MIKVAH GIRLS
Mikvah Girls is the story of two orthodox Jewish women from New Jersey who are supposed to be performing a monthly cleansing ritual at a mikvah. Instead, they actually use this time to hold meetings of their two-person Bruce Springsteen fan club. Together they grapple with the effects their religion has on their sexuality, desires, hopes, and dreams, all while obsessing over the Boss and dreaming of a better world they could build together.
PRODUCTION HISTORY
Mikvah Girls was originally developed with Art House Productions’ INKubator new play residency '22-'23, with Raffi Donatich as Chava, Laura Herskov as Aviva, Sarah Weitzmann as Rachel, Chris DeSantis as Bruce Springsteen, and Laura Galindo as Bon Jovi under the direction of Karma Masselli, with costumes by Hannah Bird and dramaturgy by Diana Schlossberg.
In September 2023, Mikvah Girls had a reading with Breaking and Entering Theatre Company, with Raffi Donatich as Chava, Laura Herskov as Aviva, Diana Schlossberg
as Rachel, Chris DeSantis as Bruce Springsteen, and Laura Galindo as Bon Jovi under the direction of Karma Masselli, with costumes by Hannah Bird.
In June/July 2024, Mikvah Girls was presented at the Hollywood Fringe Festival by This Is A Front Theatre, with Maya Knell as Chava, Sofia JoAnna as Aviva, Rachel Wender as Rachel, Jesse Katz as Bruce Springsteen, and Jonathan Jennings as Bon Jovi, under the direction of Brian Eckert. Set Design by Benny Pitt, Costume Design by Danica Martino, Sound Design by Jimmy Mura, and Intimacy Direction under Carly DW Bones.
2024 Hollywood Fringe Best Drama Winner
2024 Honorable Mention, The Relentless Award
2024 Semi-Finalist, O'Neill Playwriting Conference
2024 Semi-Finalist, Playwrights Realm Fellowship
2024 International Encore @ Soho Playhouse Nominee
2024 Best of Broadwater Winner
2024 Semi-Finalist, SHE NYC Festival
2024 Finalist, Loud Karma Playwright Award
2023 Semi-Finalist, Jewish Plays Project
"The play is not only witty and hilarious, it is disturbing and eloquent. Emmy tackles sexual deprivation, domestic violence, the love that exists in female friendships and one’s devotion to culture and heritage while also wanting to honor identity and heart. These are not easy subjects to handle, yet Emmy does it with sensitivity, humor and most importantly, love...What makes a great play is its ability to capture the heart in ways that remind us we are connected as humans. I need not know what they were saying, for my body understood."- Constance Strickland, Los Angeles Female Playwrights Initiative (review of 2024 production)
script and video available upon request
Hollywood Fringe production photos by Annie Lesser