When The Rabbis Came To Town

Join us for a special evening featuring a performance of When the Rabbis Came to Town, followed by a live conversation with Rabbi Allen Secher.

When The Rabbis Came To Town is a compelling one-man play by Roger Rapoport, starring actor Adam Bell. The performance chronicles the true story of Rabbi Allen Secher and 15 colleagues who were arrested in St. Augustine, Florida, in June 1964 while protesting racial segregation alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. This event led to the largest arrest of rabbis in American history and became a pivotal moment in the fight for the Civil Rights Act.

After the performance, Rabbi Secher will join First Coast Connect host Anne Schindler for an intimate conversation, sharing insights and reflections on the themes explored in the piece and taking questions from the audience. This is a rare opportunity to dive deeper into the ideas behind the performance directly with Rabbi Secher.

6:30 PM – House Opens
7:00 PM – Performance Begins
8:00 PM – Conversation with Rabbi Secher

Tickets are $5.

VIP reception available for $50. Get tickets here for a reception with Rabbi Allen Secher, actor Adam Bell, and producer/playwright Roger Rapoport at WJCT Studios prior to the show. This VIP event supports Heartland Independent Film and Drama Forum to cover travel costs for this event.

Allen Secher has led congregations in New York, Chicago, Southern California, and Mexico City. A graduate of Brandeis University and Hebrew Union College, he has dedicated his life to serving diverse communities. Secher’s civil rights work with Rev. Martin Luther King’s Southern Conference Leadership Council led to his arrest in Albany, Georgia, and St. Augustine, Florida. From his childhood in Butler, Pennsylvania, to his retirement in Livingston, Montana, he has fought against anti-semitism.

Adam Bell is the founder and facilitator of the Actors Workshop of West Michigan. He is an actor, director, and producer in West Michigan with a love for classic texts. He has also performed and directed extensively in California.