NJT proudly presents Anna Ziegler’s The Wanderers, winner of the San Diego Critics Circle Award for Outstanding New Play and a St. Louis area premiere. This funny, moving, and thought-provoking play offers a rare glimpse into the world of Satmar Hasidic Judaism while asking: is it worth following your truth, no matter the cost? The production runs September 11–28, 2025 at the J’s Wool Studio Theatre and is directed by St. Louis Theatre Circle Award-winner Robert Quinlan (Into the Woods, 2023).
At its heart, The Wanderers explores two marriages worlds apart. Esther and Schmuli are Orthodox Jews bound by rigid tradition, while Sophie and Abe are secular and seemingly free to chart their own course. Yet both couples grapple with distance, identity, and desire. As Esther begins testing the limits of her freedom, Abe finds himself drawn into an unexpected correspondence with a movie star—one that threatens his marriage and career.
Quinlan, returning to NJT after his celebrated production of Into the Woods, leads a creative team of acclaimed artists:
• Set Design: Reiko Huffman, Assistant Professor of Scenic Design, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (NJT Debut).
• Lighting Design: Jayson Lawshee (Red, 2024; Into the Woods, 2023)
• Sound Design: Amanda Werre (First Date, 2024; All My Sons, 2024; Into the Woods, 2023)
• Costume Design: Michele Friedman Siler, NJT’s resident costume designer
The five-member cast includes NJT veterans and exciting newcomers:
• Joel Moses as Abe (The Heidi Chronicles, 2025; All My Sons, 2024)
• Wendy Renée Greenwood as Sophie (Time Stands Still, 2019)
• Bryce Miller as Schmuli (Trayf, 2024 – St. Louis Theatre Circle Award nominee)
• Jade Cash as Esther (NJT debut)
• Maggie Wininger as Julia Cheever (NJT debut)
The Wanderers runs September 11–28 at the J’s Wool Studio Theatre (2 Millstone Campus Drive, St. Louis, MO 63146). Performances are Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays. There is an additional show on Wednesday, September 17. Tickets range from $29–$61 and are available at newjewishtheatre.org or by phone at 314.442.3283.
This production is generously sponsored by Dr. David and Melanie Alpers. NJT’s 2025 Season is sponsored by Mary Strauss.
###
ABOUT NJT:
NJT is dedicated to exploring Jewish themes and celebrating Jewish writers while examining the full range of the human experience. We present universal work through a Jewish lens, using our productions to enrich lives, promote inclusivity, and build community.