Nate Mann On Being Drawn Into the Authentic World of ‘Birthright’ [VIDEO]

In Jonathan Spector’s theatrical masterwork Birthright, currently running at MCC, a sextet of Jewish Americans bonds after a “birthright” trip to Israel in 2006. The epic play follows their trials and tribulations over a span of almost two decades, over the course of three hours (plus two intermissions).

It’s an absolutely riveting production that, with the help of the theatre gods, will move to Broadway. Read my review HERE.

The ridiculously talented cast features Zoë Winters. Molly Bernard, Molly Ranson, Eli Gelb, Hale Appleman, Liz Larsen and Nate Mann.

Among the gifted ensemble members, Mann, arguably, has the most difficult and, yet, rewarding role since his arc is the most extraordinary, significant and profound. I won’t go into deep detail, save to note that when we first meet his character Emerson, he’s a stoner musician we pay little attention to. Sure, he’s charming and attractive but he appears to be superficial and only took the trip to go on an all-expense paid vacation in Israel. He knows little about Judaism but over the course of the next decade becomes quite curious. And, by act three, has become a different person.

Mann is astonishing, leaving breadcrumb hints of where his transformation is going as his character begins to discover things about himself, his yearning, his evolving identity.

Since graduating Julliard in 2019, the thesp has been making quite the mark in film, television and on stage.

After playing Laurie in the Primary Stages production of Little Women off-Broadway in 2019, he made his Broadway debut in the Tony-winning revival of Charles Fuller’s A Soldier’s Play, directed by Kenny Leon.

His TV credits include portraying the young Ray Donovan in the titular Showtime series and being featured as Major Robert “Rosie” Rosenthal in Apple TV’s Masters of the Air in 2024. A recurring roles in Peacock’s Apples Never Fall followed, opposite Allison Brie and Annette Bening that same year.

Onscreen credits include Paul Thomas Anderson’s Licorice Pizza (2021), Noah Pritzker’s Ex-Husbands (2025) and, most recently, in Sophia Takai’s thriller, Act One, which bowed at this year’s Tribeca Film Festival.

He’s quite the versatile actor who manages to make an indelible mark in each and every role he takes on.

Upcoming, Mann can be seen in the BBC Killing Eve spinoff series, Honey, created by Emma Moran as well as the indie feature, The Up and Comer, directed by Chris Long and co-starring Andrew Burnap.

Birthright has been extended and is now running through August 23, 2026. For tickets visit: MCC.

The Contending had the pleasure of a chat with Mann about the play and his career to date.