The Ally (play)
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| The Ally | |
|---|---|
| Written by | Itamar Moses |
| Date premiered | February 15, 2024 |
| Place premiered | The Public Theater |
| Original language | English |
| Subject | Free speech, Jewish identity, faith, Israel-Palestine conflict, Antisemitism, Race relations, police brutality, gentrification, Zionism, Anti-Asian racism |
| Genre | Comedy-Drama |
The Ally is a play by the American playwright Itamar Moses, which revolves around a Jewish college professor who initially agrees to sign a student's manifesto addressing police brutality until he sees language in the document criticizing Israel that he is uncomfortable with, ultimately forcing him to question his identity and faith. The play premiered Off-Broadway in February 2024 at the Anspacher Theatre at The Public Theater. The play was directed by Lila Neugebauer and stars Josh Radnor. It was named as one the finalists for the Pulitzer Prize for Drama.
The play revolves around a Jewish college professor who initially agrees to sign a manifesto from students in response to an incident of police brutality but disagrees when he sees there is a section accusing Israel of engaging in an "apartheid" and "genocide" in relation to the Israeli–Palestinian conflict. The play shifts from comedy to drama as debates and discussions force the professor to question his faith and Jewish identity.
Origins
Moses began writing and developing the play in the early 2010s. The idea came about as he became aware of "a fissure or a division opening up on the left, where I basically am and have always been politically, having to do with questions around Israel and America’s relationship to Israel" and he realized there was a generational divide in terms of support to Israel.[1] The show was ready to premiere at the Public Theater in 2020 but was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The play opened in February 2024 and is set in late September 2023 before the events leading up to Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7th.[2]
Productions
Off-Broadway
The world premiere production opened on February 15, 2024, at The Public Theater's Anspacher Theatre. The run has been extended twice. It was directed by Lila Neugebauer who in 2024 also directed Appropriate and the revival of Uncle Vanya.[3][4] The production stars Josh Radnor as Asaf, the Jewish college professor. Also included in the cast are Joy Osmanski, Cherise Boothe, Elijah Jones, Michael Khalid Karadsheh, Madeline Weinstein, and Ben Rosenfield.[5]