Theater J's New Season

"The dominant voice of the season for us is one of youth holding on to its morality and embroiled in conflict," Artistic Director Ari Roth says of the upcoming roster of shows. But first he's opening "with a bang" -- a special event featuring comedian and diva of outrageousness Sandra Bernhard.

"Without You I'm Nothing" (Sept. 9-28) is a revision of Bernhard's 1988 solo show (written with John Boskovich). Roth says the big-name "get" was got via Bernhard's uncle, who is on the theater's board. "We found a connection to this particular kind of gay Jewish performer with a potty mouth and really strong things to say," he notes, citing past Theater J runs by the alternative rock band Betty and performance artists Judy Gold and Sherry Glaser.

The official season gets underway with the world premiere drama "Honey Brown Eyes" (Oct. 22-Nov. 30) by Stefanie Zadravec. The play exploring the nature of genocide unfolds in Bosnia in 1992 and will feature Alexander Strain, who will be an actor-in-residence for much of the season. Jessica Lefkow will direct.

Folk singer and actor Theodore Bikel, a frequent performer at Theater J ("The Disputation," "Shylock"), will unveil "Sholom Aleichem: Laughter Through Tears" (Dec. 17-Jan. 11, 2009). The solo piece explores the life and writings of the famed 19th-century Yiddish author who created Tevye, a role Bikel has played in "Fiddler on the Roof" many times. Derek Goldman will direct. Bikel's partner and collaborator Tamara Brooks will do the musical direction.

"The Accident" (Feb. 4-March 8, 2009) by Israeli writer Hillel Mitelpunkt (translated by David Berkoff) examines the lives of four young Israelis after they accidentally run over and kill an undocumented foreign worker. Director Sinai Peter, who staged "Pangs of the Messiah" here, will return from Israel with his "Pangs" design and music team.

Another high-profile special event will be Cameri Theatre of Tel Aviv's production of "Plonter (Tangle)" (March 14-29, 2009), in which a cast of Jewish and Arab Israelis satirizes life after the building of the security wall.

A world premiere comedy, "The Rise and Fall of Annie Hall" (April 16-May 24, 2009) by Sam Forman, is about a guy who goes to nutty extremes to snare the rights to Woody Allen's "Annie Hall" so he can turn it into a musical. Shirley Serotsky will direct.

"The Seagull on 16th Street" (June 17-July 19, 2009) will be Ari Roth's adaptation of Chekhov's play, using a translation by Carol Rocamora and directed by John Vreeke.

-- Jane Horwitz