MCC Theater (Bernie Telsey and Will Cantler, Co-Artistic Directors; Blake West, Executive Director) announced today the cast and creative team for the New York premiere of Birthright,by Tony Award winner Jonathan Spector (Eureka Day) and directed by Teddy Bergman (Mother Russia). Birthrightwill begin previews on Friday June 5 with an opening night set for Wednesday June 24 and a limited run through Sunday July 12, 2026at MCC Theater’s Newman Mills Theater (511 W 52nd Street, New York, NY 10019).
The cast of Birthright will include Hale Appleman (“The Magicians”), Molly Bernard (“Younger”), Tony Award nominee Eli Gelb (Stereophonic), Abbi Jacobson (“Broad City”), Tony Award nominee Liz Larsen (Beautiful: The Carole King Musical), Nate Mann (“Masters of the Air”), and Zoë Winters (“Succession”).
Birthright will feature Scenic Design by Tony Award winner Scott Pask (Good Night, and Good Luck), Costume Design by Tony Award winner Clint Ramos (Eclipsed), Lighting Design by Tony Award winner Natasha Katz (Sweeney Todd), Sound Design by Lee Kinney(Is This A Room), Projection Design by Tony Award nominee David Bengali (Water for Elephants), Wig, Hair, and Makeup Design by Robert Pickens (Stereophonic) and Katie Gell (Romeo and Juliet), Voice and Text Coaching by Gigi Buffington (MCC’s Caroline), and Props Supervision by Samantha Shoffner (MCC’s Caroline). Charles M. Turner, III will serve as the Production Stage Manager, Nicole Johnson / Harriet Tubman Effect is the DEI Consultant, and Casting is by The Telsey Office.
What begins as a reunion among six young friends after a Birthright trip to Israel in 2006 becomes, over the span of 18 years, an exploration of identity, fracturing communities, and what it means to belong in Birthright by Tony Award winner Jonathan Spector (Eureka Day) and directed by Teddy Bergman (Mother Russia). As these friends grow up and the world around them shifts in seismic ways, they find themselves confronting essential questions: How do we carry the weight of history? How do we define who we are, and who we want to be? And what happens when the narratives we inherit no longer fit the lives we’re living?
Tracing a generation through the lens of American Jewish life, Birthrightis a portrait of friendship across time. In an era defined by social media, their conversations evolve, capturing the complicated, funny, and deeply real experience of staying close.
Birthright is produced by Special Arrangement with Jenny Gersten, FourthWall Theatrical, and Sonia Friedman Productions.
Birthright was commissioned and developed by Miami New Drama. World Premiere presented by Miami New Drama, April 2025, Michel Hausmann-Artistic Director; Nicholas Richberg-Managing Director.
The performance schedule for Birthrightis as follows: Tuesdays-Saturdays at 7pm and Sundays at 2pm.
Exceptions: There will be an additional performance on Monday June 22. There will be no public performance on Tuesday June 23. On Saturday June 27, Wednesday July 1, Friday July 3, and Saturday July 11 the performances will be at 1pm and 7:30pm. The Sunday June 28 performance will be at 1pm. There will be no performance on Sunday July 5. The Wednesday July 8 performance will be at 7:30pm.
Audience Conversations will follow the June 14 and July 11 performances, Cast Talkbacks will follow the June 16 and July 9 performances, and a Playwright/Director Talkback will follow the June 17 performance.
Priority booking for MCC Patrons begins today, April 9 at 12 pm ET. MCC Subscriber priority booking will begin on April 16 at 12 pm, and general on sale will begin on April 30 at 12 pm. Tickets and more information can be found at mcctheater.org.
MCC Theater’s Education Programs are supported by the Axe-Houghton Foundation, Cornelia T. Bailey Foundation, Emily Davie and Joseph S. Kornfeld Foundation, National Endowment for the Arts, Harold J. Newman† & Ruth Newman, the Eric Rosedale Playwriting Fund, the Leo Shull Charitable Fund for the Arts, and Tiger Baron Foundation.
The Blanche & Irving Laurie Foundation provides additional production support for Birthright.
MCC Theater receives General Operating Support from the Howard Gilman Foundation, the Shubert Foundation, the Harold and Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust, New York State Council on the Arts, the Lucille Lortel Foundation, the Actors’ Equity Foundation, and the Lambs Foundation. Funding for open caption performances is provided, in part, by a grant from NYSCA/TDF TAP Plus. A grant from the MacMillan Family Foundation supports website development. Play and musical development programs are supported, in part, by grants from the Richenthal Foundation, the Laurents/Hatcher Foundation, the Burton A. and Sandra D. Zipser Foundation, and public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the New York City Council.