Leah Lax
American author (born 1956)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Leah Lax (born 1955 or 1956) is an American author and librettist.[1] She is best known for her memoir Uncovered: How I Left Hasidic Life and Finally Came Home which was later developed as an opera with composer Lori Laitman.[2][3]
MFA, Creative Writing
Leah Lax | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1955 or 1956 (age 69–70) |
| Alma mater | University of Houston MFA, Creative Writing |
| Website | |
| leahlaxauthor | |
Biography
Lax was born in 1955 or 1956, and grew up in Dallas, Texas.[4] She joined the Lubavitcher Hasidim at sixteen.[5] In 1975, Lax entered an arranged marriage at the age of 19,[6] and remained among the Hasidim for thirty years, bearing seven children.[7] In 2002 she left the community to lead a secular life and live openly as a lesbian.[8] Subsequently, Lax graduated from the University of Houston with an MFA in Creative Writing.[9] She had completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Texas at Austin.[5]
Career
Her interest in writing started while reading anthologies by feminist and lesbian poet Adrienne Rich.[9] Lax started writing in earnest after she underwent a secret abortion to terminate a life-threatening pregnancy.[10] In 2007 Lax co-wrote The Refuge for the Houston Grand Opera with composer Christopher Theofanidis debuted at Houston's Wortham Center.[11] In 2013, she created and designed Houston's In Concert Against Hate for the Houston Symphony In collaboration with the Anti-Defamation League,[12] In 2020, Lax created an opera Uncovered with composer Lori Laitman and director/dramatist Beth Greenberg.[3] Lax wrote the libretto based on her memoir Uncovered: How I Left Hasidic Life and Finally Came Home,[13] narrating thirty years as a Hasidic wife, mother, and closeted lesbian.[14][15]
Uncovered was named Redbook Magazine's "Best of 2015".[16]
