A SAMUEL FRENCH, INC. TITLE
The Ally
Full-Length Play, Drama / 3f, 4m
When a university professor is asked to sign a social justice manifesto, he becomes embroiled in an increasingly conflicted web of relationships that challenge his commitments as a liberal, a husband, an academic, an American, an atheist and a Jew.
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Cast Size
3f, 4m -
Duration
More than 120 minutes (2 hours) -
Target Audience
Adult
Accolades
- Finalist: 2025 Pulitzer Prize in Drama
Nominee: 2024 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Play
Nominee: 2024 Dorian Theatre Award for Outstanding Off-Broadway Production
Details
Summary
When Asaf is asked to sign a social justice manifesto, he expects to be able to do so without hesitation. Instead, he becomes embroiled in an increasingly conflicted web of relationships that challenge his commitments as a liberal, a husband, an academic, an American, an atheist and a Jew. With tensions at an all-time high, Asaf is forced to confront the age-old question: “If I am only for myself, what am I?”
History
The Ally premiered off-Broadway at the Public Theater on 15 February 2024. Directed by Lila Neugebauer, the production featured Cherise Boothe, Elijah Jones, Michael Khalid Karadsheh, Joy Osmanski, Josh Radnor, Ben Rosenfield and Madeline Weinstein.
Cast Attributes
Keywords
Performing Groups
- Time Period Contemporary
- Features Contemporary Costumes/Street Clothes
- Duration More than 120 minutes (2 hours)
- Cautions
- Strong Language
Media
“Important… Itamar Moses’ play offers eloquent arguments on all sides of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.” – The New York Times
“Intense… Moses is willing to wade into some treacherous waters here, and often does so with a sharp sense of humor that nonetheless refuses to dismiss anyone outright.” – The Guardian
“It’s tough to dramatize an ongoing debate – perhaps the debate – without having to choose between great action and nuanced understanding. The Ally, Itamar Moses’ new play about a college professor caught in the crosshairs of a campus Israel-Palestine debate, finds a strong middle ground… the play unfolds as an ongoing conversation, pitting Asaf closer against his warring beliefs and identities with minimal distinction between scenes.…heroic in its thematic resoluteness. It doesn’t reach conclusions, but suggests that the boldest enemy an ally-to-all has lives within.” – Theatrely
“The Ally is a campus drama (flecked with comedy) about the gap between easy performative virtue and unsolvable moral dilemmas, such as structural racism in America or peace between Israel and the Palestinian people. Moses shows us how he can articulate – passionately and eloquently – each side of the argument.” – The Observer
“…a play of immense confidence, eloquence and humility. …The Ally is, in many ways, the slow peeling back of Asaf’s dependence, as both a writer and an academic, on language. …Moses digs toward the center of a person who, in his deepest, rawest place…also wants someone to stand up for him.” – New York Magazine
“Instant classic… The debates are as dense as they are fascinating – and better yet, Moses laces them with scathing humor.” – The Wrap
Licensing & Materials
- Minimum Fee: £55 per performance plus VAT when applicable.
Authors
Itamar Moses
Itamar Moses is the author of the full-length plays Outrage, Bach at Leipzig, Celebrity Row, The Four of Us, Yellowjackets, Back Back Back, Completeness and The Whistleblower, the musicals Nobody Loves You (with Gaby Alter), Fortress of Solitude (with Michael Friedman) and Th ...