The Immigrant

A young man is selling bananas from a push cart. When he nearly faints from the heat and a lack of water, two strangers come to his rescue. It’s 1909 in the small town of Hamilton, Texas, and the young man is a newly emigrated Russian Jew who speaks little English. His rescuers are the town banker, Milton, and his staunch Baptist wife, Ima. They could hardly be more different from Haskell, the young man. Yet, they find themselves drawn together, beginning a relationship which will endure for decades. The Immigrant is a new musical based on the lives of playwright Mark Harelik’s grandparents, and featuring music by Steven M. Alper and lyrics by Sarah Knapp.