“A Jewish Joke.” Phil Johnson’s one-man play, written by himself and Marni Freedman, about a Jewish comedy screenwriter who faces the 1950s Hollywood blacklist. Directed by David Ellenstein and running for one performance only. Saturday, Sept. 14 at 4 p.m., at The Studio Theatre, 410 W. 42nd St. $18, telecharge.com.
“Spinoza’s Ethics.” A mind-bending play in which the Dutch Jewish philosopher follows a woman named Ruth through the centuries as she seeks happiness through religion and marriage. Directed by Dianna Garten. Now playing through Sept. 15, 6:30 p.m. Theater for the New City, 155 First Ave. $15, dreamupfestival.org.
“G-d’s Honest Truth.” A staged reading of Renee Calarco’s play about a couple who purchase a supposedly unique Holocaust Torah for their shul only to discover that the synagogue in the next town has one too. Sept. 19 at 7:30 p.m. at the JCC Manhattan, 334 Amsterdam Ave. $15 suggested donation, jccmanhattan.org.
“Muntergang and Other Cheerful Downfalls!” A Yiddish-English puppet drama, presented by Great Small Works, based on the work of radical New York puppeteers Zuni Maud and Yosl Cutler, who designed sets and costumes for the Yiddish Art Theater during the interwar period. Oct. 27-Nov. 6 at LaMaMa, 74 E. Fourth St. $20, lamama.org.
“This Day Forward.” A new play by Nicky Silver (“The Lyons”) about a man who finds out during his honeymoon that his new bride is not what she seemed. Mark Brokaw directs the production, which starts previews on Nov. 3 for a Nov. 21 opening at the Vineyard Theater, 108 E. 15th St. The cast has not yet been announced. For tickets and information, vineyardtheatre.org.
“The Babylon Line.” Josh Radnor stars in a new play by Richard Greenberg (“Take Me Out”) about an aspiring novelist in Greenwich Village who takes the Long Island Railroad to teach an adult creative writing class, only to become involved with one of his students. Previews begin Nov. 10 for a Dec. 5 opening at the Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater at Lincoln Center, lct.org.
“Belfast Kind.” A staged reading of a play by Margot Connolly about an Irish girl named Zippy who worries that her Protestant and Catholic friends won’t come to her bat mitzvah. Nov. 14 at 7:30 p.m. at the JCC Manhattan, 334 Amsterdam Ave. $15 suggested donation, jccmanhattan.org.
“God of Vengeance.” The controversial Yiddish play (the basis of Paula Vogel’s latest play, which ran earlier this year at the Vineyard) about the brothel owner’s daughter and her lesbian love affair receives its first Yiddish language production in decades. Presented by the New Yiddish Rep. Five-week run beginning on Thursday, Dec. 22. LaMaMa, 74A E. Fourth St., $36, newyiddishrep.org or lamama.org.
“Redder Blood.” A staged reading of a romantic comedy by Helen Pafumi about a girl whose mother is Israeli; whose father is Muslim and whose brother is a rabbi. Dec. 12 at 7:30 p.m. at the JCC Manhattan, 334 Amsterdam Ave. $15 suggested donation, jccmanhattan.org.
“Kids and Yiddish Rides Again.” A reunion of the cast members performing the best-loved skits from the long-running, sadly defunct holiday Yiddish show for children that has been dubbed “Saturday Night Live meets Sesame Street.” Created by Joanne Borts, Menachem Mike Fox Zalmen Mlotek. One performance only, Dec. 25 at the Museum of Jewish Heritage, 36 Battery Place, folksbiene.org.
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