THE HEARING Makes American Premiere at Israeli Stage

A high school student complains about their teacher expressing leftist views in the classroom, and the teacher is called in for a hearing. This is the true story of Adam Verete who - after opening a dialogue about the morality of an army in a public high school in Israel - was publicly threatened and humiliated. (Further reading about the case: The Forward, Haa'retz, +972 mag).

This timely piece gets its American Premiere at Israeli Stage, opening up an opportunity for dialogue about freedom of expression and the role of politics in educational settings. Conceived by Renana Raz, translated by Natalie Fainstein, directed by Guy Ben-Aharon. Performed in Celebration of Israeli Stage's 7th birthday

This Staged Reading features multiple Elliot Norton Award and IRNE Award Winning Cast: Lonnie Farmer*, MeLinda Lopez*, Maureen Keiller* and Nael Nacer*.

Nov 12 at 3PM | Paramount Center at Emerson College :: 559 Washington Street, Boston

Tickets $15+ at IsraeliStage.com

Nov 12 at 7PM, private performance hosted by Emerson President Lee Pelton & Harvard Dean Laura Gordon Fisher

November 20 at 6:30PM | Temple Israel of Boston :: 477 Longwood Avenue, Boston

Tickets $15 at IsraeliStage.com

Spring Semester, details TBD | Brandeis University :: 415 South Street, Waltham

Campus-Wide Initiative, hosted by President Ronald Liebowitz & Provost Lisa Lynch

Lonnie Farmer* (Adam) has appeared at the Huntington Theatre, Trinity Repertory, Boston Playwrights, SpeakEasy and Wheelock Family Theatre. Film credits include The Cider House Rules, The Judge and Black Mass. Television credits include Showtime's Brotherhood and Hulu's upcoming Castle Rock. Israeli Stage: Debut.

Mauren Keiller* (Leah) has appeared at Commonwealth Shakespeare Company, Boston Playwrights, Huntington Theatre, Lyric Stage, and SpeakEasy Stage. Maureen is a three-time IRNE Award winner. Film credits: Spotlight, Fever Pitch, My Best Friend's Girl. Television: Olive Kitteridge, The Makeover, Brotherhood. Israeli Stage: readings of Happy Ending, Sinners and Oh God (6 states) and the full production of Oh God (Elliot Norton Award).

MeLinda Lopez* (Meirav) MeLinda Lopez is the playwright in residence at the Huntington Theatre Company. She is the author of Mala, Becoming Cuba, and Sonia Flew among others. Melinda is also an actress. Israeli Stage: Debut.

Nael Nacer (Avi) has appeared at the Huntington Theatre, Central Square Theatre, Merrimack Repertory, Lyric Stge, New Rep, Gloucester Stage, SpeakEasy, BPT, Company One and Sheared Madness. Nael's work has garnered him an Elliot Norton Award and multiple IRNE Awards. Israeli Stage: David, King; Sinners; and The Whore from Ohio.