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Limited Availability

SPECIAL PERFORMANCES

JUNE 23: PATRON NIGHT
JULY 10
: OPEN CAPTION
If you require an accessible price point for the open caption performance, contact boxoffice@mcctheater.org for a special code. Offer based on availability.

 

 

“A THRILLINGLY CONSTRUCTED DRAMA”

–HELEN SHAW, THE NEW YORK TIMES

“THE BEST NEW PLAY OF THE YEAR”

–ROBERT HOFLER, THE WRAP

★★★★

“THE YEAR’S BEST NEW PLAY”

–THOM GEIER, CULTURESAUCE

“A MASTERFUL NEW PLAY”

–ELYSA GARDNER, THE NEW YORK SUN

★★★★

“INCISIVE WRITING, PITCH-PERFECT DIRECTION, and SUPERB PERFORMANCES”

–FRANK SCHECK, NEW YORK STAGE REVIEW

★★★★

“A fast-moving — no, really! — three-hour-and-15-minute play. YOU’LL WANT TO STAY IN THIS WORLD AS LONG AS POSSIBLE.”

–MELISSA ROSE BERNARDO, NEW YORK STAGE REVIEW

How do you show up for the people you love?

What begins as a reunion among six young friends after a Birthright trip to Israel in 2006 becomes, over the span of 18 years, an exploration of identity, fracturing communities, and the struggle to stay connected across difference. Against a backdrop of political upheaval, the influence of social media on discourse, and profound generational change, their relationships become a battleground for competing histories, beliefs, and uncomfortable emotional truths.

BIRTHRIGHT, the gripping new play by Tony Award® winner JONATHAN SPECTOR (EUREKA DAY) and directed by TEDDY BERGMAN (MOTHER RUSSIA), holds up a mirror to our times and captures the combustible dynamics of modern friendship and chosen family: the longing to understand each other, the fear of saying the wrong thing, and the pain of realizing that love does not always guarantee agreement.

Provocative, funny, and piercingly contemporary, BIRTHRIGHT asks whether connection is still possible when every conversation feels like it could be the one that breaks everything apart.

A chronicle of a generation in three breathtaking acts.


This production is recommended for ages 16+ and contains nudity, haze and the use of herbal cigarettes. For more details, please reference our content disclosure. Please note that the content disclosure may contain plot spoilers.

To protect the privacy of our performers, this event will be phone-free. After your tickets are scanned, phones will be turned off and secured in Yondr pouches, which will be unlocked at the end of the show. You will maintain possession of your phone at all times. Access to a “phone zone” will be available at intermissions for you to use your devices.

Find more details about our phone-free procedures here. If you have any questions about the phone-free policy for this production, please contact audienceservices@mcctheater.org. Thank you for helping us protect the privacy of our performers and share a distraction-free experience for all.

BIRTHRIGHT is produced by Special Arrangement with Jenny Gersten, FourthWall Theatrical, and Sonia Friedman Productions.

BIRTHRIGHT was commissioned and developed by Miami New Drama. World Premiere presented by Miami New Drama, April 2024, Michel Hausmann-Artistic Director; Nicholas Richberg-Managing Director.

The Newman Mills Theater
THE ROBERT W. WILSON
MCC THEATER SPACE
511 W 52 ST
NY, NY 10019

A graphic showing a run time of 3 hours 20 minutes

The play is comprised of 3 acts, each less than 1 hour long, with a 15-minute intermission between each act.

BOX OFFICE HOURS
Our in-person box office opens 2 hours prior to each performance. Our remote team is available to assist MON thru FRI from 12 PM–6 PM by phone at 646-506-9393 and boxoffice@mcctheater.org.

All tix include $4 facilities fee. An additional $5 service fee will apply to tix purchases made online or over the phone. All Patrons and Subscribers must be logged in to access their tix and discounts.

All sales final.

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(646) 506-9393 or
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CREATIVE TEAM

JONATHAN SPECTOR

PLAYWRIGHT

JONATHAN SPETCOR (playwright) is a Tony Award-winning playwright based in Oakland, California. His plays include EUREKA DAY (Best Revival: Tony Award, Drama League Award, Drama Desk Award, Dorian Award), THIS MUCH I KNOW (Glickman Award, Edgerton Award, Bay Area Theater Critics Circle Award, Off Broadway Alliance Nomination), BEST AVAILABLE, and GOOD. BETTER. BEST. BESTED. Spector’s plays have been produced On and Off Broadway, regionally, and abroad with Manhattan Theater Club, The Old Vic/Sonia Friedman Productions, 59E59, Hampstead Theater, Pasadena Playhouse, Huntington Theater, Theater J, Marin Theater, Aurora Theater, Colt Coeur, Miami New Drama, Vienna’s Burgtheater, and Dublin’s Gate Theater, among others. He is currently under commission with Manhattan Theater Club, Roundabout, La Jolla Playhouse and Trafalgar Theater, proudly serves on the Dramatists Guild Council and was a writer/producer on the upcoming Netflix series “THE RETRIEVALS.”

TEDDY BERGMAN

DIRECTOR

TEDDY BERGMAN (director) is a Drama Desk nominated director, producer and actor. Recent work includes acclaimed productions like MOTHER RUSSIA at Signature Theatre (NYTimes Critics Pick, Lortel Nom), URINETOWN for NYCC Encores! (NYTimes Critics Pick, Drama League Nom.), and LIFE AND TRUST, the massive immersive experience from the producers of SLEEP NO MORE. Other work includes the groundbreaking Broadway musical KPOP, the critically acclaimed EMPIRE TRAVEL AGENCY and the award-winning, immersive iteration of KPOP (Lortel Winner for Outstanding Musical, Rodgers Award) with his company Woodshed Collective. His work has been seen at Lincoln Center (in collaboration with Clint Ramos), The Park Avenue Armory, The Public Theater, Roundabout, Williamstown, NYTW, MTC, Ars Nova, Ma-Yi, Pasadena Playhouse, Miami New Drama, The Mercury Store and more. His work with pop acts includes the co-creation and direction of Tegan and Sara’s tour Hey, I’m Just Like You, and creative direction for Sara Bareilles’s upcoming Good Grief tour. He’s a founder of Ad Hoc – creators and producers of original and large-scale live entertainment. Acting work includes originating roles on and off-Broadway and in numerous films and television shows.

CAST

HALE APPLEMAN

LEV

HALE APPLEMAN (Lev) also played Lev in the Miami New Drama production of Birthright at the Colony Theatre. Further stage credits include the revival of David Rabe’s Streamers (Roundabout), the New York premiere of Sarah Ruhl’s Passion Play (Epic Theatre), as well as productions with The Public Theater, EST, ART, The Old Globe, Berkshire Theatre Festival, L.A. Theatre Works, and Audible Theater. In TV, he is best known for playing Eliot Waugh for all 5 seasons of the fantasy series The Magicians (UCP/Netflix), based on the novels by Lev Grossman. He’s recurred on Smash (NBC), Truth Be Told (Apple TV), and American Horror Story: NYC (Hulu/FX). His film credits include Beautiful Ohio opposite William Hurt, Pedro (Toronto Film Festival), Private Romeo (Outfest Acting Award) and the Sundance horror comedy Teeth.

MOLLY BERNARD

IZZY

MOLLY BERNARD (Izzy) is best known for her role as Lauren Heller on Paramount’s “YOUNGER,” in which she starred for seven seasons. Additional television credits include “BRILLIANT MINDS,” “CHICAGO MED,” “TRANSPARENT,” “ALPHA HOUSE,” “HIGH MAINTENANCE,” “BLINDSPOT,” and “THE BLACKLIST.” On the film side, Molly starred in and executive produced the indie features MILKWATER, BEST MAN DEAD MAN, DAMNED IF YOU DO, and appeared in Richard Linklater’s HIT MAN opposite Glen Powell. Last year, she made her Broadway debut starring in Leslye Headland’s CULT OF LOVE, directed by Trip Cullman. Select additional theater credits include REVOLT. SHE SAID. REVOLT AGAIN. at Soho Rep and HOUSE PLANT at NYTW Next Door.

ELI GELB

NOAH

ELI GELB (Noah) was last seen on Broadway as Grover in David Adjmi’s STEREOPHONIC, directed by Daniel Aukin, and recently completed the show’s West End transfer. His performance earned Tony Award and Drama League Distinguished Performance Award nominations, a Drama Desk Award for Best Ensemble, and the Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Featured Performer in a Play (for the original production at Playwrights Horizons). Additional stage work includes Jordan Fein’s production of Arthur Miller’s BROKEN GLASS at London’s Young Vic, and Joshua Harmon’s SKINTIGHT (Roundabout Theatre Company/Geffen Playhouse). On screen, he plays a supporting role alongside Josh O’Connor in Kelly Reichardt’s latest feature, THE MASTERMIND. Additional credits include HBO’s “THE NEWSROOM,” INDIGNATION (James Schamus), HOLY ROLLERS, and THE SQUID AND THE WHALE (Noah Baumbach). Proud member of Ensemble Studio Theatre.

LIZ LARSEN

DEBORAH

LIZ LARSEN (Deborah) stars in the film The Baltimorons (IFC Films and the SXSW 2025 Audience Award Winner), directed by Jay Duplass, which she was nominated for a 2025 Independent SPIRIT Award for her performance as ‘Didi’. She is a Tony Nominee for her performance in The Most Happy Fella. Recently, she played Sarah Silverman’s ‘Nana’ in The Bedwetter musical at DC’s Arena Stage. She also starred in the world premiere of TRANSPARENT The Musical as the fabulous matriarch ’Shelly Pfefferman’ (The Mark Taper).  Broadway: Beautiful: The Carole King MusicalHairsprayDamn Yankees, The Rocky Horror ShowA Little Night MusicSmell of the KillStarmites, Fiddler on the Roof, A New Brain (Lincoln Center). TV: Madoff (w/ Richard Dreyfuss), Mr.RobotLaw and Order (10 years), SVU (4 years), The AmericansBunheadsCriminal IntentSopranosRaising KananThird WatchThe StreetDeadlineThe Breaks. Movies: The Week Of, Hudson Tribes. IG: @lizthelarsen

NATE MANN

EMERSON

NATE MANN (Emerson) will next be seen in the upcoming BBC series and KILLING EVE spinoff, HONEY created by Emma Moran. He recently wrapped playing the lead role on the independent feature THE UP AND COMER across from Andrew Burnap and from director Chris Long. Prior to that, Nate shot the independent feature ACT ONE across Ella Beaty and Ari Graynor. He can currently be seen starring opposite Austin Butler in MASTERS OF THE AIR for Apple/Playtone and in the limited series APPLES NEVER FALL for Peacock. Nate made his film debut in Paul Thomas Anderson’s LICORICE PIZZA and debuted on Broadway in A SOLDIER’S PLAY for director Kenny Leon. He played a young Liev Schreiber in the final season of RAY DONOVAN shortly after graduating from Juilliard. He is based in New York City.

MOLLY RANSON

ALONA

MOLLY RANSON (Alona) Broadway: Prayer for the French Republic, Plaza Suite, Fish in the Dark, Jerusalem, August: Osage County (also at National Theatre and Sydney Theatre Company). Off-Broadway: Carrie (MCC—Drama Desk, Lortel, Drama League nominations); The Honey Trap (Irish Rep); Prayer for the French Republic (MTC); Linda (MTC); Bad Jews (Roundabout—Lortel nomination); The Burnt Part Boys (Playwrights Horizons and Vineyard Theatre co-production). TV/Film: “New Amsterdam,” “Horace and Pete” and Love on the Run. Cast recordings: Carrie, The Burnt Part Boys, The Other Room (upcoming).

ZOË WINTERS

CHAYA

ZOË WINTERS (Chaya) NY stage credits include HEROES OF THE FOURTH TURNING at Playwrights Horizons (Obie Award, Lucille Lortel Nomination), WHITE NOISE (The Public Theater), SMALL MOUTH SOUNDS (Pershing Square Signature Center), RED SPEEDO, LOVE AND INFORMATION (NYTW), AN OCTOROON (Soho Rep), WALDEN (Second Stage Theater), THE LAST MATCH (Roundabout Theater), THE HARVEST (LCT3), MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING (The Public’s Shakespeare in the Park) and 4000 MILES (LCT3 and Lincoln Center). Winters has recently been seen in two lauded films from A24: Kristoffer Borgli’s THE DRAMA, in a standout role opposite Zendaya and Robert Pattinson and Celine Song’s MATERIALISTS, alongside Dakota Johnson, Pedro Pascal, and Chris Evans. Upcoming in television, Winters will be seen in the Apple+ series “THE OFF WEEKS” with Ben Stiller and Jessica Chastain as well as FX’s “SEVEN SISTERS” alongside Elizabeth Olsen and Cristin Milioti. Zoë is best known for her breakout role as Kerry on HBO’s critically acclaimed “SUCCESSION,” which won the Emmy for Best Drama Series and the 2022 and 2024 SAG Award for Best Drama Ensemble.

DESIGN TEAM

set designer SCOTT PASK
costume designer CLINT RAMOS
lighting designer NATASHA KATZ
sound designer LEE KINNEY
projection designer DAVID BENGALI
wig and hair designer ROBERT PICKENS
makeup designer NIKOLETTA SKARLATOS
voice and text coach GIGI BUFFINGTON
intimacy coordinator ALICIA RODIS
props supervisor SAMANTHA SHOFFNER
production stage manager CHARLES M. TURNER III
DEI consultant NICOLE JOHNSON / HARRIET TUBMAN EFFECT
casting by THE TELSEY OFFICE