Seder Project, The

In this work-in-progress, Judaism, family and performance go hand-in-hand. The creators use the Passover Seder as the point of departure for a performance that portrays a dysfunctional showbiz family observing a religious holiday while on the road. As the family members convene backstage, they recall relatives and anecdotes from past Passover gatherings. The memories stir up the predictable and dizzying range of emotion so often associated with family celebrations. Traditional liturgical melodies from the Haggadah blend with familiar songs from the golden age of American musical theater, including the tunes of Cole Porter, Irving Berlin and Ira Gershwin.