‘Bubble Schmeisis’ is a new play set inside a Jewish bathhouse

We admit that the premise may seem a bit unconventional, but considering Bubble Schmeisis debuted to critical acclaim at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2016, we’re excited for its upcoming premiere in Brooklyn. Written and performed by Nick Cassenbaum, the play explores the culture of the schvitz, the traditional Yiddish-origin steam bath, which has historically served as a social hub for many Eastern European Jews.

The show will debut at The Brick, located at 579 Metropolitan Avenue in Williamsburg, on March 20 and run through March 29.

According to an official press release, Cassenbaum’s work is inspired by his own childhood. Growing up “searching for his Jewish identity,” he vividly recalls visiting one of the last bathhouses in East London with his blind grandfather—an experience that serves as the basis for Bubble Schmeisis. In the show, “Cassenbaum shares personal stories from his life, including his first encounter with foreskin in elementary school, his experience at his first soccer game (which he hated) and an anti-Semitic incident at a barber shop,” reads the release. “These narratives are intertwined with collective stories about the shvitz.”

The audience is encouraged to participate directly in the play, which also features two klezmer musicians playing traditional Jewish music from Eastern Europe.

To note: the show is produced by The Neighborhood: An Urban Center for Jewish Life, a Brooklyn-based nonprofit that hosts programs to celebrate Jewish communities and culture.

Tickets for Bubble Schmeisis are available right here.