The Gallery:
Stage & Audio
SPACE LASER IN SPACE, Jillian Blevins
A note from the artist: SPACE LASER, IN SPACE! was a finalist in the Samuel French Off-Off-Broadway New Play Festival at the Vineyard Theatre in August, 2023. This play was written in response to rising antisemitism in 2022, but has taken on new resonance for me after 10/7.
About the artist: Jillian Blevins (she/her) is a New England-based playwright whose work engages with literature, myth, and history, exploring how the stories we think we know resonate in our present. Select plays include MERE WATERS (Winner ‘Best Script’ SheNYC Festival 2024, Finalist Seattle Public Theatre Distillery New Works Festival 2024, Honorable Mention American Playwriting Foundation Relentless Award 2024, Semi-finalist O’Neill Playwrights Conference 2024), ROMEO & HER SISTER (Semi-finalist SheNYC Festival 2022), THE POLYCULE: A COMEDY OF MANNERS (Finalist Boston New Works Festival 2024, Semifinalist The Road Summer Playwrights Festival 2024, Frank Moffett Mosier Longlist Prize for Works in Heightened Language from Synecdoche Works 2023), SPACE LASER, IN SPACE! (Semi-finalist Samuel French Off-Off-Broadway New Play Festival 2023, Jewish Plays Project Festival of New Jewish Plays 2024), THE BED TRICK (Valdez Theatre Conference 2023), IZZY AT ZOOM THERAPY (Third Coast Magazine 2025), and PILLORIED (Winner, Samuel French Off-Off-Broadway New Play Festival 2024, Concord Theatricals 2025). Jillian’s plays have been featured on audio drama podcasts Gather By The Ghostlight and The Ugly Radio. She is a proud member of the Dramatists Guild. Learn more at www.jillianblevinsplaywright.com
OUR STORIES MATTER, Ashley Gustafson
A note from the artist: Since the October 7th attack, false narratives have intensified tensions and prejudice, in academic settings. Drawing from their own experiences of war, Dr. Bar-Halpern and Associate Professor Susan Hess recognize the urgency of sharing stories of hope and resilience. Our Stories Matter Season 5, We Will Dance Again, strives to dismantle these harmful narratives, strengthen unity on college campuses, and confront polarization. Featuring storytellers from varied perspectives—Jews, Arabs, and Christians—the podcast works to cultivate compassion and understanding, break down polarization, and drive civil engagement to spark meaningful dialogue and across college communities.
Listen to three episodes: featuring Jonathan Bar Giora, renowned Israeli composer, UCLA student and activist Eli Tsives , and Jonah Platt, artist, activist and host of the Being Jewish podcast.
