Zionista Rising

At a Jewish American media organization, two Gen Z interns compete to rebrand Israel as a #girlboss #progressive #diversity-win via an AI-generated Instagram influencer. Meanwhile, at the margins, a Jewish American playwright wrestles with the question she can't escape: who are we if not a nation?

At a Jewish American media organization, two Gen Z interns compete to rebrand Israel as a #girlboss #progressive #diversity-win via an AI-generated Instagram influencer. Meanwhile, at the margins, a Jewish American playwright wrestles with the question she can't escape: who are we if not a nation?

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Zionista Rising

Recommended by

  • Shaun Leisher: Zionista Rising

    I am not my self an American Jew but I connected with so much here. This play has a lot of important things to say about Jewish identity and the power of social media. This play is very funny but also packs an emotional wallop when it needs to. I loved the breaking of the fourth wall here. Derman makes herself a character that is also trying to figure out her identity and her connection with Israel. I hope this play gets produced. It's a satire that is very relevant and I hope starts some important conversations.

    I am not my self an American Jew but I connected with so much here. This play has a lot of important things to say about Jewish identity and the power of social media. This play is very funny but also packs an emotional wallop when it needs to. I loved the breaking of the fourth wall here. Derman makes herself a character that is also trying to figure out her identity and her connection with Israel. I hope this play gets produced. It's a satire that is very relevant and I hope starts some important conversations.

  • Premiere Stages at Kean University: Zionista Rising

    Premiere Stages, the professional Equity theatre company in residence at Kean University, is pleased to recognize Zionista Rising by Alexa Derman as a Semi-Finalist for the 2024 Premiere Play Festival. Zionista Rising rose through a competitive selection process conducted by Premiere staff and a panel of outside theatre professionals to become one of 48 Semi-Finalists out of 760 submissions. The panel was particularly impressed by the play's wonderfully complex exploration of Jewish identity, the function of media, and the challenges embedded in personal storytelling. Our congratulations and...

    Premiere Stages, the professional Equity theatre company in residence at Kean University, is pleased to recognize Zionista Rising by Alexa Derman as a Semi-Finalist for the 2024 Premiere Play Festival. Zionista Rising rose through a competitive selection process conducted by Premiere staff and a panel of outside theatre professionals to become one of 48 Semi-Finalists out of 760 submissions. The panel was particularly impressed by the play's wonderfully complex exploration of Jewish identity, the function of media, and the challenges embedded in personal storytelling. Our congratulations and thanks to Alexa.

  • Lisa Buch: Zionista Rising

    This play is fire and extremely relevant!! A must-produce!!!

    This play is fire and extremely relevant!! A must-produce!!!

View all 4 recommendations

Character Information

  • Liz
    The president of JewToo.
    Character Age
    40s
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    White,
    Jewish
    Character Gender Identity
    Female
  • Rhonda
    The co-president of JewToo.
    Character Age
    40s
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    White,
    Jewish
    Character Gender Identity
    Female
  • Ella
    An intern at JewToo.
    Character Age
    college-aged
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    White,
    Jewish
    Character Gender Identity
    Female
  • David
    An intern at JewToo. Wears a yarmulke.
    Character Age
    college-aged
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    African American/Black,
    Jewish
    Character Gender Identity
    Male
  • Ava
    Mizrahi, Jewish. A fiction. Also plays ALEXA DERMAN, STAFF REPORTER and FLIGHT ATTENDANT.
    Character Age
    20s
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Jewish
    Character Gender Identity
    Female
  • Max the Consultant
    Also plays A COMMENTER / HIP LIB REPORTER / EIC / ANNOUNCER / MEGHAN MCCAIN, not white. A Gentile.
    Character Age
    40s
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    BIPOC
    Character Gender Identity
    Any

Development History

  • Type Reading, Organization NYTW, Year 2024
  • Type Workshop, Organization Jewish Plays Project, Year 2023
  • Type Workshop, Organization Playwrights Center, Year 2023
  • Type Reading, Organization Brown University, Year 2021

Awards