For the tenth entry in its Off The Page series of monthly staged readings, Sierra Madre Playhouse will present The Immigrant.
Rural Central Texas, 1909. A young Russian-Jewish immigrant, newly arrived in America through the port of Galveston, pulls his banana cart into the hamlet of Hamilton. Fleeing the vicious pogroms of his homeland, he has sought refuge in the land of the free. Able to speak only Yiddish, alone in the midst of a staunchly Christian community, he begs for shelter. Over the next 30 years, he makes a home and raises a family in this tiny town. The Immigrant is the story of a young Russian-Jewish couple and the local couple that take them in, as religion meets religion, culture meets culture, fear meets fear, and love meets love. This is the true story of Haskell Harelik, “the Immigrant.”
Written by Mark Harelik, the show debuted in Denver in 2002. It was based on his novel. His other plays include The Legacy and Hank Williams: Lost Highway. He is also an actor.
Christopher Cappiello directs the cast of the Sierra Madre Playhouse staged reading. He previously appeared on the Sierra Madre Playhouse stage in its production of Deathtrap.
Debra J. Harner and Sierra Madre Playhouse Artistic Director Christian Lebano curate the Off The Page series.
Admission to The Immigrant is free. Donations are accepted. Reservations are not required. For more information, visit www.sierramadreplayhouse.org or call (626) 355-4318.
Sierra Madre Playhouse is located at 87 W. Sierra Madre, Blvd., Sierra Madre. This is just east of Pasadena. There is ample free parking behind the theatre.
