The Jewish Repertory Theatre of WNY is thrilled to announce our 2025-2026 season. We are honored to present three outstanding regional premieres of exciting new plays.
Coming off the success of our 2024–2025 season—with subscriber numbers at an all-time high and a record number of Buffalo Artie Award nominations—we are deeply grateful. Special congratulations go to David Lundy, who received the Artie Award for Outstanding Lead Performance in a Play for his tour-de-force role in Remember This: The Lesson of Jan Karski.
To all of our loyal subscribers and audience members: thank you for allowing our theater to grow and thrive. We are committed to continuing our mission of producing topical and enlightening plays while also offering enriching extras, including panel discussions, talkbacks, film screenings, and special events throughout the season.
We’re especially excited to unveil the completed renovations to the Maxine and Robert Seller Theatre! Patrons can now enjoy new risers and chairs along with state-of-the-art upgrades to our lighting, sound, and projection systems.
To our returning subscribers: we can’t wait to welcome you back! And to those who are considering joining us for the first time—there’s never been a better season to come aboard.
Let’s make the 2025–2026 season unforgettable. See you at the theatre!
Adam Yellen,
Director Of Performing Arts
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Conscience by Joe DiPietro
Directed by Steve Vaughan
Running October 30-November 23, 2024
Margaret Chase Smith shattered political ceilings, becoming the first woman elected to both the U.S. House (1940) and Senate (1949) from Maine. But it was her bold moral stand in 1950 that defined her legacy. At a time when fear and silence gripped Washington, Smith delivered her iconic “Declaration of Conscience” speech, publicly condemning Senator Joseph McCarthy’s reckless anti-Communist crusade. Her act of defiance, which came with political and personal costs, marked a rare moment of integrity and bravery in an era of fear that deeply affected the Jewish community and many others across the country. In this powerful new play, Josie DiVincenzo returns to the JRT stage to bring to life the story of a woman who refused to be intimidated—and inspired a nation by standing alone.
Starring: Josie DiVincezo, Anna Krempholtz, David Mitchell, and Nick Stevens
Sheltered by Alex Sobler
Directed by Kyle Lo Conti
Running February 5 - March 1, 2026
This powerful and emotionally charged play delves into a little-known chapter of history, exploring the moral complexities and personal sacrifices involved in rescue efforts during the Holocaust. Set against the backdrop of 1939, just before World War II fully erupts, the play follows Evelyn and Leonard Kirsch, an American Jewish couple who choose not to flee from danger, but to step into it. Their mission: to rescue 40 Jewish children from Nazi-occupied Europe and bring them to safety in the United States.
Highlighting the human cost of heroism and the fragility of moral certainty, this fascinating play questions how far one should go to help others, especially when the personal toll is high and the outcomes uncertain. Through sharp dialogue and complex characters, Sheltered becomes both a historical drama and a reflection on contemporary questions of responsibility, identity, and compassion.
Starring: Rebecca Elkin, Peter Horn, Anna Krempholtz, Maria Pedro, and Adam Yellen
Just For Us by Alex Edelman
Directed by Charmagne Chi
Running May 7- June 7 2026 (no performances May 22nd-25th)
Just for Us follows comedian Alex Edelman on a journey that begins with an anti-Semitic tweet and ends in a Queens apartment, face-to-face with a gathering of White Nationalists. What starts as morbid curiosity evolves into a thoughtful and often hilarious confrontation with hate, ignorance, and his own identity. This uproarious and captivating show deftly explores themes of religion, assimilation, empathy, and the bizarre contradictions of modern life.
Originally developed in intimate London venues, Just for Us grew into a critically acclaimed Broadway hit. Edelman's incisive wit and heartfelt introspection earned him a Special Tony Award®, marking the show as not only comedic but culturally vital. In a new staging directed by the acclaimed Buffalo actor and comedienne Charmagne Chi, Jordan Levin steps into Edelman's shoes, bringing a fresh perspective to a piece that continues to resonate in a divided world.
Starring: Jordan Levin
Subscriber Benefits
• Subscription Price equal to three shows for the price of two
• Discounted tickets and early access to special events throughout the season
• Early ticketing access and discount tickets for A Salute to Sondheim & Reading of Victor Wishna's Acclaimed Play, Tree of Life
• Early performance/date selection for the season
• Free Access to Panel and Stage to Screen series for each production
Subscriber Information
• Box office opens 30 Mins before the curtain.
• Seating is general admission. Every accommodation will be made to provide special requests.
• Talk Back Thursdays with directors & cast members.
• Free audio headsets available for the hearing impaired.
• Seats not filled 5 minutes before curtain may be sold to wait-list patrons.
• Tickets are non-refundable. Individual tickets are not exchangeable. Subscribers may exchange tickets up to 48 hours before a performance.
• Subscriptions available until November 23
*Please note: Subscribers must call or email in advance to reserve dates and guarantee seating.
Call 716.650.7626 or [email protected].
Have Questions or Want More Information?
Contact Adam Yellen at 716.306.3086 or by email.