The UFT Players take a bow.
Alan Yashin performs in his original play, “That Smell,” as his character is haunted by both the ghost of his mother, played by Leona Ackerman, and the stench of boiled chicken (seen in Ackerman’s hand).
Elyse Epstein and Sue Weisser perform as old friends toasting their happy memories in “We Are Supposed to Be Adults By Now.
Two friends linger over coffee, swapping memories and musings as easily as they pass the sugar. On a seemingly idyllic cruise, danger bubbles beneath the surface, sending two quick-thinking passengers scrambling for escape — through a sauna window. And in a city apartment reeking with the scent of boiled chicken, a tenant’s confrontation with his neighbor opens the door to something far deeper.
Welcome to the delightful world of the UFT Players Committee, where imagination takes center stage and everyday life is just a starting point.
At their annual Original Plays Festival, held March 12 and 13 at UFT headquarters in Manhattan, this spirited troupe of educators-turned-performers brought six original short plays to life — each one brimming with humor, heart, and just the right touch of the unexpected.
The journey to opening night began months earlier, when the committee put out a call for scripts penned by fellow UFT members. From there, it was all hands on deck. The group transformed from readers to performers, directors, designers and stagehands, crafting 10- to 15-minute staged readings that showcased not just talent, but true teamwork.
“We all cooperate and help one another to make sure our events are successful,” said UFT Players co-Chair Elyse Epstein. “The only way we can do it is if everybody pitches in.”
That collaborative spirit has helped sustain the festival for more than 30 years — a milestone Epstein points to with pride. “When people join, they stay,” she said, noting that the magic lies in more than just performance. “As we inhabit different characters, we grow.”
For many, like member Alan Yashin, the UFT Players, one of 30 UFT Professional Committees, offers something even more important: a sense of belonging. A retiree who both wrote and performed in this year’s festival, Yashin sees the group as a creative lifeline. “After you’ve spent a lifetime devoted to your work every day, that stops, and what do you do next?” reflected the playwright behind the boiled-chicken-fueled work “That Smell.” “It’s wonderful to have a community you can go to and be creative — a warm, supportive community.”