Wandering Stars: A New Play at the Khan Theatre

A new stage adaptation in its world premiere of the Jewish novel by Sholem Aleichem, centered on theater, love, and longing.

"Wandering Stars" is one of the most famous novels by Sholem Aleichem, the greatest Yiddish writer of all time. The year 2026 marks 90 years since Sholem Aleichem's death, an occasion that provides an opportunity for a renewed look at his writings, and now – the play at the Khan Theatre.

The story follows two young people – Reizel and Leibel – and their encounter with the world of theater. To the small town where the two young people live, a wandering Yiddish theater arrives one day. Reizel and Leibel fall in love with the theater and fall in love with each other. They decide to run away together with the troupe of actors, never to part, and to dedicate their lives to art. On the day of the escape, a chain of accidents separates the girl and the boy – and they split into two different directions. For twenty years the two stars wander and stray across the world; he becomes a famous actor and she a singer, but their paths do not cross. Only when they are already older and well-known stars do the two bump into each other in New York.

Their meeting is a mythical encounter between two passions, and through this charged moment, Sholem Aleichem seeks to ask: what is the price of fame? What happens when the ideals of youth meet reality? And what do Jewish artists have to give up in order to touch the sky? What begins as a romantic adventure becomes a journey across continents, languages, and eras, and above all, between the communal identity they came from and the freedom they desire. The play moves between Eastern Europe and America, between dream and reality, raising questions about belonging, creativity, tradition, and the search for an independent existence.

This adaptation was written by Richard Nelson at the request of director Yotam Gottle. Richard Nelson is a highly renowned American playwright, Tony Award winner, and former honorary associate artist of the Royal Shakespeare Company. This is the world premiere of his adaptation of "Wandering Stars" – an event of unusual magnitude in Israeli theater. The last time a play based on the novel was staged in Hebrew in Israel was in 1950 at the Cameri Theatre. An adaptation was also performed at the Yiddishpiel. Today, this adaptation is part of a contemporary and youthful trend of revisiting Yiddish culture. This culture was excluded for years from Israeli discourse, and today we see many young people studying the Yiddish language, music, and culinary traditions.

"Wandering Stars" is a delicate, musical, and touching story about the clash between generations, between community and the individual, and about the small light that still burns within those who wander with a dream. This production will feature dance, video, and ten actors on stage. Some of the songs will be performed in the original language, Yiddish.

Creators:

By – Richard Nelson / Translation and Music – Dori Parnes / Direction – Yotam Gottle / Movement – Polina Dryden / Video – Vitaly Friedland / Lighting – Roni Cohen / Set and Costumes – Dina Conson

Actors:

Itai Shor – Leibel

Erez Shafrir – Hotzmach

Anna Pugatch – Reizel

Shahar Netz – Sasson ve-Simcha / Nissel / Young man at the beginning (Emanuel)

Ben Drori – Itzik

Nitzan Levartovsky – Henrietta

Aviv Ventura – Actress / Zlatka

Nir Ron – Narrator / Getzel

Gal Zak – Muravchik / Prompter

Irit Pashtan – Breindele

Performance Dates: