Susannah Mars Headlines the Cast of
Northwest Children’s Theater’s World Premiere of
The Golem’s Gift
Adam B. Shapiro and Eric Little also lead the cast of the new musical
six years in the making, inspired by Jewish folklore
Playing October 3–11, 2026 at The Judy in Portland, Oregon
PORTLAND, Ore. — Northwest Children’s Theater (NWCT) has announced the cast of The Golem’s Gift, an original musical six years in the making that will receive its long-awaited world premiere October 3–11, 2026, on The Schnitzer Stage at The Judy Kafoury Center for Youth Arts. Featuring an accomplished cast of theater veterans alongside talented young performers, The Golem’s Gift is a multigenerational story about kindness, community and the ripple effect of small acts of change.
Leading the cast as The Storyteller is Susannah Mars, one of Portland’s most beloved and accomplished theater artists. A lifelong performer with more than 50 years in the arts, Mars has appeared on stages across the country and internationally, with local credits at Portland Center Stage, Artists Repertory Theatre, Portland Playhouse, Portland Opera and more. Her celebrated Portland performances include Mrs. Lovett in Sweeney Todd, Golde in Fiddler on the Roof and Diana in Next to Normal. She has received six Portland Drama Critics awards and has also appeared on NBC’s Grimm. Mars is featured as The Storyteller in the original demo recordings of The Golem’s Gift. This production marks her first appearance as a part of NWCT’s Mainstage season.
Download the press release: Susannah Mars Headlines The Golem’s Gift
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Illustration by Lea Zawada
