September 12-29
Zalmy lives a double life. By day, he drives a Chabad “Mitzvah Tank” through 1990s New York City, performing good deeds with his best friend Shmuel. By night, he sneaks out of his orthodox community to roller-skate and listen to rock and roll. But when a curious outsider offers him unfettered access to the secular world, is it worth jeopardizing everything he’s ever known? This road-trip bromance is a funny and heartwarming ode to the turbulence of youth, the universal suspicion that we don’t quite fit in, and the faith and friends that see us through.
Actors
Bryce A. Miller (Schmuly) is thrilled and beyond grateful to be making his debut with New Jewish Theatre! Past St. Louis work includes The Nerd with Moonstone Theatre Company (St. Louis Theatre Circle Nomination), The Rep’s staged reading of Bad Jews (dir. Rebekah Scallet) along with various shows at St. Louis Shakespeare, Metro Theatre Company, The Black Rep, COCA, The Riverside Theatre Project, and Stray Dog Theatre. Bryce holds a BFA in Acting from Webster University’s Sargent Conservatory of Theatre Arts. Endless thanks to Rebekah, Aaron, and the incredible cast and crew! And as always, this performance is for Mom and Dad.
Jacob Schmidt (Zalmy) is beyond ecstatic to be making his New Jewish Theatre debut! He’s a proud graduate of Fontbonne University with a B.A. in Theatre Performance. He was seen most recently in Tesseract Theatre Co.’s production(s) of The Inheritance; Part 1 and Part 2 as Young Walter/Tucker/Young Man 6 and Take Two Production’s production of tick…tick…BOOM! as Michael. He sends much love to his friends, family, sister Ellie (his biggest fan AND biggest critic), and to YOU the audience! Thank you for seeing and supporting live art!
Spencer Sickmann (Jonathan) is extremely excited to be back on the New Jewish stage. He studied theatre at Murray State, Akron University and The American Academy of Dramatic Arts. It has been a while since his last appearance on stage. Some of his more memorable performances are Mitch in Streetcar named Desire with Tennessee Williams festival, Cal in Comfort with St. Louis Actors Studio and Asher Lev at New Jewish. He wants to thank his family and friends for always supporting him, most importantly, his beautiful wife. Without her, he would be half the man he is. He would also like to thank you for supporting local theatre. Enjoy the show!
Annie Zigman (Leah) is thrilled to be back at NJT! National Tour: Junie B.’s Essential Survival Guide to School (May). Regional: Fiddler on the Roof (The MUNY), Les Misérables (The MUNY), Sister Act (Geva Theatre Center), Laughter on the 23rd Floor (New Jewish Theatre). BFA, University of Miami. Endless love to my family and J. @anniezigman
Production Team
Lindsay Joelle (Playwright) is a playwright, librettist, and author living in the Sonoran Desert of Tucson, AZ. Plays include Trayf (Theater J, Geffen Playhouse; Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle nomination for Writing; Robby Award nomination for Best Playwriting and Best Comedy; Goldberg MFA Playwriting Prize); The Garbologists, an EST/Sloan Foundation commission (Philadelphia Theatre Company, City Theatre, Northlight Theatre); and The Messengers, an Audible Theatre Emerging Playwright Commission recorded by Audible. Joelle was the National New Play Network’s Playwright-in-Residence at Curious Theatre and has developed new work with City Theatre, Vital Theatre (new musical commission), PlayPenn, and Playwrights Foundation, among others. Alumna of the BMI Musical Theatre Workshop, Nashville Repertory Theatre’s Ingram New Works Lab, New Georges Jam, Columbia University (BA), and Hunter (MFA). Other writing includes the prep book “Tutor Tells All: ACT Test Strategy.” www.LindsayJoelle.com.
Aaron Sparks (Director) is thrilled to return to New Jewish Theatre! New York/regional directing credits include My Name is Asher Lev (New Jewish Theatre), David Rabe’s The Orphan (The Tank), Disorder (United Solo Festival), Jean Genet’s Deathwatch (FringeNYC), and Every Brilliant Thing (Heartland Theatre). Acting: A Soldier’s Play (NEC – 2018 AUDELCO Award, Best Revival); Tribes (Heartland Theatre); Eve and Her Neighbors, Good, Good Trouble…, Exodus (FringeNYC); Fiddler on the Roof, Oliver! (The MUNY). MFA in Directing – Texas State University. Directing at Texas State: The Harvest, Men on Boats, The Exonerated, In Arabia, We’d All be Kings. BFA – NYU Tisch. www.aaronsparksdirector.com
Lily Tomasic (Scene Designer) – Lily is thrilled to be making her New Jewish Theatre debut! She recently graduated from Webster University’s Sargent Conservatory of Theater Arts with a BFA in Scenic Design. While there she designed seven productions, her favorites have included Natasha Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812, Myths and Hymns, and Burial at Thebes. Around town, her credits include Action (Action Arts Collaboration), Godspell (Take 2 Productions), and Matilda (Spotlight Productions). Her assistant scenic designer credits are Les Misérables (The Muny), and As You Like It (STL Shakespeare Festival). Whenever she gets the chance, she enjoys reading, playing video games, and soaking up the sunshine with her dogs.
Michele Friedman Siler (Costume Designer) has been designing costumes for NJT since 2001, productions including Red, We All Fall Down, All My Sons, Into the Woods, The Immigrant, Broadway Bound, Dear Jack, Dear Louise, Brighton Beach Memoirs (St. Louis Theatre Circle Nominee) and The Whipping Man. Recent credits include The Rose Tattoo, The Glass Menagerie, A Streetcar Named Desire for the Tennessee Williams Festival (St. Louis Theatre Circle Nominee), The Sound Inside, The Nerd, Barefoot in the Park, (Moonstone Theatre), Hamlet, The Tempest, The Heir Apparent (St. Louis Theatre Circle Nominee) for St. Louis Shakespeare, Into the Breeches (St. Louis Theatre Circle Nominee) Shakespeare in the Streets: Winds of Change for the Shakespeare Festival of St. Louis, Waiting for the Marlboro Man, Bitter Fruit, A Human Being Died That Night, The Death of Atahualpa (Kevin Kline Award Nominee) for Upstream Theater, Blithe Spirit (St. Louis Theatre Circle Nominee) and Waiting for Godot for St. Louis Actors’ Studio. Michele was named “Best St. Louis Costume Designer” in the 2016 Post- Dispatch GO! List and was named a 2022 “Unsung Hero” by the St. Louis Jewish Light.
Katie Orr (Props Supervisor) – is a designer, painter, theatre-marketing aficionado, and graduate from Stephens College. As a theatre advocate and native St. Louisan, it’s her passion to highlight local theatre. There are so many incredible unsung companies, and that is why she stays in STL–to further her mission as a committed designer, artist, and advocate in the St. Louis community. Some design credits include: Into the Woods (New Jewish Theatre Company), Eddie & Vinnie (Metro Theatre Company), Proof (Moonstone Theater Company), Forgottonia (Fly North Theatricals), 12 Angry Jurors (Missouri Baptist University). www.katiemicorr.com
Patrick Siler (Stage Manager) is pleased return to New Jewish Theatre after stage managing We All Fall Down. He has stage managed at most of the Equity Theaters in St. Louis including the Repertory Theater of St. Louis, St. Louis Shakespeare Festival, Moonstone Theatre, and Upstream Theater. He’s also worked professionally in Kansas City, Dallas and Chicago. He is married to Costume Designer Michele Friedman Siler and thanks you for supporting local theater. 
Emma Glose (Assistant Stage Manager) Emma Glose is thrilled to be joining Trayf as the assistant stage manager for this production. She is a theatre artist who graduated from Saint Louis University. She has worked in various roles with companies such as ERA, St Louis Actors Studio, SATE, Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, and many more. She’d like to thank the cast and crew of Trayf and her parents for their support.
Abby Pastorello (Wardrobe Supervisor) – is a Costume, Hair/Wig, and Makeup Designer and is the current resident Costume Designer for STLCC, Meramec Theatre. She wants to thank all of her friends and family for their endless love and support in pursuing her passion and is ever so grateful to do what she loves as her job. Favorite past credits for design include: The Mousetrap, The Trail To Oregon (STLCC), She Loves Me, Picasso At Lapin Agile, Ubu Roi, Suddenly Last Summer (Tennessee Williams Festival), Dr. Ride’s American Beach House, The Glass Menagerie (STLCC), Heathers: The Musical, Bright Star, The Pajama Game (AFL Nominees for Outstanding Costume Design), The Man WHO Came to Dinner (AFL Winner for Outstanding Costume Design), Other non-design credit include: The Inheritance (Tesseract Theatre Co.), Harvey Milk, Awakenings, Carmen, The Magic Flute (OTSTL), King Lear (STL Shakespeare Festival), The Glass Menagerie, The Rose Tattoo (Tennessee Williams Festival).