In troubled times, a story of heart connection
reminds us of our humanity.
“I think you have a lovely play and suspect that it will find a wonderful next home.”
Sue Gilad
5-time Tony Award-winning producer
The Story
In this comedy-drama about loving outside the lines, Danny, 26, American, moved to Tel Aviv to escape overbearing parents and the looming threat of law school. During an air raid at the start of the Gulf War, he meets his neighbor, Maya, an ageless 52. They can’t stay away from each other, despite nearly being discovered by her son, Yaya, who also happens to be Danny’s best friend.
As the emotional stakes rise, their secret affair becomes both too much and not enough. When Danny’s parents visit Israel and Maya impulsively invites them to her Passover Seder, all is revealed, for better or for worse.
The Characters
Maya: Has succeeded in everything but love. And small talk.
Danny: Can’t find meaning in conventional life. And small talk.
Yaya: Maya’s son, Danny’s friend. Oh boy …
Benny: Maya’s ex, damaged war hero.
Eileen: Danny’s mom, Israel supporter who hates the place.
Gabe: Danny’s dad, wishes he’d never left
Development
- – Reading, Atlas Intersections Festival, DC, 2026
- – Reading, Spooky Action Theater, DC, 2025
- – Reading, Ratner Museum, Bethesda MD, 2024
- – Reading, Theatre Artists Studio, Phoenix, Year 2018
The Plan
- – Theater production in Washington DC, 2026-27
- – Theater production in Phoenix, AZ, 2026-27
- – English language feature film shot in Tel Aviv, 2028-29
The Team
Playwright, Joseph Bardin
Joe is an essayist and playwright based in Arizona by way of Trenton, NJ, Washington DC, and Tel Aviv. He is the author of the essay collection Outlier Heart (IFERS Press). His work has been developed or produced at the Queens Short Play Festival, Rogue Theater Festival in NYC; Chicago Dramatists in Chicago; Atlas Intersections Festival, Spooky Action Theater in Washington DC; Order Chaos Theater Company, iTheatre Collaborative, Theatre Artists Studios, Space 55, Herberger Lunchtime Theater in Phoenix; Winding Road Theatre, Saddle Brook Theatre in Tucson; the La Jolla Theatre Ensemble, CA; Monroe County Civic Theater, Bloomington, IA; and KMC Onstage, Kaiserslautern, Germany.
For more info: www.josephbardin.com
Director, Raghad Makhlouf
(Actress/Director)
DC area credits include: “American Fast” at Theater Alliance; “The Art of Care” at Mosaic Theater; “Agreste” and “Sonnets for an Old Century” at Spooky Action; “Selling Kabul” (Understudy) at Signature Theater; “Timon of Athens” (Understudy) at Shakespeare Theater Company; “In This Hope” with The Welders; “Hamlet” (The Reading) at Folger Theater. VT: “Hamlet/The Tempest Rep” at Shakespeare in The Woods. International credits include: SYRIA: “Wretched Dreams” and “AB negative” at The Opera House; “The Poster” at The Russian Cultural Center; “Tactic” at Alhamra Theater. DENMARK: “Venus Labyrinth” at Masnedo Fortress. Raghad appeared in over 400 hours of films and drama TV shows in Syria and Lebanon. She is a two times Helen Hayes nominee for outstanding ensemble.
Education: The Higher Institute of Drama, Syria: B.F.A; Shakespeare Theater Academy at GWU: M.F.A in classical acting. Insta@raghadmakhlouf
Lead, Lisa Hodsoll
Lisa Hodsoll is an actor, writer, director and filmmaker. Select acting credits (theater): NEW YORK: Laura Bush Killed A Guy (The Klunch) – D.C. run, Helen Hayes nomination for Best Lead Actress. D.C.: My Calamitous Affair with the Minister of Culture & Censorship (Voices Festival Productions), The Wonderful World of Dissocia (Theater Alliance) Helen Hayes Nomination Best Supporting Actress, and The Intelligent Homosexual’s Guide … (Theater J) OTHER: A Fool’s Paradise (Valiant Flea) at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, and Medea’s Got Some Issues in Chicago (Chicago Theater Sweatshop)
TV/FILM: most recent work FBI (CBS), Law & Order SVU (NBC), Tires (Netflix), Chicago P.D. (NBC), the Apple TV + Series “Lady In the Lake” and the film “Jesus Land”.
She is the founder and artistic director of Open Road, a not for profit arts group that promotes and supports independent artists, playwrights and filmmakers and the founder of the Open Road Film festival for shorts.
For more info: https://www.imdb.me/lisamhodsoll