Steinberg, Brian Zakem

The JPP is committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion in the values we hold, the work we select, the people in our company and with whom we work, and the environment we strive to create. We dedicate our work to the uplifting of a wide range of perspectives and voices, including age, gender, race, ethnicity, religion, denomination, faith, geographical origin, and political and cultural outlook.

We invite all people to work and engage with the JPP, whether one identifies as Jewish (culturally, religiously, or ethnically), non-Jewish, or is questioning one’s Jewish identity. We only ask for a conversation around engaging audiences and ideas through Jewish stories.

We do not discriminate in practices or employment opportunities on the basis of an individual’s race, color, national or ethnic origin, religion, age, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, veteran status, or disability. 

Moreover, the JPP is activist in its approach to justice. We are striving to be an anti-racist, anti-misogynist and inclusive and egalitarian organization. We are working to learn more and do more to interrupt tragic cycles of oppression. 

The JPP commits to ensure that every JPP space is safe for everyone; spiritually, emotionally, ethically, and of course physically. We reject and actively work to prevent harassment and discrimination among our staff, board, artists, and participants.

We strive to create an environment for our artists and audiences where we can safely contribute our diverse ideas and experiences, promote empathy and conversation, and come together as a community.

The JPP is homed on the traditional homelands of the Canarsie and Munsee Lenape peoples, currently known as Brooklyn, New York. We celebrate this place called Lenapehoking and honor the Indigenous People who first loved it and cared for it. We honor the current Lenape Tribes and Leaders who are still here, still connected to the Land, who are still and have always been here stewarding the Land. 

The JPP is also a national, and at times international, organization and our work is done in many places and on many lands. We recognize the complexity and delicacy that surround understanding the history of all these places, and do not claim any unique or special understanding. We strive at all times to learn more, to collaborate with local peoples, and to be responsible and caring stewards of any land while we are on it. 

We encourage all in our community to learn more about the places where they ive and work. 

Native Land

Territory Acknowledgement

As the country has moved into the endemic stage of COVID, and as other health risks have grown, we remain committed to these core principles:

• Vaccinations are Key: Every artists must show that they are fully vaccinated before working with the JPP When venue rules permit, audience vaccinations are also checked.
• Masking is Still Important: Any time that staff, artists or audiences are not in the direct act of rehearsing or performing new plays in public, we strive to remain masked.
• Testing: The JPP provides free COVID rapid tests to as many participants as we can, as often as we can, within the financial and practical limits of our work and budget.
• Constant Learning: we are always taking stock of the newest information and best practices. We know that this ongoing public health emergency is always changing, and we wil update these rules as often as need be.

The JPP believes that a multiplicity of voices and a deep responsibility to each other and to transparency at all stages are critical to making just decisions. The JPP embraces this in the three core compenents of our mission:

IDENTIFY: The JPP engages over 75 artists in a four-month, multi-vocal, community-based process to choose the plays that it advances. Every decision is made according to a clear set of guidelines, and with the understanding that the Artist community will evaluate and speak back to decisions made by company management.

DEVELOP: Throughout the new play development process, the JPP affords comprehensive and significant methods for both artists and the public to comment on the plays we develop. All feedback is taken by JPP staff, and presented to the principal creatives at appropriate times and in ways that prioritize kindness, artistic productivity, and grace. 

ADVOCATE: The JPP believes that the process of advocating for a play shoud take place in the open, with many individuals voicing their support for new plays. Our experience is that community members and audiences who participate in the new play development process are effective and creative ambassadors for plays that they love. In addition to more traditional industry-led advocacy, the JPP has seen multiple voices from mulitple points of view mak the difference in moving a play from concept to production.  

THE JPP IS OPEN TO ARTISTS AND AUDIENCES OF ALL BACKGROUNDS, DENOMINATIONS, FAITHS, CREEDS, RELIGIONS, and other IDEALS. We believe that Jewish identity and culture are specific manifestations of universal human cravings for spiritual, ethical, moral and worldly joy. “Matrilineal descent” is neither important nor necessary.

We believe that you don’t have to be Jewish to have a Jewish conversation. 

The JPP is dedicated to ensuring that every interaction – for and between artists, community members, audiences and staff and volunteers are respectful, safe, and free of any harrassment, intimidation, or (G-d forbid) violence of any kind.

The JPP staff and Board are currently reviewing our full Sexual Harrassment Policy and intend to post it here for compelete transparency by the Spring of 2023.

The JPP is committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion in the values we hold, the work we select, the people in our company and with whom we work, and the environment we strive to create. We dedicate our work to the uplifting of a wide range of perspectives and voices, including age, gender, race, ethnicity, religion, denomination, faith, geographical origin, and political and cultural outlook.

We invite all people to work and engage with the JPP, whether one identifies as Jewish (culturally, religiously, or ethnically), non-Jewish, or is questioning one’s Jewish identity. We only ask for a conversation around engaging audiences and ideas through Jewish stories.

We do not discriminate in practices or employment opportunities on the basis of an individual’s race, color, national or ethnic origin, religion, age, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, veteran status, or disability. 

Moreover, the JPP is activist in its approach to justice. We are striving to be an anti-racist, anti-misogynist and inclusive and egalitarian organization. We are working to learn more and do more to interrupt tragic cycles of oppression. 

The JPP commits to ensure that every JPP space is safe for everyone; spiritually, emotionally, ethically, and of course physically. We reject and actively work to prevent harassment and discrimination among our staff, board, artists, and participants.

We strive to create an environment for our artists and audiences where we can safely contribute our diverse ideas and experiences, promote empathy and conversation, and come together as a community.

The JPP is homed on the traditional homelands of the Canarsie and Munsee Lenape peoples, currently known as Brooklyn, New York. We celebrate this place called Lenapehoking and honor the Indigenous People who first loved it and cared for it. We honor the current Lenape Tribes and Leaders who are still here, still connected to the Land, who are still and have always been here stewarding the Land. 

The JPP is also a national, and at times international, organization and our work is done in many places and on many lands. We recognize the complexity and delicacy that surround understanding the history of all these places, and do not claim any unique or special understanding. We strive at all times to learn more, to collaborate with local peoples, and to be responsible and caring stewards of any land while we are on it. 

We encourage all in our community to learn more about the places where they ive and work. 

Native Land

Territory Acknowledgement

As the country has moved into the endemic stage of COVID, and as other health risks have grown, we remain committed to these core principles:

• Vaccinations are Key: Every artists must show that they are fully vaccinated before working with the JPP When venue rules permit, audience vaccinations are also checked.
• Masking is Still Important: Any time that staff, artists or audiences are not in the direct act of rehearsing or performing new plays in public, we strive to remain masked.
• Testing: The JPP provides free COVID rapid tests to as many participants as we can, as often as we can, within the financial and practical limits of our work and budget.
• Constant Learning: we are always taking stock of the newest information and best practices. We know that this ongoing public health emergency is always changing, and we wil update these rules as often as need be.