We sat down with playwright S. Asher Gelman to talk about The Zionists: A Family Storm, a bold and urgent new work making its World Premiere at Miami New Drama, April 9 to May 3 at The Colony Theatre.
Set against the backdrop of a deeply divided world, The Zionists: A Family Storm brings audiences into an intimate, high-stakes family gathering where politics, identity, and history collide. What unfolds is not just a debate, but a reckoning. A story about what it means to stay, to listen, and to remain connected even when it feels impossible.
Below, Gelman shares what inspired the play, what he hopes audiences take away, and why this story feels especially necessary right now.
Why this story, right now?
“We’re really living in truly polarizing times. We are being pushed into our separate corners, by our algorithms, by our echo chambers, by our politicians. Now more than ever, we need to find ways back together.”
For Gelman, The Zionists isn’t about easy answers, it’s about staying in the discomfort.
“This play is about staying in the room. It’s about having difficult conversations… being deeply uncomfortable and still finding a path forward.”
What inspired The Zionists: A Family Storm?
“In the wake of October 7th, I felt really lost. I lost friends, I lost colleagues. I watched complicated, complex stories become simplified and flattened. The truth is, we don’t have the patience for more than short form anymore… and that is not the way we can make sense of this very complicated time. So, I turned to a play, where many things can be true at once.”
At its core, what is the play about?
“At its core, The Zionists is about family. It’s about connection. It’s about communication. It is about preserving the things that pull us together, especially during a time when everything else is pulling us apart.”
What do you hope audiences feel when they leave?
“I hope audiences feel conflicted. I hope they feel compelled to reach out to someone they disagree with. I hope they feel compelled to make an effort and to find connection.”
Why premiere this work in Miami?
“We’re living in a time when theater is, for the most part, playing it safe… but Miami New Drama is not doing that. Art is supposed to make us uncomfortable. It’s supposed to make us think… and Miami New Drama is embracing that.”
What topic always sparks debate at your own family table?
“I may have written a play about it.”
DON'T MISS THE WORLD PREMIERE OF
The Zionists
A Family Storm
ON STAGE APRIL 9 TO MAY 3 AT THE COLONY THEATRE.
TICKETS FROM $40.
Take a peek behind the scenes at the first rehearsal with the cast and creative team.
