Season Sponsor

March 19 – May 10, 2009

The Midwest Premiere

Pangs of the Messiah

By Motti Lerner  bio

Directed by Jennifer Green  bio

Featuring Bernie Beck*, Susan Adler, Larry Baldacci, Brent T. Barnes, Dana Black, James Elly, Stacie Green, and Mark Hines.

Set in 2012 amidst the signing of a peace treaty between Israel and the Palestinians, Motti Lerner’s Pangs of the Messiah is an apocalyptic yet fiercely humane drama about eight West Bank Jewish settlers pitted against an Israel they feel betrayed by. The play focuses on a religious family that finds itself torn between fighting to stay in their settlement and obeying their government’s decision to dismantle it. Left hanging in the balance is the legacy of their beliefs.

Run Time: 2 hours
with one 10 minute intermission.

Not recommended for children.

*Member of Actors' Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers.

Photo of Susan V. Adler and
James Elly by Michael Brosilow

Tickets $30 - $34   Previews $20-22

Press & Pics

Must-See...What Theater Does
Best...Exceedingly interesting play
...packs quite a formidable, and
current, political punch...a script
with Chekhovian nuance...crucial
concerns of the moment.
–Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune

I was deeply moved by their
predicament, and I was on the edge
of my seat from start to finish
...Lerner's accomplishment is to
show there are no easy answers.
–Jan Huttner, JUF News

Like the best playwrights, Lerner
doesn't want to provide answers
to questions he knows have no
easy answers...dialogue that is
honest, intelligent and
oftentimes searing and theatrical.
–Fabrizio Almeida, NewCity Chicago

Photo of Dana Black and
Mark D. Hines by Michael Brosilow

American Jewry must play a
much more responsible part
in the political life of Israel
–Playwright Motti Lerner,
Interviewd in the JUF News

Photo of Stacie Green and
Brent T. Barnes by Michael Brosilow

A first rate cast that reach the
depths of angst...Pangs of the
Messiah is powerful, scary,
provocative, and compelling.
–Tom Williams, ChicagoCritic.com

Photo of Susan V. Adler and
Dana Black by Michael Brosilow

You cannot write characters in a
play from a judgemental point of
view...from a distance.
–Playwright Motti Lerner,
Interviewed on WBEZ's "Worldview"

Silk Road Sojourns

Continue the Conversation with Silk Road Sojourns, a dynamic new multi-medium audience engagement initiative of Silk Road Theatre Project. 

Silk Road Sojourns: The Magazine Volume 1, Issue 2
The current issue of Silk Road Sojourns: The Magazine includes a column by Artistic Director Jamil Khoury entitled "Dramatizing the spectre of Jewish civil war unleashes pangs of my own"and thought-provoking articles by the dramaturgical staff, including "Pangs of the Messiah & The Emerging Israeli Theatre Movement," "From the Desk of the Literary Manager," "About Motti Lerner," and "The Road to Pangs of the Messiah."

Silk Road Sojourns: The TV Show, Episodes 6-10
Five episodes of Silk Road Sojourns: The TV show, hosted by Artistic Director Jamil Khoury, will address Pangs of the Messiah. The miniseries airs on CAN-TV Chicago cable access channel 21 Tuesdays at 8:30pm, March 3 to May 5, 2009. Each episode will also be available online after its initial broadcast.

Episode 6 Guest: David Chack, President of the Association for Jewish Theatre. Aired March 3 & 10. Watch online. Episode 7 Guest: Playwright Motti Lerner. Airs March 17 & 24. Watch online. Episode 8 Guest: Playwright Motti Lerner. Airs March 31 & April 7. Watch online.

Episode 9 Guest: Director Jennifer Green. Airs April 14 & 21. Watch online. Episode 10 Guests: Actors Bernie Beck and Susan Adler. Airs April 28 & May 3.

Silk Road Sojourns: The Blog
Silk Road Sojourns: The Blog gives a behind-the-scenes look at the process behind Pangs of the Messiah, with entries written by the designers, cast, and crew.

Silk Road Sojourns: The Podcast
Narrated by Artistic Director Jamil Khoury, Silk Road Sojourns: The Podcast addresses the subject matter of Pangs of the Messiah. The podcast is available on iPods in the theatre lobby. Or, subscribe now via iTunes to receive each podcast as it is produced.

Video Clips