From the beginning, when the idea came to me in 2018, I felt it was crucial for Son Called Moon to be a universal story, with strong symbolism that could resonate with people from all walks of life. Although the story is a collective one, my own journey was the undeniable seed for this creation.

In 2016, the first person I ever told about my struggles with my sexuality was a teacher, who advised me not to “come out”, but to take up an ancient meditation practice and see where it led me. I took this mission very seriously. I moved to Israel in 2017, enveloped myself in yoga and Eastern philosophy, and started to see the material world as an illusion veiling a truer spiritual reality. I became quieter, more solitary, and cynical about the material pursuits of the people around me.

Eventually, something deep in my consciousness understood that the path to enlightenment was in accepting things as they are, not contorting them to become something else. This long process of internal conflict and resolution became the narrative arc of Son Called Moon: a wide-eyed but deeply wounded soul who believed he needed an external light of wisdom to heal him, only to discover that he had been both the guru and disciple within himself.

When Covid arrived, I found myself awakening to the God of my people and the Torah – a tradition all about living in this world, and elevating the material into a spiritual reality. It enriched Moon’s story in ways I couldn’t have imagined. Living in a 250-year-old house in the forest outside Jerusalem, I could finally see that all spiritual traditions were aiming at the same thing: one God, for all of humanity, who celebrates multiplicity and diversity. I started writing songs on guitar for the first time, telling the story I had been cooking for seven years.

And then I fell in love for the first time, for real. With a woman. There was nothing complicated or confusing about it. Because in the end, the whole story was about being ready to be loved, to give love, and to create new life through the love that we make. It’s about feeling close to God, and wanting God to love us as we are.

Our generation faces a chaotic darkness in which no external light can be trusted, and so we’re called to find an inner light of truth – one which carries and connects all of humanity within it. Son Called Moon is a personal story of this universal journey; a refraction of this light.

— Ari Jacob

Welcome to "Son Called Moon." When Ari, our brilliant composer and actor, first approached me to direct, it felt like the stars had aligned perfectly. I felt a deep connection to the story Ari wanted to convey and jumped at the offer to collaborate with him. However, the challenges quickly became apparent: how to capture the show's vastness and distill it into a single theatrical moment? This production is many things: ethereal, mystical, folky, philosophical, visceral, internal, challenging, experimental, cerebral, irruptive, experiential, and immersive. I was immediately drawn toward the tapestry of ethereal and mystical elements, and the way it oscillates between cosmic parable of celestial beings and intimate living room drama exploring a very human relationship. My aim was to evoke both ends of this spectrum, creating a world that is both vast and contained. Our story unfolds in an organic space, somewhere that is simultaneously a claustrophobic living room and an expansive universe. Our world floats precariously in between suspended lightbulbs and textured earth.

The relationship between Moon and Sun is a complex dance of toxicity and control, self-exploration, and identity. Complementing their journey with close observance are our onstage band, who add a gig-theatre quality, and the beautiful ensemble who we lovingly named 'The Phases'. Like the phases of the moon - and our character Moon - these goddesses observe all and measure out life’s path, reminiscent of the Fates from Greek mythology.

There are many ways to interpret and be moved by this piece. To me, this story is about rituals. Rituals mark our lives, delineate our days, and can either contain or liberate us, depending on our understanding of their purpose.

I trust that tonight's performance will prompt you to ponder the big questions about what defines the worth of your life. I have felt very deeply connected to this story, to this music, to Ari as a composer and now friend, to the brilliant creative team and the wonderful performers who weave the fabric of our story for you tonight. Enjoy the show, dear audience, and thank you for coming along. Your support and engagement mean the universe to us.

Blessings,
— James Cutler