Play Based on Hamas Attack Survivors Set for Kennedy Center Performance
After experiencing protests during its earlier run in New York City, a play based on the testimonies of survivors from the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel is scheduled to be performed at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., this coming January.
The creators argue that this production marks a cultural shift at art venues, suggesting that conservative viewpoints have gained more acceptance since President Donald Trump assumed leadership on the Kennedy Center board earlier this year.
“Ultimately, it sends a clear message that true diversity, including diversity of thought, is welcome in the heart of our nation’s capital,” co-creator Phelim Makaria shared. “We hope this is the start of significant art at the Kennedy Center.”
Titled “OCTOBER 7,” the play provides a reading that closely follows the actual testimonies from survivors and family members involved in the October 7, 2023 massacre, resulting in 1,200 deaths and over 250 abductions by Hamas. The production aims to present firsthand experiences from the injured, those mourning, and the heroes who fought back.
Irish journalists Phelim Makaria and Anne McElhinney visited Israel shortly after the attack and spent three weeks gathering accounts from those affected. McAleer expressed concern over the rapidly shifting narrative about Israel and hopes the play will remind audiences of the events’ atrocities.
McAleer pointed out that many in media and academia were already blaming Israel amid the ongoing chaos of the massacre. “Taking a baby hostage, for instance, is almost unheard of in today’s warfare,” he added.
The play’s off-Broadway performance in New York lasted for six weeks in 2024, followed by a national college tour that included Princeton University, UCLA, and Bowdoin College in Maine.
Despite facing backlash and threats from anti-Israel activists, who criticized it as a “hoax,” the production has also received favorable reviews from some critics.
McAleer mentioned that security precautions were necessary during performances due to the presence of sometimes violent anti-Israel demonstrators. Some cast members have reportedly feared for their careers due to potential backlash.
“It’s quite telling that a play solely using survivor testimonies needs police protection in New York City,” he remarked.
A review highlighted that the play demands audiences confront uncomfortable truths, acknowledging its impact as a compelling eyewitness account.
McAleer intends to invite President Trump and Congress members to the performance, emphasizing the importance of acknowledging the events of October 7, asserting that both sides of the political spectrum must hear these narratives.
He hopes attendees in D.C. will resonate with the victims’ stories, noting their commonalities with the audience—many were young, educated, and urban individuals enjoying life and, tragically, ended up involved in a horrific circumstance.
The play, which features a diverse array of voices from the Israeli experience, will take the stage at the Kennedy Center on January 28, 2026, at 7:30 p.m.
