Not all Jews who escaped the pervasive violence in Russia ended up in Manhattan's Lower East side. About 10,000 ended up in Galveston, Texas through a resettlement program called the Galveston Movement. The New Jewish Theatre closes its season with THE IMMIGRANT, directed by Edward Coffield, a play that serves as a tribute to the playwright's grandparents, Haskell and Leah Harelik and their migration to Hamilton, Texas.
The set (Josh Smith) draws you in -- a warm, rustic cedar paneled framing and a thrust stage. In addition to the title being projected onto the back of the set, the play begins with projections that set up the story that include real photos from the Harelik family album as well as photos from the harrowing journey to America.
