Catatonic (Part 1)

To condense the plot of this play, which is just part 1, to a short synopsis is asking to condense its topic, October 7, into a short synopsis. So… it’s a play about October 7, and how the world was never the same.

To condense the plot of this play, which is just part 1, to a short synopsis is asking to condense its topic, October 7, into a short synopsis. So… it’s a play about October 7, and how the world was never the same.

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Catatonic (Part 1)

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  • Jewish Plays Project: Catatonic (Part 1)

    Jewish Plays Project congratulates CATATONIC for receiving our COMMENDED status for the 15th National Jewish Playwriting Contest in 2025. Commended plays received strong advocacy for consideration through our signature Jewish Artistic Democracy community reading process out of the 315+ plays we received. Our readers appreciated the depth and nuance granted to each character's perspective as well as the empathetic approach to such difficult conversations.

    Jewish Plays Project congratulates CATATONIC for receiving our COMMENDED status for the 15th National Jewish Playwriting Contest in 2025. Commended plays received strong advocacy for consideration through our signature Jewish Artistic Democracy community reading process out of the 315+ plays we received. Our readers appreciated the depth and nuance granted to each character's perspective as well as the empathetic approach to such difficult conversations.

Character Information

  • Joseph Avram
    Jewish American, labor Zionist, leftist working for a conservative media agency, pro-Palestinian liberation
    Character Age
    20s
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Jewish -- Ashkenazi
    Character Gender Identity
    Male
  • Yuval Nir
    Former IDF soldier, now editorial reporter at the agency, scorched earth mentality, Mizrachi
    Character Age
    30s
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Jewish -- Mizrahi
    Character Gender Identity
    Male
  • Elena Raqueli
    Mexican-Israeli, mother of 4, Joseph and Yuval’s boss
    Character Age
    40s
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Jewish / Hispanic
    Character Gender Identity
    Female
  • Thomas Aaron
    Right wing EIC and pundit, mid-career republican, strict moral consistency even if others think his morals are anything but
    Character Age
    50s
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Jewish -- White,
    Jewish -- Ashkenazi
    Character Gender Identity
    Male
  • Nicole Ramah
    Jewish American, Hillel college advisor, broken and takes it out on others, Joseph’s… like girlfriend but not girlfriend. It’s complicated. So incredibly complicated
    Character Age
    30s
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Jewish
    Character Gender Identity
    Female
  • Jason Ifya
    Content creator, Yemeni, Joseph’s friend and roommate, grapples with Joseph’s Zionism, family in Gaza
    Character Age
    20s
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Middle Eastern, North African, or South Asian -- Yemeni,
    Middle Eastern, North African, or South Asian
    Character Gender Identity
    Male
  • Fatima Ahmed Kadri
    Palestinian Journalist, Pro-Palestinian activist, son killed in one if the previous Israel-Hamas wars
    Character Age
    50s
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Palestinian,
    Middle Eastern, North African, or South Asian -- Palestinian
    Character Gender Identity
    Female
  • Robert Kazem
    Palestinian-American, college professor
    Character Age
    30s
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Palestinian American
    Character Gender Identity
    Male
  • Rachel Aaronson
    Jewish American, JVP activist and antizionist
    Character Age
    Early 20s
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Jewish -- Ashkenazi,
    Jewish
    Character Gender Identity
    Female
  • Mikael Fitz
    White American, changed name from “Michael,” open Hamas supporter, far left progressive, Palestinian liberation by “any means necessary”
    Character Age
    20s
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    White,
    White
    Character Gender Identity
    Male
  • Mahmoud Raz Sultran
    Palestinian, living in Area B, radicalized but educated
    Character Age
    30s
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Middle Eastern, North African, or South Asian -- Palestinian
    Character Gender Identity
    Male
  • Ensemble
    This includes roles such as Benjamin Netanyahu, the Harvard Students Association, Ghazi Hamad, Officer Melkonian, the Crowd and plenty of others. Feel free to cast as many or few people as you want, and feel free to double up.
    Character Age
    Any Age