"Arje Shaw blends history and family politics in his Broadway dramedy, set in 1985. 'The Gathering' explores the conflicts between grandfather, father, and son which arise over the dinner table when they discuss President Ronald Reagan's planned visit to Bitberg, site of burial grounds for Nazi soldiers. The stakes are high in the discussion because the grandfather is a Holocaust survivor and his son is a speechwriter for Reagan. Caught between them is the young lad, who is preparing for his bar mitvah [i.e. mitzvah]. With a multi-generational cast, 'The Gathering' asks poignant questions about understanding and forgivness in the face of tragedy"--Page 4 of cover.