Written and Performed by Faith Alpher
Under St Marks | 94 St Marks Pl, New York, NY 10009
November 9th and 15th, 2026
There is something especially satisfying about watching an artist embrace the very thing someone once told her she couldn't do. Faith Alpher's story is impactful, but it is equally filled with joy, humor, and perseverance. Her journey is a reminder that the voices that attempt to define us do not have to determine who we become.
An empty stage, two cubes, and the opening notes of TLC's No Scrubs. It's a deceptively simple beginning for a performance that takes the audience on a journey through identity, reinvention, resilience, and the complicated business of finding home.
Alpher blends stand-up comedy, spoken word, and personal storytelling to create a series of snapshots from a life shaped by unexpected turns. Moving between scenes and poems, she brings us into her world with conversational ease and a sharp sense of humor. From her beginnings in Teaneck, New Jersey, to encounters with schoolmates, the stories are funny, candid, and frequently revealing.
Her journey takes her through different cities, relationships, and chapters of reinvention. During her time in Pittsburgh, she worked at the Senator John Heinz History Center, where she became acquainted with the legacies of August Wilson, Lena Horne, George Benson, and Mr. Rogers. It's another unexpected chapter in a life that seems to continually expand its horizons.
Along the way, she celebrates the women who have shaped her life, particularly those whose experience and wisdom have earned them the title of goddesses. A particularly memorable moment comes through a conversation with Flo, which becomes a celebration of womanhood, beauty, and the power of recognizing the strength in one another. There is an infectious, almost church-like energy to this moment, one that invites the audience to celebrate along with her.
Alpher's humor is one of her greatest assets. Whether recounting her time in Pittsburgh Steelers country, navigating a blended family, or reflecting on the cultural phenomenon of Soul Train and its ability to bring people together, she finds comedy in the unexpected. But beneath the laughter is a more searching exploration of what it means to belong.
As her story moves farther from New Jersey, the question of home becomes increasingly complicated. Moving to San Francisco and living far from familiar surroundings brings the challenge of building a life without the immediate comfort of family, shared experiences, or cultural familiarity. It means learning to acclimate, finding connections, and navigating spaces where people may not understand your background.
One particularly revealing thread involves her experiences as a parent navigating the school community. Questions about where she is from, differences in hair and appearance, and the subtle and not-so-subtle expressions of racism expose the assumptions people make about one another. These moments shift the performance beyond personal anecdote and into a broader conversation about identity, representation, and whose experiences are considered the norm.
Ultimately, Alpher asks a deceptively simple question: What is home? Is it where we come from, where we are accepted, or where we finally feel most ourselves?
At approximately 30 minutes, Jersey Girl. Strange World, feels like an amuse-bouche to a much greater story. Alpher offers just enough glimpses into her experiences to pique our curiosity about the full depth of her travels, transformations, and discoveries. The journey feels expansive, with plenty more to uncover. I look forward to hearing what comes next.
The girl who was told she wasn't a good writer has found plenty to say. And thankfully, she has found an audience willing to listen.
Click HERE for tickets.
Review by Malini Singh McDonald.
Published by Theater Beyond Broadway on November 12, 2026. All rights reserved.