About the Show

The blossoming relationship between two recent immigrants stalls at the crossroads between promises of the future and horrors of the past in this world premiere drama.

At the turn of a century that feels startlingly familiar, young lovers David Quixano and Vera Revendal enter the American crucible and are re-formed. Through a rich blend of languages, cultures, humor, and music, 'The Melting Pot' weaves text from Israel Zangwill's 1908 melodrama of the same name with voices from the early 20th century culture wars, creating a new work that lays bare the wonders and wounds of immigrant America.

Critic Reviews (2)

"Lashof has added bits of the original to her modern perspective that all-too-easily shines a light on our current social struggles and uneasy political climate...Underneath the dialogue is a light musical layer created...Off to one side is Nurse who throughout the performance describes the pogrom in Odessa in terrifying and bloody detail. It’s a shocking history, but it never blends smoothly with the rest of the storylines...A thought-provoking opening."
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"Under the direction of Keegan, the play is staged in a minimalistic, almost Brechtian fashion. The actors are all onstage throughout the show...and occasionally even interact with the audience...Gaines stands out as having a charming stage presence in the lead role of Vera...A well-written play, and one of the better pieces I've seen brought to life so far this year...One of those plays that gets better over the course of the night...A political drama just as much as it's a love story."
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