Tommy Dorfman has been having a busy season. She started out the year playing the dual roles of the Nurse and Tybalt in the Broadway revival of Romeo + Juliet. She then got a call from her agent to audition for a new play called Becoming Eve. 鈥�'I think this could be perfect for you, it鈥檚 a Jewish trans lead,'" she recalls her agent saying. "I was like, 'Oh great, let鈥檚 try.'鈥�
Becoming Eve by Emil Weinstein, based on the memoir by Abby Chava Stein, plays Abrons Arts Center through April 27 and is produced by New York Theatre Workshop. Dorfman plays Chava, a rabbi who shocks her Hasidic community when she comes out as trans. The work is not a direct bio-play about Stein, and Dorfman teases that it goes in some fanciful directions鈥攊ncluding with puppetry.
鈥淚t鈥檚 the story of her finding herself and also trying to come out to her father, who is a very, very Orthodox rabbi," says Dorfman, who admitted she hadn't been aware of Stein's story before booking the role.
The real-life Stein was raised in a Hasidic community in Brooklyn, and received a rabbinical degree in 2011. Soon after, she came out as transgender and was effectively ostracized from her family. In recent years, Stein has resumed being a rabbi, and is currently leading a progressive synagogue in Brooklyn. She is also an activist for transgender rights and is an advocate for those leaving ultra-orthodox.
In the above video interview with 半岛体育's Jeffrey Vizca铆no, Dorfman discusses working with the real Stein on the play, why she was a 鈥渟hell of a person鈥� after Romeo + Juliet, and what she looks at when she doomscrolls TikTok.
Brandon Uranowitz in Becoming Eve
Brandon Uranowitz in Becoming Eve
Justin Perkins, Tommy Dorfman, and Judy Kuhn in Becoming Eve
Justin Perkins, Tommy Dorfman, and Richard Schiff in Becoming Eve
Rad Pereira, Justin Perkins, Emma Wiseman, and Tommy Dorfman in Becoming Eve
Tedra Millan in Becoming Eve
Tommy Dorfman and Tedra Millan in Becoming Eve
Tommy Dorfman in Becoming Eve
Tommy Dorfman, Tedra Millan, Emma Perkins, and Justin Perkins in Becoming Eve
Becoming Eve features an all-Jewish cast, which includes stars Judy Kuhn (Fun Home) as Mami, Tedra Millan (Leopoldstadt) as Fraidy, Rad Pereira (Betty) as Chesky, Justin Perkins (Shank鈥檚 Mare) as Puppeteer, Emmy winner Richard Schiff (The West Wing) as Tati, Tony winner Brandon Uranowitz (Leopoldstadt) as Jonah, and Emma Wiseman (Three Houses) as Puppeteer.
The play has been a conversation starter since it was announced. Becoming Eve was initially supposed to be presented at the Connelly Theater. But following new content guidelines from the Connelly's landlord, the Archdiocese of New York (which shied away from works that discuss gender issues, including trans rights), NYTW was told they had to find a new venue for Becoming Eve.
Becoming Eve features scenic design by Arnulfo Maldonado (Yellow Face), costume design by Enver Chakartash (Romeo + Juliet), lighting design by Ben Stanton (Maybe Happy Ending), sound design by UptownWorks' Daniela Hart, Noel Nichols, and Bailey Trieweiler (Blood of the Lamb), puppet design by Amanda Villalobos (Wolf Play), and music by Daniel Kluger (Oh, Mary!). Claire Yenson is the casting director, and Jason Kaiser (Monsoon Wedding) serves as stage manager.
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