With Zawe Ashton, star of Broadway's Betrayal and playwright of Soho Rep's for all the women who thought they were Mad.

Dear Family and Friends,

     Happy New Year to all of my fellow Jews—and to anyone who wants to take this opportunity for a fresh start. Maybe it’s because I’m Jewish and always grew up celebrating two new years—one in the fall and January 1—that I believe you can decide to make a change and kick off a new year, at any time. In my celebration, I enjoy the added bonus of going to synagogue where there are rabbis to guide us through the introspection, the evaluation, the (hopeful) evolution. This year, both my leaders in Connecticut over Rosh Hashanah and my leaders in New York over Yom Kippur stressed this: the High Holy Days are about who we are supposed to be. Not who we are. Not who we have been. We shed it all and look forward. We ask ourselves: Who do I want to be? It dawned on me: Theatre asks us the same question. Who do we want to be? Theatre is a catalyst for change—which is one of the reasons why I am dedicated to it and I hope you'll feel compelled to explore it. As we look up on the stage and see our society reflected back at ourselves, is this who we are supposed to be?

     This past year, I’ve been doing a lot of personal work to become a better ally across racial and gender lines. In the spring, I received an email from Maybe Burke, a trans non-binary actor who had been misgendered by critics in the reviews of their work. In my day job, it can be a challenge to take on issues some may categorize as “political.” But what are we doing here if not telling stories to change the world? My goal is always to engage and educate—be it about what a make-up designer does or why we need to be conscious of preferred pronouns—and this was a ripe opportunity to better understand someone different from me and transmit that understanding to a greater audience. I learned so much in my 90 minutes with Maybe. I hope you’ll read the piece.

     When I think about who I want to be, I also think about my conversation with Zawe Ashton. She’s starring in Betrayal opposite Tom Hiddleston and Charlie Cox, but she’s also premiering her own play at Soho Rep. (She also starred alongside Jake Gyllenhaal in a movie this year and published a book, so she’s a badass.) Our conversation was one of immediate connection. I am bowled over by her poise, her conviction, her commitment to self-discovery, her boldness. She had something to say, she wrote a book, she had questions to ask, she wrote a play. That’s the kind of woman I want to be.

     So, in this new year, I ask: Who do you want to be? You can start today. Thank you, as always, for the outpouring of love and support. Find more articles below and this month’s batch of recs!

Recommendations: 

1. Derren Brown: Secret. If you're into magic, mentalism, psychology, or mind tricks this is the show for you. If you just want a fun night out, this is also the show for you. With wit, poignance, and flare, Derren Brown completes confuzifying feats in reading human behavior. Your jaw will be on the floor—and you can definitely get a cheap seat.

2. Freestyle Love Supreme. We’re having a moment of fun on Broadway. FLS is wildly impressive and entertaining. The brainchild of Lin-Manuel Miranda, director Tommy Kail (Hamilton, In The Heights, Fosse/Verdon), and Anthony Veneziale (a classmate of theirs at Wesleyan—of whom I am newly in awe), the show is like Upright Citizens’ Brigade, if the improv could only come in raps, songs, and musicals rather than spoken scenes. The cast rotates, but Anthony and Utkarsh Ambudkar (remember Donald from Pitch Perfect?) are regulars. On any given night you could see Lin, Daveed Diggs (a.k.a. Thomas Jefferson), James Monroe Iglehart (a.k.a. the Genie), or Chris Jackson (a.k.a. George Washington) hit the stage.

3. The Wrong Man. I will travel to the ends of the earth to see Joshua Henry in anything. This time, I only had to go to MCC on 52nd Street. This is a new musical (I REPEAT: NEW MUSICAL!) about a man wrongly accused of a crime. Stunningly choreographed by Travis Wall (So You Think You Can Dance), directed by—you guessed it—Tommy Kail, and orchestrated by Alex Lacamoire (also of Hamilton, Fosse/Verdon, and Dear Evan Hansen), it’s based on a concept album by Ross Golan whose music I can only describe as lyrical pop. (He’s written for pop stars, too). It was just extended through November 17.

4. Broadway Podcast Network. Attention theatre-loving podcast nerds. Dori Bernstein, the lead producer of The Prom and Legally Blonde: The Musical, has teamed up with Google mastermind Alan Seales to launch a new podcast platform for all the podcasts in the theatresphere. Right now she has 34 signed on. This includes pre-existing casts like The Ensemblist (about Broadway’s ensemble members) and new podcasts like Josh Lamon’s Josh Swallows Broadway—which I am stoked to listen to because he’s hilarious, though warning this will not be for children—or Donna McKechnie’s Ladies Who Lunch, where the original A Chorus Line star chats with her showbiz legend friends over…lunch.

5. The Good Place. Are you watching The Good Place? You need to. The fourth and final season is under way, but this show is medicinal. It’s quirky and funny and charming and manages to ask big contemplative questions in a way that feels comforting. Don’t know about you, I could use some comfort when it comes to navigating life on earth and, actually, who we are supposed to be.

My Philosophy

I believe in art's power to create change. Art—particularly theatre—can help us reflect, determine, and, sometimes, change our beliefs. I hope that you all continue to engage with the storytelling and art around you—wherever you are and whatever level—and that you entertain different points of view. Advocate for your principles while always leaving room to hear others and evolve. Let's stay engaged, thoughtful, and active. 

As always, if you need show recommendations or if you have theatre questions, please get in touch! I LOVE to answer. Keep tabs on Playbill.com and RuthieFierberg.com, and thank you for your enduring support.