The Last Yiddish Speaker
"Arguable her best play yet"
PALM BEACH ARTS PAPER “…her script is damn near perfect…” “It seems for every generation, there comes a new cautionary voice." SOUTH FLORIDA THEATER MAGAZINE "...haunting and even terrifying... ultimately, the play, which will hopefully enjoy a long theatrical life, suggests that there is a way out of hostility, prejudice, division, and other ills. “We’re all just people,” Paul says. “We have more in common than we have differences.” Doesn’t that sound especially refreshing these days? REGIONAL THEATRE SOUTHEAST |
"A cautionary tale forged in the fire of current events...Laufer’s magnum opus...The information is delivered like a Polaroid evolving from blurry abstraction to piercing clarity--world-building at its nuanced best.” “A play that punches well above its weight as a new work; it feels road-tested and ready for prime time.” BOCA MAGAZINE“…chilling, fast-paced drama with a streak of magical realism…” "...a 95-minute, intermission-free production that’s as beautiful and surprising as it is disturbing. Impeccably portrayed characters grapple with moral conflicts that are in no way theoretical. Moment by moment, the pieces fall into place until the plot reaches a cliff’s edge.” FLORIDA THEATER ON STAGE |
CURRENT EVENTS
ROOTED published by TRW
THE LAST YIDDISH SPEAKER won the 2024 Jewish Play Contest!
BE HERE NOW, Montgomery Theater, Souderton, PA, 9/25
THE LAST YIDDISH SPEAKER, Bema Productions, Victoria, BC, 7/25
BE HERE NOW, Pygmalion Production, Salt Lake City, UT 5/25
END DAYS, Hartman Theatre, Plattsburgh, NY, 3/25
SIRENS, The Bunbury Theatre, Louisville, KY, 3/25
THE LAST SCHWARTZ, Beer Sheva Theatre, Beer Sheva, Israel, 2/25
BE HERE NOW, White Fish Theatre Co., White Fish, MT, 1/25
BE HERE NOW, Black Swamp Players, Bowling Green, OH, 12/24
AMERICAN HUMOR... (A night of my short plays), Cape Ann Radio Players, 11/24
THE LAST YIDDISH SPEAKER, Theatre Lab, Boca Raton, FL 10/24 (I'm directing!)
THE LAST YIDDISH SPEAKER, Oregon Contemporary Theatre, Eugene, OR 10/24
BY ANY OTHER NAME, SUNY Cortland, workshop production, 9/24
SIRENS, Theatre 40, Beverly Hills, CA, 9/24 (reading)
THE LAST YIDDISH SPEAKER, W Coast Jewish Theatre, LA, CA 8/24 (reading)
THE LAST YIDDISH SPEAKER, Berkshire Fest. of New Jewish Plays (reading) 8/24
OUT OF STERNO, Restless Artists' Theatre, Sparks, NV 7/24
THE LAST YIDDISH SPEAKER, InterAct, Philadelphia, PA 4/2024
BE HERE NOW, Curtain Call Theatre, Latham, NY 4/2024
BE HERE NOW, Uplifting Puppet Company, Oskaloosa, IA, 4/2024
ROOTED, Oil Lamp Theatre, Glenview, IL 3/24-5/24
BE HERE NOW, WAM Theatre, Lennox, MA, 3/24
END DAYS, Theatre Above the Law, Chicago, IL, 3/2024
FORTUNE, Theatre NOVA, Ann Arbor, MI, 2/2024
ROOTED, Theatre Lab, Boca Raton, FL, 1/2024 (I'm directing!)
BY ANY OTHER NAME, Year-long residency Cortland College/Create Theatre 2024
FORTUNE, Published by Theatrical Rights Worldwide
EVERYBODY GETS A STICK, Published by TRW, Short Plays Vol. 3
THE LAST YIDDISH SPEAKER
Theatre Lab, Boca Raton, FL 10/24
NNPN Rolling World Premiere
Director - me! (with mega-smarts from Matt Stabile)
Sarah/Mary - Gemma Berg Chava - Patti Gardner John - Gage Calenius Paul - Stephen Schnetzer Set: Michael McClain Lighting: Thomas Shorrock Costumes: Dawn Shamburger Sound: Matt Corey Props: Jacob Altman Stage Manager: Rose Figueroa Asst. Stage Mgr: Grace Cirillo Intimacy Dir: Nicole Perry Yiddish Consultant: Avi Hoffman Wardrobe Head: Tim Bowman Artistic Director: Matt Stabile And thanks to NNPN For the Rolling World Premiere!! |
THE LAST YIDDISH SPEAKER
InterAct Theatre, Philadelphia, 4/2024
InterAct Theatre, Philadelphia, 4/2024
Seth Rozin - Director
Sarah/Mary - Kaitlyn Zion Chava - Stephanie Satie Paul - Dan Hodge John - Gabriel Elmore Hunter Smith - Stage Manager Colin McIlvaine - Scenic Designer Katherine Fritz - Costume Designer Drew Billiau - Lighting Designer Christopher Colucci- Sound Designer Emily Schuman - Props Manager Some Reviews and Press: Barrymore recommended! Feature in American Theatre Magazine: https://www.americantheatre.org/2024/04/09/the-last-yiddish-speaker-who-theyll-come-for-first/ The Forward, Julia Klein: "Passionate and timely" "Laufer reveals the contours of her menacing future America, and the stakes of opposing its rules, only gradually and with considerable craft." "Leaves the audience appropriately shaken and stirred." Burd reviews: "Engaging, suspenseful, and powerful." "We are riveted for every moment of this 95-minute drama, but also the effective comedic touches that Laufer has given us." |
ROOTED (Directed by me!)
Theatre Lab 2/2024
Theatre Lab 2/2024
Some reviews:
https://www.floridatheateronstage.com/general/rooted-at-theatre-lab/ by Jan Sjostrom Something magical is happening at Theatre Lab... Deborah Zoe Laufer’s play Rooted is a not-to-be missed experience. The show is both a love letter to female friendship and an incisive examination of celebrity worship, the internet’s insidious power and the lengths to which people will go to escape empty lives. The alchemy builds on Laufer’s unfussy yet poetic language, rich characters and quirky wit. Through them, she spins a story laced with surprising twists and sprinkled with magical realism. Rooted is a well-crafted and beautifully executed play that uplifts but doesn’t shy away from observing the weeds that can infest even the most well-guarded refuge. |
Emery: Elizabeth Dimon
Hazel: Laura Turnbull Luanne: Gretchen Porro Stage Manager: Rose Figueroa Photos: Morgan Sophia Photography |
Set: Michael McClain
Lighting: Thomas Shorrock Sound: Matt Corey, Gregory Ram Costumes: Dawn C. Hamburger Props: Jameelah Bailey |
ROOTED
Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, 2/2022
premiere
Directed by Noah Himmelstein
Stage Manager: Andrea L. Shell Emery: Tarah Flanagan Hazel: Tasha Lawrence Luanne: Emily Kratter Mikki Schaffner Photography |
Set by Se Hyun Oh
Lighting by David Lander Puppetry by Betsy Rosen Costumes by Gordon DeVinney Sound and music by Megumi Katayama |
ttps://medium.com/the-sappy-critic/red-speedo-and-rooted-both-must-sees-in-cincinnati-a5d8ad033a92
“Rooted” in the Shelterhouse at the Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park is so good. Like… SO good. The acting, the script, the sound design, the lighting, and what I think is probably my new favorite set (by Se Hyun Oh) ever — it all comes together for a delightfully funny, heartwarming, and delicious night of theatre." "Deborah Zoe Laufer is a brilliant writer and director Noah Himmelstein used the space very well as he brought all components together to tell a beautiful, moving, and very funny story." "It’s such a great story and such a great play. Go see it if you can. You won’t be sorry." https://www.citybeat.com/arts/review-playhouse-world-premiere-rooted-grows-from-humor-to-understanding-12678345 CRITIC's PICK "Deborah Zoe Laufer’s world premiere play, Rooted — a commission presently onstage at the Playhouse in the Park — is a beguiling work. At first, its three offbeat women feel a bit like characters in a sitcom, and they’re certainly the source of much laugh-out-loud humor. But before long, a rather profound message about belief and connection comes through, making this 95-minute show genuinely satisfying." |
BE HERE NOW
Everyman Theatre 2/2020 -- directed by me!
Everyman Theatre 2/2020 -- directed by me!
Written and directed by Deborah Zoe Laufer
BARI: Beth Hylton MIKE: Kyle Prue PATTY: Katy Carkuff LUANNE: Shubhangi Kuchibhotla Set Design: Daniel Ettinger. Lighting Design: Harold F. Burgeee II. Costume Design: David Burdick. Sound Design: Sarah O’Halloran. Fights/Intimacy: Lewis Shaw. Stage Manager: Cat Wallis. Photo Credit: Teresa Castracane Photography |
https://mdtheatreguide.com/2020/01/theatre-review-be-here-now-at-everyman-theatre/
‘Be Here Now’ is an emotional jewel-box.
"This is the ingenious setup of Deborah Zoe Laufer’s “Be Here Now”, directed by the playwright for its current production at Everyman Theatre... presented with kind care and virtuosity.
https://backstagebaltimore.com/author/jason/
Live in the Moment with Be Here Now at Everyman Theatre
"Author Deborah Zoe Laufer takes the reigns as Director of this production and, obviously, she has a tight grasp on the material and presents it beautifully. Her guidance and knowledge of these characters and text bring the production to another level. Pacing is spot on, characters are fleshed out, and the action keeps the story is entertaining and thoughtful. Laufer knows her way around the stage making for a terrific showing as an Author/Director combo."
"It’s a story of finding the good in bad things, whatever they may be and how people are able to change as circumstances in their lives change. I would chalk this up as a bonafide success for Everyman Theatre and is not one to be missed this season."
https://dctheatrescene.com/2020/01/28/review-be-here-now-at-everyman-theatre-seizures-sanity-and-the-smell-of-spring/
Seizures, sanity and the smell of spring
"What if happiness was not only a choice, but a side effect?
That’s the intriguing premise of Deborah Zoe Laufer’s play Be Here Now, which she also directs with depth and quirky humor at Everyman Theatre in a production that brightens the gloom and gray of midwinter with a joyful reminder to live in the moment even when the only positive thing you can say about your day is that you are still above ground."
‘Be Here Now’ is an emotional jewel-box.
"This is the ingenious setup of Deborah Zoe Laufer’s “Be Here Now”, directed by the playwright for its current production at Everyman Theatre... presented with kind care and virtuosity.
https://backstagebaltimore.com/author/jason/
Live in the Moment with Be Here Now at Everyman Theatre
"Author Deborah Zoe Laufer takes the reigns as Director of this production and, obviously, she has a tight grasp on the material and presents it beautifully. Her guidance and knowledge of these characters and text bring the production to another level. Pacing is spot on, characters are fleshed out, and the action keeps the story is entertaining and thoughtful. Laufer knows her way around the stage making for a terrific showing as an Author/Director combo."
"It’s a story of finding the good in bad things, whatever they may be and how people are able to change as circumstances in their lives change. I would chalk this up as a bonafide success for Everyman Theatre and is not one to be missed this season."
https://dctheatrescene.com/2020/01/28/review-be-here-now-at-everyman-theatre-seizures-sanity-and-the-smell-of-spring/
Seizures, sanity and the smell of spring
"What if happiness was not only a choice, but a side effect?
That’s the intriguing premise of Deborah Zoe Laufer’s play Be Here Now, which she also directs with depth and quirky humor at Everyman Theatre in a production that brightens the gloom and gray of midwinter with a joyful reminder to live in the moment even when the only positive thing you can say about your day is that you are still above ground."
Article in DC Metro:
https://dcmetrotheaterarts.com/2020/01/23/playwright-deborah-zoe-laufer-on-directing-her-play-be-here-now-at-everyman-theatre/
"I’d say Deborah Zoe Laufer is having a bit of a moment right now, but it’s been going on so long I think it’s fairer to say she’s having a bit of an amazing career."
https://dcmetrotheaterarts.com/2020/01/23/playwright-deborah-zoe-laufer-on-directing-her-play-be-here-now-at-everyman-theatre/
"I’d say Deborah Zoe Laufer is having a bit of a moment right now, but it’s been going on so long I think it’s fairer to say she’s having a bit of an amazing career."
BE HERE NOW
Shattered Globe, Chicago 9/2019
Shattered Globe, Chicago 9/2019
Some Reviews for BE HERE NOW in Chicago:
NEWS.WWTW.com
Hedy Weiss
https://news.wttw.com/2019/09/13/be-here-now-shattered-globe-theatre-chicago-review
‘Be Here Now’ a Tragicomic Gem About Seizing the Day
“…as she demonstrated so winningly in her earlier play, “End Days,” Laufer has an exceptional gift for being at once sharp-witted and compassionate, for shifting from comedy to despair in the blink of an eye, and for deftly illuminating the human condition, and matters of faith, grief, guilt and the various modes of psychic survival.”
“The title of Laufer’s play really says it all, serving not so much as a command, but as a plea to dispense with crushing “goals” and the delusional belief in an “afterlife,” and to instead live in the moment, seize the day and “be here now.”
AROUND THE TOWN CHICAGO
Julia W. Rath
http://www.aroundthetownchicago.com/theatre-reviews/be-here-no-reviewed-by-julia-w-rath/
★★★★★ Transformative and infinitely entertaining, “Be Here Now” is a witty comedy, romance, and tragedy rolled into One. It is Deborah Zoe Laufer’s brilliantly perceptive take on the meaning of life and happiness in today’s world. Laufer’s highly polished, extraordinarily well-written script is…sublime yet funny at the same time.”
CHICAGO THEATRE
Colin Douglas
https://www.chicagotheatrereview.com/2019/09/masters-of-our-fate/
“This Chicago premiere of Deborah Zoe Laufer’s beautifully written 90-minute one-act, …rewards audiences with laughs, as well as a hopeful, uplifting tale of two loners who find a connection in each other’s singular view of life.”
“…a play by Deborah Zoe Laufer that’s charming, thoughtful and life-affirming. It probes each of our journeys toward the pursuit of happiness. It’s a play that, seasoned with laughs and lots of “aha” moments, isn’t afraid to ask questions that urge the audience to think about what’s really important. Do we come into this world born with a certain point of view about life, or does that develop and evolve, based upon our environment and who we know? As the poet William Ernest Henley proclaimed in his poem Invictus, are we truly “the masters of our fate and the captains of our soul,” or do we need those around us to help us to Be Here Now?”
Highly Recommended
THEATREWORLD INTERNET MAGAZINE
Ruth Smerling
https://www.theatreworldim2.com/beherenow-tw
“Be Here Now… is as mind-boggling as a Mamet, as complex as a houseful of Tennessee Williams spinsters vying for the only man in town and as humorous and outrageous as a TV sitcom.”
“Be Here Now is both light-hearted and profound… funny, sexy and severe at times but has a stunning finish that sends an audience off with a warm, fuzzy feeling.”
BUZZ CENTER STAGE
John Accrocco
http://buzznews.net/theatre/theatre-reviews/item/4698-review-shattered-globe-s-be-here-now-at-theater-wit.html
“How odd that a play about nihilism could be so uplifting. ‘Be Here Now’ at Shattered Globe is just that. A relevant play about the state of happiness in the modern world.”
“…makes you question your very existence while also ticking your funny bone.”
NEW CITY STAGE
https://www.newcitystage.com/2019/09/17/life-and-liberty-a-review-of-be-here-now-at-shattered-globe-theatre/
Hugh Iglarsh
RECOMMENDED
“Sharp of wit and warm of heart, Shattered Globe’s “Be Here Now” is a poignant and pertinent exploration of the “pursuit of happiness,” that keystone of American identity. Part satire, part romance, part melodrama, playwright Deborah Zoe Laufer’s ninety-minute work skillfully mixes comedy and philosophy, asking some heavy-duty questions with a light, sure touch.”
“…the questions raised by this sneaky-smart play are provocative and disturbing ones. “Who are we?” wonders Bari in the grip of her disease-induced ecstacy. Is she the victim of a happiness hallucination or have the seizures somehow made her the person she was meant to be? Wisely, the playwright leaves the question open for viewers to ponder post-curtain.”
-----------------------------
NEWS.WWTW.com
Hedy Weiss
https://news.wttw.com/2019/09/13/be-here-now-shattered-globe-theatre-chicago-review
‘Be Here Now’ a Tragicomic Gem About Seizing the Day
“…as she demonstrated so winningly in her earlier play, “End Days,” Laufer has an exceptional gift for being at once sharp-witted and compassionate, for shifting from comedy to despair in the blink of an eye, and for deftly illuminating the human condition, and matters of faith, grief, guilt and the various modes of psychic survival.”
“The title of Laufer’s play really says it all, serving not so much as a command, but as a plea to dispense with crushing “goals” and the delusional belief in an “afterlife,” and to instead live in the moment, seize the day and “be here now.”
AROUND THE TOWN CHICAGO
Julia W. Rath
http://www.aroundthetownchicago.com/theatre-reviews/be-here-no-reviewed-by-julia-w-rath/
★★★★★ Transformative and infinitely entertaining, “Be Here Now” is a witty comedy, romance, and tragedy rolled into One. It is Deborah Zoe Laufer’s brilliantly perceptive take on the meaning of life and happiness in today’s world. Laufer’s highly polished, extraordinarily well-written script is…sublime yet funny at the same time.”
CHICAGO THEATRE
Colin Douglas
https://www.chicagotheatrereview.com/2019/09/masters-of-our-fate/
“This Chicago premiere of Deborah Zoe Laufer’s beautifully written 90-minute one-act, …rewards audiences with laughs, as well as a hopeful, uplifting tale of two loners who find a connection in each other’s singular view of life.”
“…a play by Deborah Zoe Laufer that’s charming, thoughtful and life-affirming. It probes each of our journeys toward the pursuit of happiness. It’s a play that, seasoned with laughs and lots of “aha” moments, isn’t afraid to ask questions that urge the audience to think about what’s really important. Do we come into this world born with a certain point of view about life, or does that develop and evolve, based upon our environment and who we know? As the poet William Ernest Henley proclaimed in his poem Invictus, are we truly “the masters of our fate and the captains of our soul,” or do we need those around us to help us to Be Here Now?”
Highly Recommended
THEATREWORLD INTERNET MAGAZINE
Ruth Smerling
https://www.theatreworldim2.com/beherenow-tw
“Be Here Now… is as mind-boggling as a Mamet, as complex as a houseful of Tennessee Williams spinsters vying for the only man in town and as humorous and outrageous as a TV sitcom.”
“Be Here Now is both light-hearted and profound… funny, sexy and severe at times but has a stunning finish that sends an audience off with a warm, fuzzy feeling.”
BUZZ CENTER STAGE
John Accrocco
http://buzznews.net/theatre/theatre-reviews/item/4698-review-shattered-globe-s-be-here-now-at-theater-wit.html
“How odd that a play about nihilism could be so uplifting. ‘Be Here Now’ at Shattered Globe is just that. A relevant play about the state of happiness in the modern world.”
“…makes you question your very existence while also ticking your funny bone.”
NEW CITY STAGE
https://www.newcitystage.com/2019/09/17/life-and-liberty-a-review-of-be-here-now-at-shattered-globe-theatre/
Hugh Iglarsh
RECOMMENDED
“Sharp of wit and warm of heart, Shattered Globe’s “Be Here Now” is a poignant and pertinent exploration of the “pursuit of happiness,” that keystone of American identity. Part satire, part romance, part melodrama, playwright Deborah Zoe Laufer’s ninety-minute work skillfully mixes comedy and philosophy, asking some heavy-duty questions with a light, sure touch.”
“…the questions raised by this sneaky-smart play are provocative and disturbing ones. “Who are we?” wonders Bari in the grip of her disease-induced ecstacy. Is she the victim of a happiness hallucination or have the seizures somehow made her the person she was meant to be? Wisely, the playwright leaves the question open for viewers to ponder post-curtain.”
-----------------------------
2/19 -- LEVELING UP chosen for Broadway Producer's Pick List!
https://www.theproducersperspective.com/my_weblog/2019/02/the-broadway-producer-pick-list-2018.html
https://www.theproducersperspective.com/my_weblog/2019/02/the-broadway-producer-pick-list-2018.html
FORTUNE (directed by me!)
The Hangar Theatre 5/2018
Geva Theatre 10/2018
The Hangar Theatre 5/2018
Geva Theatre 10/2018
Photos: Goat Factory Media Entertainment
Cast -- Hangar Theatre: Ken Goetz (Set Design) Maude: Amelia Pedlow Deborah Constantine (Lighting) Jeremy: Ian Lowe Don Tindall (Sound) Mira Veikley (Costumes) Cast -- Geva Theatre Maude: Lena Kaminsky Jeremy: Ian Lowe Director: me! |
REVIEWS:
"The laughter is constant, the performances bewitching, and the romance sweet in this fine concoction." https://www.ithaca.com/entertainment/fortune-brings-new-perspective-to-a-tried-format/article_acb52a98-7562-11e8-bef1-4bc8f40b657c.html *********************** "Fate meets destiny in Fortune, a witty and spirited production that’s designed to raise spontaneous peals of laughter… features two memorable characters who are endearingly flawed and quirky, yet wholly likable." "All in all, what really drives this play home is its honesty. It’s a story about two people who carry virtual “no trespass” signs around their personal lives yet yearn for one last chance at happiness." https://www.democratandchronicle.com/story/lifestyle/2018/10/09/fortune-romcom-geva-romantic-comedy-paranormal/1569841002/ |
Be Here Now (directed by me!)
Theatre Lab, Boca Raton, FL, April 6, 2018
Reviews:
Christine Dolan:
http://www.southflorida.com/theater-and-arts/sf-be-here-now-fau-theatre-lab-review-boca-20180409-story.html
"Playwright Deborah Zoe Laufer has never been afraid of taking on the big questions. Her work explores contemporary life with intelligence, insight and sharp humor. It resonates, in part, because Laufer’s writing makes room for life’s dualities: joy and sorrow, pleasure and pain, exhilaration and depression.
All those emotional colors exist within “Be Here Now,” a beautifully crafted new Laufer play at Theatre Lab on the Florida Atlantic University campus in Boca Raton."
"Laufer is both author and director of this intricately calibrated production of “Be Here Now.” Her cast and collaborators vividly illuminate the questions embedded in the script, including this central one: How do we get through this thing called life?"
"Laufer’s vivid voice sugarcoats nothing in “Be Here Now.” As playwright and director, she takes the audience on an emotional journey that serves up hilarity, sorrow and more. And yet, as the play comes to a close, she offers a grace note of hope — that two suffering souls may yet find warmth and rebirth."
Mary Damiano:
https://marydamiano.com/2018/04/07/be-here-now-at-theatre-lab-finds-meaning-in-the-mundane/
"Laufer has a talent for creating unforgettable characters with distinct, quirky personalities—plot aside, it’s fun just to watch these people interact with each other. But she has also crafted an insightful story, one that takes threads of the meaning of life, mindful living, and finding purpose in the forgotten and woven them into a beautiful, thought-provoking tapestry."
"Theatre Lab’s production of Be Here Now features some of the best talent in the region in a tender, thought-provoking play that is sure to resonate with those who see it. Even its title is a reminder to not let the beauty of every moment pass by without notice."
Hap Erstein:
http://palmbeachartspaper.com/with-quirky-be-here-now-fau-theatre-lab-has-a-major-play/
"With Be Here Now, FAU Theatre Lab at has a major play."
"... a skill at crafting vivid characters and an innate depth of humanity and you have one of the best scripts from a major writer who was first showcased by Theatre Lab artistic director Lou Tyrrell 16 years ago (The Last Schwartz)."
Roger Martin:
http://www.miamiartzine.com/Features.php?op=Article_Happiness+Is+A+Broken+Crow
"Bursting with ideas."
"The acting in this piece is extraordinary. It's seldom one sees this level of intensity, of immersion."
"Deborah Zoe Laufer wrote the terrific script and also directed flawlessly."
Christine Dolan:
http://www.southflorida.com/theater-and-arts/sf-be-here-now-fau-theatre-lab-review-boca-20180409-story.html
"Playwright Deborah Zoe Laufer has never been afraid of taking on the big questions. Her work explores contemporary life with intelligence, insight and sharp humor. It resonates, in part, because Laufer’s writing makes room for life’s dualities: joy and sorrow, pleasure and pain, exhilaration and depression.
All those emotional colors exist within “Be Here Now,” a beautifully crafted new Laufer play at Theatre Lab on the Florida Atlantic University campus in Boca Raton."
"Laufer is both author and director of this intricately calibrated production of “Be Here Now.” Her cast and collaborators vividly illuminate the questions embedded in the script, including this central one: How do we get through this thing called life?"
"Laufer’s vivid voice sugarcoats nothing in “Be Here Now.” As playwright and director, she takes the audience on an emotional journey that serves up hilarity, sorrow and more. And yet, as the play comes to a close, she offers a grace note of hope — that two suffering souls may yet find warmth and rebirth."
Mary Damiano:
https://marydamiano.com/2018/04/07/be-here-now-at-theatre-lab-finds-meaning-in-the-mundane/
"Laufer has a talent for creating unforgettable characters with distinct, quirky personalities—plot aside, it’s fun just to watch these people interact with each other. But she has also crafted an insightful story, one that takes threads of the meaning of life, mindful living, and finding purpose in the forgotten and woven them into a beautiful, thought-provoking tapestry."
"Theatre Lab’s production of Be Here Now features some of the best talent in the region in a tender, thought-provoking play that is sure to resonate with those who see it. Even its title is a reminder to not let the beauty of every moment pass by without notice."
Hap Erstein:
http://palmbeachartspaper.com/with-quirky-be-here-now-fau-theatre-lab-has-a-major-play/
"With Be Here Now, FAU Theatre Lab at has a major play."
"... a skill at crafting vivid characters and an innate depth of humanity and you have one of the best scripts from a major writer who was first showcased by Theatre Lab artistic director Lou Tyrrell 16 years ago (The Last Schwartz)."
Roger Martin:
http://www.miamiartzine.com/Features.php?op=Article_Happiness+Is+A+Broken+Crow
"Bursting with ideas."
"The acting in this piece is extraordinary. It's seldom one sees this level of intensity, of immersion."
"Deborah Zoe Laufer wrote the terrific script and also directed flawlessly."
Be Here Now
Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, February 15, 2018
Reviews:
https://www.citybeat.com/arts-culture/theater/article/20993279/review-be-here-now-ask-us-to-do-just-that
CityBeat JACKIE MULAY
"In a time that often feels like nothing matters, Be Here Now bursts through the gloom and offers a new and uplifting perspective"
"Be Here Now is a story that takes the audience on an existential ride to the intersection of despondence and joy."
"It asks poignant questions about life and happiness throughout the 90-minute existential crisis of its main subject, Bari."
"The ending leaves you asking innumerable questions about life and the pursuit of happiness. Are we born with our outlook, or do we choose how we view our life and the world around us? Is it a mixture of both? What is happiness? Why do we seek it and how do we obtain it? Ultimately, Be Here Now is a lovely production that will leave you with a new appreciation for life"
https://www.cincinnati.com/story/entertainment/2018/02/16/review-here-now-playhouse-park/346290002/
David Lyman, Special to Cincinnati Enquirer
"Be Here Now' is clever, soul-searching, filled with laughter"
"Laufer is too good a writer to wrap it up that neatly. There are still plenty of questions at the play’s end. Coping with life is difficult. It’s painful and complicated. Add another person to the mix – a partner, a spouse, a friend – and it can be even more overwhelming. But for all her characters’ insecurities and anxieties, Laufer suggests that life can be filled with indescribable joy, as well. And it might just be worth the effort."
Interview with Montana Public Radio:
http://mtpr.org/post/deb-laufer-writes-about-what-terrifies-her-most
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http://mtpr.org/post/deb-laufer-writes-about-what-terrifies-her-most
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INFORMED CONSENT
Gablestage, August, 2017
Directed by me!!
Gablestage, August, 2017
Directed by me!!
With:
Elizabeth Dimon Betsy Graver Jovon Jacobs Francisca Munoz Carlos Orizondo |
Lyle Baskin: Set Design Ellis Tillman: Costume Design Matt Corey: Sound Design Jeff Quinn: Lighting Design |
Reviews:
MIAMI HERALD
http://www.miamiherald.com/entertainment/article164598877.html
“Informed Consent” ponders the big questions of mortality, faith and legacy with intelligence and compassion.’’
“Are we our DNA or our memories? What counts for more in our all-too-brief lives: the hard science of our genetic destiny or the treasured stories of our personal histories? How do we reconcile the contradictions of faith and science? And what lines can we cross in the name of saving someone we love?
“These are the sorts of provocative questions posed by the intellectually stimulating and emotionally stirring “Informed Consent,”
“Real science is in the mistakes,” one character says at one point. Jillian’s errors are considerable, but Laufer’s play challenges you to consider what you’d do in her shoes. The answers aren’t easy, and perhaps they shouldn’t be.”
FLORIDA THEATER ONSTAGE
http://www.floridatheateronstage.com/reviews/gablestages-informed-consent-is-the-search-for-truth-paramount-and-whose-truth/
“Laufer’s shattering drama defines the much-abused term “thought-provoking.”
“The triumph of the production, directed by Laufer, is that the human costs and values at risk are never lost. Indeed, they are channeled through the lives of its protagonists who are passionate, funny and propelled by their beliefs.”
“Able to riff off her specific vision, Laufer knows how to stage this highly theatrical story with an agile fluidity. She also easy switches among wry narration, gentle humor, painful reminisces and the tragedy when well-intentioned hearts and minds cannot co-exist.”
“These and another half-dozen ideas careen and crisscross GableStage like electrons colliding in a chain reaction, battling for dominance in profound intellectual struggles that only the audience can adjudicate.”
“Laufer really doesn’t take sides, not simply because the questions may be ultimately unanswerable, but because the questioning itself may be the overarching virtue of sentient human beings, a pursuit that is beautiful and awe-inspiring even if it is tragic as well. In the end, she seems to acknowledge honor is due the worth of everyone’s story.”
MIAMIARTZINE
http://www.miamiartzine.com/Features.php?op=Article_Informed+Consent+at+GableStage
“Informed Consent” is a glue-you-to-your-seat-with-breath-bated, production.
“Playwright Laufer directed “Informed Consent” with the same skill she shows in her writing. She and her cast bring out every essence of the humor and sorrow of those searching for the truth of being. Can science be allowed to change the history of a person? Are legends inviolate?”
BERKSHIRE FINE ARTS
http://www.berkshirefinearts.com/08-08-2017_informed-consent-in-south-florida.htm
"Heartfelt, heartbreaking and unsettling"
"Informed Consent is a morality play about science that’s never preachy or jargon-filled.
Laufer’s thought-provoking, issue-packed, yet taut play (roughly 95 minutes) tempers brutally serious issues with humor and a sunny, hopeful optimism."
"It would be easy for a playwright to make Jillian the undisputed protagonist. But Laufer isn’t looking for the easy way out."
"Part of what makes Informed Consent compelling, relatable theater is that we shift allegiances between Arella and Jillian. Each has valued points to make and Laufer refuses to take sides, giving both an equal voice. The play also carries a message of unity that’s sorely lacking and refreshing in today’s divisive times."
“Laufer’s detailed, sensitive direction”
MIAMI NEW TIMES
http://www.miaminewtimes.com/arts/theater-review-informed-consent-at-gablestage-at-the-biltmore-9521336
“an engrossingly fascinating play”
http://www.miamiherald.com/entertainment/article164598877.html
“Informed Consent” ponders the big questions of mortality, faith and legacy with intelligence and compassion.’’
“Are we our DNA or our memories? What counts for more in our all-too-brief lives: the hard science of our genetic destiny or the treasured stories of our personal histories? How do we reconcile the contradictions of faith and science? And what lines can we cross in the name of saving someone we love?
“These are the sorts of provocative questions posed by the intellectually stimulating and emotionally stirring “Informed Consent,”
“Real science is in the mistakes,” one character says at one point. Jillian’s errors are considerable, but Laufer’s play challenges you to consider what you’d do in her shoes. The answers aren’t easy, and perhaps they shouldn’t be.”
FLORIDA THEATER ONSTAGE
http://www.floridatheateronstage.com/reviews/gablestages-informed-consent-is-the-search-for-truth-paramount-and-whose-truth/
“Laufer’s shattering drama defines the much-abused term “thought-provoking.”
“The triumph of the production, directed by Laufer, is that the human costs and values at risk are never lost. Indeed, they are channeled through the lives of its protagonists who are passionate, funny and propelled by their beliefs.”
“Able to riff off her specific vision, Laufer knows how to stage this highly theatrical story with an agile fluidity. She also easy switches among wry narration, gentle humor, painful reminisces and the tragedy when well-intentioned hearts and minds cannot co-exist.”
“These and another half-dozen ideas careen and crisscross GableStage like electrons colliding in a chain reaction, battling for dominance in profound intellectual struggles that only the audience can adjudicate.”
“Laufer really doesn’t take sides, not simply because the questions may be ultimately unanswerable, but because the questioning itself may be the overarching virtue of sentient human beings, a pursuit that is beautiful and awe-inspiring even if it is tragic as well. In the end, she seems to acknowledge honor is due the worth of everyone’s story.”
MIAMIARTZINE
http://www.miamiartzine.com/Features.php?op=Article_Informed+Consent+at+GableStage
“Informed Consent” is a glue-you-to-your-seat-with-breath-bated, production.
“Playwright Laufer directed “Informed Consent” with the same skill she shows in her writing. She and her cast bring out every essence of the humor and sorrow of those searching for the truth of being. Can science be allowed to change the history of a person? Are legends inviolate?”
BERKSHIRE FINE ARTS
http://www.berkshirefinearts.com/08-08-2017_informed-consent-in-south-florida.htm
"Heartfelt, heartbreaking and unsettling"
"Informed Consent is a morality play about science that’s never preachy or jargon-filled.
Laufer’s thought-provoking, issue-packed, yet taut play (roughly 95 minutes) tempers brutally serious issues with humor and a sunny, hopeful optimism."
"It would be easy for a playwright to make Jillian the undisputed protagonist. But Laufer isn’t looking for the easy way out."
"Part of what makes Informed Consent compelling, relatable theater is that we shift allegiances between Arella and Jillian. Each has valued points to make and Laufer refuses to take sides, giving both an equal voice. The play also carries a message of unity that’s sorely lacking and refreshing in today’s divisive times."
“Laufer’s detailed, sensitive direction”
MIAMI NEW TIMES
http://www.miaminewtimes.com/arts/theater-review-informed-consent-at-gablestage-at-the-biltmore-9521336
“an engrossingly fascinating play”
THE THREE SISTERS OF WEEHAWKEN
Theatre Lab, October 2016
Directed by me!
Reviews:
http://www.southflorida.com/theater-and-arts/sf-three-sisters-weehawken-review-20161024-story.html
"As playwright and director, she takes the women and the audience on a darkly funny, finally sobering and poignant journey from 1958 to 2016."
"Laufer has worked with a wondrous cast on this premiere production, actresses who unearth the abundant laughs and intricately rendered sorrows from her observant dialogue."
"The Three Sisters of Weehawken" is a modestly scaled world premiere by artists of enormous talent. Laufer's play is sharp, funny and, in its overriding theme, heartbreaking. That message? Don't squander your days waiting. Remember to live.
http://www.palmbeachillustrated.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.details&ArticleId=5435&returnTo=curtain-call
"Theatre Lab is one of the best things to ever happen to the Palm Beach County theater scene, and The Three Sisters of Weehawken is its first full production. It will be very hard to top. Presented in an intimate space, the play is unassuming but assertive, with powerful performances, a thoughtful set, and a killer script steeped in theater history. And its 90-minute runtime is hard to beat, too. Yes, The Three Sisters of Weehawken is an absolute must-see."
http://www.miamiartzine.com/Features.php?op=Article_The+Three+Sisters+of+Weehawken
"Olga, Masha and Irina, with Natasha close behind, have fled the pages of Chekov, waited awhile in Beckett, and finally found a home in Deborah Zoe Laufer's wonderfully funny "The Three Sisters of Weehawken,"
"The Three Sisters of Weehawken" is a ninety minute one act filled with gags both broad and subtle but it has a line of poignancy running throughout handled beautifully by all four actors."
http://www.southflorida.com/theater-and-arts/sf-three-sisters-weehawken-review-20161024-story.html
"As playwright and director, she takes the women and the audience on a darkly funny, finally sobering and poignant journey from 1958 to 2016."
"Laufer has worked with a wondrous cast on this premiere production, actresses who unearth the abundant laughs and intricately rendered sorrows from her observant dialogue."
"The Three Sisters of Weehawken" is a modestly scaled world premiere by artists of enormous talent. Laufer's play is sharp, funny and, in its overriding theme, heartbreaking. That message? Don't squander your days waiting. Remember to live.
http://www.palmbeachillustrated.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.details&ArticleId=5435&returnTo=curtain-call
"Theatre Lab is one of the best things to ever happen to the Palm Beach County theater scene, and The Three Sisters of Weehawken is its first full production. It will be very hard to top. Presented in an intimate space, the play is unassuming but assertive, with powerful performances, a thoughtful set, and a killer script steeped in theater history. And its 90-minute runtime is hard to beat, too. Yes, The Three Sisters of Weehawken is an absolute must-see."
http://www.miamiartzine.com/Features.php?op=Article_The+Three+Sisters+of+Weehawken
"Olga, Masha and Irina, with Natasha close behind, have fled the pages of Chekov, waited awhile in Beckett, and finally found a home in Deborah Zoe Laufer's wonderfully funny "The Three Sisters of Weehawken,"
"The Three Sisters of Weehawken" is a ninety minute one act filled with gags both broad and subtle but it has a line of poignancy running throughout handled beautifully by all four actors."
Recent articles and reviews:
http://www.playbill.com/article/playwrights-respond-to-orlando-attacks-with-70-new-short-plays
Gloucester Stage -- The Last Schwartz: http://www.wbur.org/artery/2016/07/18/the-last-schwartz-review
http://www.broadwayworld.com/boston/article/BWW-Review-THE-LAST-SCHWARTZ-in-New-England-Premiere-at-Gloucester-Stage-20160712
https://www.bostonglobe.com/arts/2016/07/12/gloucester-stage-the-last-schwartz-fraying-family-ties/g31AkKQkJipG7aLdUaKp9I/story.html
http://www.patriotledger.com/news/20160713/review-last-schwartz-howl-at-gloucester-stage
http://artsfuse.org/147929/fuse-theater-review-the-last-schwartz-family-matters/
Lab Theatre of Florida -- Sirens:
http://fortmyers.floridaweekly.com/news/2016-07-20/Arts_(and)_Entertainment_News/Strange_magic_marriage_on_the_rocks_make_for_a_loo.html
THEATRE J: http://washingtonjewishweek.com/30326/theater-js-season-reflects-new-artistic-directors-tastes/featured-slider-post/
THE INTERVAL: http://theintervalny.com/featurettes/2016/04/the-next-generation-womens-project-theaters-the-pipeline-festival/
Lantern Theatre: http://www.theatermania.com/philadelphia-theater/shows/informed-consent_313453/
http://www.playbill.com/article/playwrights-respond-to-orlando-attacks-with-70-new-short-plays
Gloucester Stage -- The Last Schwartz: http://www.wbur.org/artery/2016/07/18/the-last-schwartz-review
http://www.broadwayworld.com/boston/article/BWW-Review-THE-LAST-SCHWARTZ-in-New-England-Premiere-at-Gloucester-Stage-20160712
https://www.bostonglobe.com/arts/2016/07/12/gloucester-stage-the-last-schwartz-fraying-family-ties/g31AkKQkJipG7aLdUaKp9I/story.html
http://www.patriotledger.com/news/20160713/review-last-schwartz-howl-at-gloucester-stage
http://artsfuse.org/147929/fuse-theater-review-the-last-schwartz-family-matters/
Lab Theatre of Florida -- Sirens:
http://fortmyers.floridaweekly.com/news/2016-07-20/Arts_(and)_Entertainment_News/Strange_magic_marriage_on_the_rocks_make_for_a_loo.html
THEATRE J: http://washingtonjewishweek.com/30326/theater-js-season-reflects-new-artistic-directors-tastes/featured-slider-post/
THE INTERVAL: http://theintervalny.com/featurettes/2016/04/the-next-generation-womens-project-theaters-the-pipeline-festival/
Lantern Theatre: http://www.theatermania.com/philadelphia-theater/shows/informed-consent_313453/
____________________________________________________________
INFORMED CONSENT at the Duke Theatre
NYTimes Critic's Pick!
INFORMED CONSENT at the Duke Theatre
NYTimes Critic's Pick!
INFORMED CONSENT The Duke Theatre, NY, NY, August, 2015
REVIEWS:
NEW YORK TIMES CRITIC'S PICK!
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/19/theater/review-informed-consent-tests-the-ethics-of-genetic-research.html?_r=0
THE NEW YORK DAILY NEWS!
http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/theater-arts/informed-consent-review-indian-history-meets-family-drama-article-1.2329536
"Compelling... thoughtful and theatrical"
THEATREMANIA!
http://www.theatermania.com/off-broadway/reviews/informed-consent_73910.html
ARTSFUSE!
http://artsfuse.org/133631/fuse-theater-review-informed-consent-science-ethics-and-racing-against-the-clock/#comments
NY POST!
http://nypost.com/2015/08/18/informed-consent-pits-science-against-beliefs/
STAGEBUDDY!
http://stagebuddy.com/reviews/review-informed-consent
THE SCIENTIST!
http://www.the-scientist.com/?articles.view/articleNo/43762/title/Review--Sacred-Stories--Genetic-Privacy-Collide/
WOMAN AROUND TOWN!
http://www.womanaroundtown.com/sections/playing-around/informed-consent-morality-vs-science
TIMES SQUARE CHRONICLES!
http://t2conline.com/informed-consent-brings-the-battle-of-faith-verses-science-to-the-stage/
THEATRE PIZZAZZ!
http://www.theaterpizzazz.com/informed-consent-life-science-and-human-rights/
APOLLO'S GIRL!
https://apollosgirl.wordpress.com/2015/08/21/apollos-girl-68/
EDGE MEDIA NETWORK!
http://www.edgenewyork.com/entertainment/theatre/reviews//181812/theatre_review_::_informed_consent
THEATRELIFE!
http://theaterlife.com/node/15018
THE EPOCH TIMES!
http://www.theepochtimes.com/n3/1733196-theater-review-informed-consent/
THEATRE SCENE!
http://www.theaterscene.net/plays/informed-consent/victor-gluck/
THE FRONT ROW CENTER!
http://thefrontrowcenter.com/2015/08/informed-consent/
INTERVIEWS:
SCIENCE FRIDAY with Ira Flatow!
Listen here:
http://www.sciencefriday.com/segment/08/21/2015/a-play-about-medical-ethics-ripped-from-the-headlines.html
STAGE BUDDY
http://stagebuddy.com/theater/theater-articles/interview-deborah-zoe-laufer-informed-consent
SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/what-are-you-doing-with-my-dna/
JULY, 2015
OUT OF STERNO Glouster Stage Company, Glouster, MA June 25, 2015 - July 18.
THE BOSTON GLOBE:
https://www.bostonglobe.com/arts/theater-dance/2015/07/01/one-woman-bumpy-journey-self-discovery-gloucester-stage-out-sterno/rn7V1fdKumlnzFdgvkU16K/story.html
ON BOSTON STAGES:
https://onbostonstages.wordpress.com/2015/07/13/collins-ellis-shine-in-gloucesters-out-of-sterno/
WICKED LOCAL MEDFORD:
http://medford.wickedlocal.com/article/20150630/NEWS/150639846
TALKIN BROADWAY:
http://www.talkinbroadway.com/regional/boston/boston304.html
INSIGHTS
http://shelleysackett.com/2015/06/29/gloucester-stage-company-hits-it-out-of-the-park-with-out-of-sterno/
----------------------
May, 2015
LEVELING UP New Theatre, Miami, FL
Review: http://www.floridatheateronstage.com/reviews/gen-yers-struggle-with-dehumanizing-technology-in-new-theatres-leveling-up/
"Laufer is an experienced and skilled dramatist who revels in ideas."
April, 2015
How I Did It: Establishing a Playwriting CareerPaperback by Larry Harbison
Featured playwright!
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1480369632/?tag=talkinbroadway
LEVELING UP Montana Rep., Missoula, MT
Review: http://article.wn.com/view/2015/04/22/Montana_Reps_Visions_and_Voices_Project_delivers_a_winner_in/
"Examiner.com is proud to recommend this amazing play."
March, 2015
END DAYS Windy City Playhouse Chicago, IL, March 2015 (Inaugural production)
Review: "Highly recommended" http://entertainment.suntimes.com/stage/end-days-opening-show-new-windy-city-playhouse/
"The wonder of it all is that it is as laugh-out-loud funny as it is smart and full of heart."
Review: http://www.examiner.com/review/chicago-s-newest-theater-premiers-the-end-of-the-world
"End Days admirably achieves a delicate balance of humor, poignancy, and empathy."
END DAYS Penobscot Theatre Company Bangor, ME, March, 2015
Review: http://www.themaineedge.com/buzz/physics-and-metaphysics-–-end-days
"There’s something wonderful about particularly challenging theatrical work... in this case, the overlap or mutual exclusivity of faith and science – audiences are afforded the opportunity to ask themselves some very real questions.Of course, the heavy stuff goes down a heck of a lot easier when it springs from a piece as well-written, honest and funny as “End Days.”
"Powerful and charming and surprisingly sentimental."
SIRENS Williamston Theatre, Williamston, MI March 26-April 26 2015
Review: http://www.encoremichigan.com/article.html?article=9538
"There is a lot to love about “Sirens.” It’s charming, endearing and strikes a note of hope and promise."
THE LAST SCHWARTZ (reading), Continuum Theater, Chicago, IL March 8, 2015
http://chicagojewishnews.com/2015/01/02/a-continuum-of-plays/
February, 2015
END DAYS opens at Chester Theatre Company, Chester, NJ
Review: http://www.examiner.com/review/review-end-days-quirky-comedy-at-chester-theatre-group
January, 2015
George Sand Invitational 1 Minute Play Festival 1/31/15 and 2/1/15 http://www.newgeorges.org/uncategorized/73-playwrights-strong-2nd- georges-sand-invitational-1-minute-play-festival-is-131-21/
December, 2014
INFORMED CONSENT makes list of 10 Most Memorable Moments in Cleveland Theatre, 2014
http://www.clevelandjewishnews.com/features/leisure/arts/article_12ed0368-8484-11e4-8218-0bf609699ab0.html
LEVELING UP at Theatre UCF makes the Orlando Sentinel 2014 Top Ten List
LEVELING UP is published by Samuel French
http://www.samuelfrench.com/p/56519/leveling-up
November, 2014
REVIEWS:
NEW YORK TIMES CRITIC'S PICK!
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/19/theater/review-informed-consent-tests-the-ethics-of-genetic-research.html?_r=0
THE NEW YORK DAILY NEWS!
http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/theater-arts/informed-consent-review-indian-history-meets-family-drama-article-1.2329536
"Compelling... thoughtful and theatrical"
THEATREMANIA!
http://www.theatermania.com/off-broadway/reviews/informed-consent_73910.html
ARTSFUSE!
http://artsfuse.org/133631/fuse-theater-review-informed-consent-science-ethics-and-racing-against-the-clock/#comments
NY POST!
http://nypost.com/2015/08/18/informed-consent-pits-science-against-beliefs/
STAGEBUDDY!
http://stagebuddy.com/reviews/review-informed-consent
THE SCIENTIST!
http://www.the-scientist.com/?articles.view/articleNo/43762/title/Review--Sacred-Stories--Genetic-Privacy-Collide/
WOMAN AROUND TOWN!
http://www.womanaroundtown.com/sections/playing-around/informed-consent-morality-vs-science
TIMES SQUARE CHRONICLES!
http://t2conline.com/informed-consent-brings-the-battle-of-faith-verses-science-to-the-stage/
THEATRE PIZZAZZ!
http://www.theaterpizzazz.com/informed-consent-life-science-and-human-rights/
APOLLO'S GIRL!
https://apollosgirl.wordpress.com/2015/08/21/apollos-girl-68/
EDGE MEDIA NETWORK!
http://www.edgenewyork.com/entertainment/theatre/reviews//181812/theatre_review_::_informed_consent
THEATRELIFE!
http://theaterlife.com/node/15018
THE EPOCH TIMES!
http://www.theepochtimes.com/n3/1733196-theater-review-informed-consent/
THEATRE SCENE!
http://www.theaterscene.net/plays/informed-consent/victor-gluck/
THE FRONT ROW CENTER!
http://thefrontrowcenter.com/2015/08/informed-consent/
INTERVIEWS:
SCIENCE FRIDAY with Ira Flatow!
Listen here:
http://www.sciencefriday.com/segment/08/21/2015/a-play-about-medical-ethics-ripped-from-the-headlines.html
STAGE BUDDY
http://stagebuddy.com/theater/theater-articles/interview-deborah-zoe-laufer-informed-consent
SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/what-are-you-doing-with-my-dna/
JULY, 2015
OUT OF STERNO Glouster Stage Company, Glouster, MA June 25, 2015 - July 18.
THE BOSTON GLOBE:
https://www.bostonglobe.com/arts/theater-dance/2015/07/01/one-woman-bumpy-journey-self-discovery-gloucester-stage-out-sterno/rn7V1fdKumlnzFdgvkU16K/story.html
ON BOSTON STAGES:
https://onbostonstages.wordpress.com/2015/07/13/collins-ellis-shine-in-gloucesters-out-of-sterno/
WICKED LOCAL MEDFORD:
http://medford.wickedlocal.com/article/20150630/NEWS/150639846
TALKIN BROADWAY:
http://www.talkinbroadway.com/regional/boston/boston304.html
INSIGHTS
http://shelleysackett.com/2015/06/29/gloucester-stage-company-hits-it-out-of-the-park-with-out-of-sterno/
----------------------
May, 2015
LEVELING UP New Theatre, Miami, FL
Review: http://www.floridatheateronstage.com/reviews/gen-yers-struggle-with-dehumanizing-technology-in-new-theatres-leveling-up/
"Laufer is an experienced and skilled dramatist who revels in ideas."
April, 2015
How I Did It: Establishing a Playwriting CareerPaperback by Larry Harbison
Featured playwright!
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1480369632/?tag=talkinbroadway
LEVELING UP Montana Rep., Missoula, MT
Review: http://article.wn.com/view/2015/04/22/Montana_Reps_Visions_and_Voices_Project_delivers_a_winner_in/
"Examiner.com is proud to recommend this amazing play."
March, 2015
END DAYS Windy City Playhouse Chicago, IL, March 2015 (Inaugural production)
Review: "Highly recommended" http://entertainment.suntimes.com/stage/end-days-opening-show-new-windy-city-playhouse/
"The wonder of it all is that it is as laugh-out-loud funny as it is smart and full of heart."
Review: http://www.examiner.com/review/chicago-s-newest-theater-premiers-the-end-of-the-world
"End Days admirably achieves a delicate balance of humor, poignancy, and empathy."
END DAYS Penobscot Theatre Company Bangor, ME, March, 2015
Review: http://www.themaineedge.com/buzz/physics-and-metaphysics-–-end-days
"There’s something wonderful about particularly challenging theatrical work... in this case, the overlap or mutual exclusivity of faith and science – audiences are afforded the opportunity to ask themselves some very real questions.Of course, the heavy stuff goes down a heck of a lot easier when it springs from a piece as well-written, honest and funny as “End Days.”
"Powerful and charming and surprisingly sentimental."
SIRENS Williamston Theatre, Williamston, MI March 26-April 26 2015
Review: http://www.encoremichigan.com/article.html?article=9538
"There is a lot to love about “Sirens.” It’s charming, endearing and strikes a note of hope and promise."
THE LAST SCHWARTZ (reading), Continuum Theater, Chicago, IL March 8, 2015
http://chicagojewishnews.com/2015/01/02/a-continuum-of-plays/
February, 2015
END DAYS opens at Chester Theatre Company, Chester, NJ
Review: http://www.examiner.com/review/review-end-days-quirky-comedy-at-chester-theatre-group
January, 2015
George Sand Invitational 1 Minute Play Festival 1/31/15 and 2/1/15 http://www.newgeorges.org/uncategorized/73-playwrights-strong-2nd- georges-sand-invitational-1-minute-play-festival-is-131-21/
December, 2014
INFORMED CONSENT makes list of 10 Most Memorable Moments in Cleveland Theatre, 2014
http://www.clevelandjewishnews.com/features/leisure/arts/article_12ed0368-8484-11e4-8218-0bf609699ab0.html
LEVELING UP at Theatre UCF makes the Orlando Sentinel 2014 Top Ten List
LEVELING UP is published by Samuel French
http://www.samuelfrench.com/p/56519/leveling-up
November, 2014