Chametz-off at The Breman Celebrates Jewish Culture

On a rainy evening in late May at The Breman Museum & Cultural Center, theater lovers gathered for the “Chametz-Off,” an original Jewish theater showcase that proved storytelling is not only alive and well, but willing to tackle tough subjects of interest to the community.

Presented by Atlanta Jewish Artists in collaboration with Atlanta Dramatists and The Breman, the one-night-only event featured seven fresh, dynamic staged readings of short plays. Each piece was written in just two weeks by one of eight nationally recognized playwrights, all of whom were challenged to celebrate Jewish culture in creative ways. The catch? Every play had to include three quirky ingredients: the number three, a form of chametz (either physically present or referenced), and laughter.

Inspired by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Paula Vogel’s “Bake-Off” playwriting challenge — which tasks writers with creating a play under time pressure using assigned elements — “Chametz-Off” embraced that same sense of urgency and innovation, filtered through a distinctly Jewish lens.

The selected playwrights — Mark Evan Chimsky, Dana Leslie Goldstein, Sam Heyman, Kwik Jones, Barbara Kimmel, David Reingold, and Danielle Wirsansky — were chosen from a pool of 37 applicants. Each finalist brought their own voice and flair to the stage, weaving in humor, tradition, and contemporary relevance.

Many of the writers are well recognized in the field and have won prestigious awards such as the 2024 NAACP Theater Award, the New England New Play Competition, and the 2024 Honegger Prize for Best Short Play. Two of the playwrights, Reingold and Kimmel, in fact, are based here in Atlanta. Topics covered during the evening’s script readings included familial relationships and dysfunction, acceptance of LGBTQ+ individuals by their families, the unique challenges faced by Jews of color — both in the Jewish community and the larger world, and teens exploring their sexuality, to name just a few.

The night opened with a powerful tribute to storytelling by Daniel Guyton, artistic director of Atlanta Dramatists and an accomplished playwright and screenwriter. In his remarks, Guyton emphasized that stories are the lifeblood of culture. “Without stories,” he said, “our cultures could not be transmitted.”

In the face of rising cultural and social tensions, Guyton stressed that it is more urgent than ever to uplift and preserve individual and communal narratives.

“The Chametz-Off is the culmination of nearly six months of planning, and we are beyond thrilled with the way it turned out,” said Sarah Michelson, who along with Amy L. Levin co-produced the show. “In a time where being Jewish has become increasingly dangerous, and the arts are under attack, it was incredibly meaningful to produce a show that highlighted both Jewish talent and all kinds of Jewish stories. The playwrights and actors created something truly special in a very short timeframe that was a pleasure to share with our audience,” she added.

From raucous laughter to poignant reflection, “Chametz-Off” highlighted the many ways Jewish identity, history, and humor continue to inspire. The event stood as a testament to the enduring power of theater to connect, challenge, and celebrate community — all through the magic of a well-told story.