Leah Lax | |
---|---|
Born | 1955 or 1956 (age 68–69) |
Alma mater |
University of Houston MFA, Creative Writing |
Website | |
leahlaxauthor |
Leah Lax (born 1955 or 1956) is an American author and librettist. [1] She is best known for her memoir Uncovered: How I Left Hasidic Life and Finally Came Home which was later developed as an opera with composer Lori Laitman. [2] [3]
Lax was born in 1955 or 1956, and grew up in Dallas, Texas. [4] She joined the Lubavitcher Hasidim at sixteen. [5] In 1975, Lax entered an arranged marriage at the age of 19, [6] and remained among the Hasidim for thirty years, bearing seven children. [7] In 2002 she left the community to lead a secular life and live openly as a lesbian. [8] Subsequently, Lax graduated from the University of Houston with an MFA in Creative Writing. [9] She had completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Texas at Austin. [5]
Her interest in writing started while reading anthologies by feminist and lesbian poet Adrienne Rich. [9] Lax started writing in earnest after she underwent a secret abortion to terminate a life-threatening pregnancy. [10] In 2007 Lax co-wrote The Refuge for the Houston Grand Opera with composer Christopher Theofanidis debuted at Houston's Wortham Center. [11] In 2013, she created and designed Houston's In Concert Against Hate for the Houston Symphony In collaboration with the Anti-Defamation League, [12] In 2020, Lax created an opera Uncovered with composer Lori Laitman and director/dramatist Beth Greenberg. [3] Lax wrote the libretto based on her memoir Uncovered: How I Left Hasidic Life and Finally Came Home, [13] narrating thirty years as a Hasidic wife, mother, and closeted lesbian. [14] [15]
Uncovered was named Redbook Magazine's "Best of 2015". [16]
In 1975, Leah Lax – 19 and relatively new to Orthodoxy – walked with trepidation into the office of her Orthodox rabbi at the University of Texas at Austin.
Leah Lax | |
---|---|
Born | 1955 or 1956 (age 68–69) |
Alma mater |
University of Houston MFA, Creative Writing |
Website | |
leahlaxauthor |
Leah Lax (born 1955 or 1956) is an American author and librettist. [1] She is best known for her memoir Uncovered: How I Left Hasidic Life and Finally Came Home which was later developed as an opera with composer Lori Laitman. [2] [3]
Lax was born in 1955 or 1956, and grew up in Dallas, Texas. [4] She joined the Lubavitcher Hasidim at sixteen. [5] In 1975, Lax entered an arranged marriage at the age of 19, [6] and remained among the Hasidim for thirty years, bearing seven children. [7] In 2002 she left the community to lead a secular life and live openly as a lesbian. [8] Subsequently, Lax graduated from the University of Houston with an MFA in Creative Writing. [9] She had completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Texas at Austin. [5]
Her interest in writing started while reading anthologies by feminist and lesbian poet Adrienne Rich. [9] Lax started writing in earnest after she underwent a secret abortion to terminate a life-threatening pregnancy. [10] In 2007 Lax co-wrote The Refuge for the Houston Grand Opera with composer Christopher Theofanidis debuted at Houston's Wortham Center. [11] In 2013, she created and designed Houston's In Concert Against Hate for the Houston Symphony In collaboration with the Anti-Defamation League, [12] In 2020, Lax created an opera Uncovered with composer Lori Laitman and director/dramatist Beth Greenberg. [3] Lax wrote the libretto based on her memoir Uncovered: How I Left Hasidic Life and Finally Came Home, [13] narrating thirty years as a Hasidic wife, mother, and closeted lesbian. [14] [15]
Uncovered was named Redbook Magazine's "Best of 2015". [16]
In 1975, Leah Lax – 19 and relatively new to Orthodoxy – walked with trepidation into the office of her Orthodox rabbi at the University of Texas at Austin.