Miles G. Jackson Stars in MY NAME IS ASHER LEV, Beginning Tonight at George Street Playhouse

George Street Playhouse presents Aaron Posner's MY NAME IS ASHER LEV, which runs tonight, April 12, through May 1 at the New Brunswick theatre. Miles G. Jackson (4000 Miles) will portray the titular Jewish artist Asher Lev, who must be a painter despite his faith and the will of his family. Bob Ari (Frost/Nixon, GSP's Red) and Lena Kaminsky (Law & Order, GSP's The Pillowman) both return to George Street to round out the cast. MY NAME IS ASHER LEV will be directed by George Street Playhouse Director of Education and Outreach, Jim Jack.

The award-winning MY NAME IS ASHER LEV, adapted from the best-selling novel by Chaim Potok, tells the story of a young Jew growing up in post-war Brooklyn. His artistic talent is apparent from an early age and he can't imagine himself doing anything else. He must create art at any cost, regardless of the will of his family, his community and tradition.

This critically acclaimed play was called "rich, moving and surprisingly powerful" by The New York Times and the New York Daily News called it "as earnest as it is universal." My Name Is Asher Lev also garnered the Outer Critics Circle Award.

Individual tickets, starting at $25, are now on sale. Contact the George Street Playhouse Box Office at 732-246-7717 or visit www.GSPonline.org for tickets and information. George Street Playhouse is located at 9 Livingston Avenue in the heart of New Brunswick's vibrant downtown dining and entertainment district, steps away from plentiful parking and dining options for every palate and pocketbook.

"This play requires actors of exceptional skill, humanity and capacity for transformation," said Mr. Jack, who is making his GSP mainstage directorial debut. "This cast is a blessing. Each of these extraordinarily actors brings deep personal connections to the powerful, universal themes of this beautiful play."

Bob Ari (The Men), returns to George Street Playhouse, where he starred as artist Mark Rothko in John Logan's Red in 2012. His Broadway credits include Frost/Nixon (u/s Nixon), The Constant Wife, Bells Are Ringing and Laughter on the 23rd Floor. Mr. Ari has also appeared in the U.S. tour of Frost/Nixon and the European tours of West Side Story and Guys and Dolls.

Miles G. Jackson (Asher Lev), a New Jersey native, appeared as Leo in Amy Herzog's 4000 Miles at Capital Repertory Theatre last fall. Other recent stage credits include Good Men Wanted (Arena Stage/Naked Angels), When I Started Dating Men (Dixon Place), In the Dark (Ars Nova) and Mad Forest (Williamstown Theatre Festival). Film appearances include Flora, which earned best screenplay honors at the 2015 Amsterdam Film Festival.

Lena Kaminsky (The Women) also returns to George Street Playhouse, where she appeared in 2006's The Pillowman. She has recently appeared on stage in Outside Mullingar (Saint Michael's Playhouse) and Swimming in the Shallows (The Kitchen Theatre), and on screen in television's Law & Order, and in the films Linus and Shadowboxing.

Aaron Posner (Playwright) is a playwright, director, teacher and consultant. He is the co-founder, former artistic director, and current resident director of Philadelphia's Arden Theatre, where he has directed more than 40 productions over the last 18 years-including the world premiere of MY NAME IS ASHER LEV. He directs nationally at the Folger Theatre (where he received a Helen Hayes Award for his direction of the Two Gentlemen of Verona), Seattle Rep, Actor's Theatre of Louisville, Arizona Theatre Company, and many others. His adaptation of Chaim Potok's The Chosen has been performed throughout the country, and won a Barrymore Award for Outstanding New Play.

Jim Jack (Director) is the Director of Education and Outreach for George Street Playhouse, supervising GSP's Academy, school-based residency programs, and acclaimed Educational Touring Theatre. He recently devised and directed Our Town Now for GSP, an interview-based piece of theatre exploring the lives of New Brunswick, N.J., residents. Mr. Jack teaches Shakespeare for the Graduate Acting Program at Brooklyn College and has worked with many arts organizations, including Roundabout Theatre Company, 92nd Street Y, ArtsConnection, Metropolitan Opera Guild and Northern Stage.

The creative team includes scenic designer R. Michael Miller (GSP's Outside Mullingar, Twelve Angry Men, [title of show]), costume designer David Murin (GSP's Outside Mullingar, Good People, The Nutcracker and I), lighting designer Christopher J. Bailey (GSP's Sex With Strangers, Nureyev's Eyes, Clever Little Lies), original music composer/sound designer Scott Killian (GSP's Sex With Strangers, Nureyev's Eyes, Clever Little Lies), and stage manager Tom Clewell (GSP's Nureyev's Eyes, The Second Mrs. Wilson). Casting is by McCorkle Casting, Ltd.

In the 42 years since its founding, George Street Playhouse has become a nationally recognized theatre, presenting an acclaimed mainstage season while providing an artistic home for established and emerging theatre artists. Its leadership consists of Artistic Director David Saint, Resident Artistic Director Michael Mastro and Managing Director Kelly Ryman. Founded in 1974, the Playhouse has been well represented by numerous productions both on and off-Broadway - recent productions include the Outer Critics' Circle Best Musical Award-winner The Toxic Avenger; the Outer Critics Circle, Drama Desk and Drama League nominated production of The Spitfire Grill; and the recent Broadway hit and Tony and Pulitzer Prize winning play Proof by David Auburn, which was developed at GSP during the 1999 Next Stage Series of new plays. In 2015, George Street Playhouse has been represented by two productions in New York: the recent Broadway production of It Shoulda Been You, and Joe DiPietro's Clever Little Lies, which opened off-Broadway in October. Both shows received their premieres at the Playhouse. In addition to its mainstage season, GSP's Touring Educational Theatre features three issue-oriented productions that are seen by more than 40,000 students annually. George Street Playhouse programming is made possible in part by funds from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts.