Photo Flash: UP Theater's First Play of The 2016-17 Season Opens Today

Merciful Father by Atar Hadari will open UP Theater's seventh season on November 1. The World Premiere of Merciful Father will run through November 12 with performances Tuesday through Saturday at 8pm. Merciful Father is a provocative new take on Sholem Asch's scandalous Yiddish play God of Vengeance.

A brothel owner commissions the creation of a Torah scroll to win a respectable husband for his daughter. His daughter instead chooses ill repute.

God of Vengeance opened on Broadway at the Apollo Theatre in 1923 and featured Broadway's first lesbian kiss, after which the actors and producers were arrested for immorality. That production is the inspiration for Paula Vogel's new play, Indecent which premiered last year at the Vineyard Theatre and is slated for a Broadway run in 2017.

Merciful Father is directed by UP's Artistic Director, James Bosley who has premiered three of his plays with UP, including the critically acclaimed productions of Broad Channel, and Epic Poetry.

In addition to the play, each evening will feature a rotating line-up of opening acts, a diverse mix of vaudeville-esque performances that may include music, poetry, stand-up, clowns, jugglers, and puppeteers, etc., many of whom will be recognizable as regulars of UP's Showing UP Artist's Salon.

UP Theater's 2016-17 season will also include the World Premiere of Lost/Not Found by Kirby Fields in spring 2017. Kirby Fields is currently one of seven playwrights selected to be part of LAByrinth Theatre Company's Up Next Reading Series. Ashé (previously produced by UP) playwright Ricardo Perez Gonzalez was also selected to take part in the prestigious series. UP's season will also include their annual benefit Onward & UPward in early 2017, Showing UP Artist's Salons throughout the year, and Dead of Winter Reading Series which takes place over four Sundays each January.

The cast of Merciful Father features Mary Albert (AMDA), Matt Antar (Juliana/The Duplex), Elizabeth A. Bell (R & J & Z/New Ohio Theatre), Lauren Capkanis (Harper Reagan/T. Schreiber Theatre), Bill Christ (The Miracle Worker/Broadway), Jonathan Ellers (Pyramus & Thisbe Puppet Cabaret/The Metropolitan Room), Richard Grunn (Project Cliff/Independent Film), Sarah Kiefer (Epic Poetry/UP Theater), Heather Michelle (Play or Be Played/Graforsha Productions), and Nikole Williams (A Raisin in the Sun/Compass Rose Theater).

The creative team includes set design by Samuel Vawter, costume design by Brenna McShane, lighting design by Duane Pagano, sound design by David Margolin Lawson, graphic design by Dean Heagle, and stage management by Elizabeth Ramsay. The production team includes Executive Director Lonnie EJ Cooper, Managing Director Laura F. Bosley, and Producing Director Rik Walter.

Tickets are $18 for adults, $12 for students/seniors, and can be purchased at www.mercifulfatherup.bpt.me. Performances take place at The Garret at Fort Washington Collegiate, 729 W 181st St, New York, NY 10033. Subway: across the street from the A train at 181st. Running time: 80 minutes - includes pre-show.

Show Dates:

Tuesday, November 1st @ 8:00 pm

Wednesday, November 2nd @ 8:00 pm

Thursday, November 3rd @ 8:00 pm

Friday, November 4th @ 8:00 pm

Saturday, November 5th @ 8:00 pm

Tuesday, November 8th @ 8:00 pm

Wednesday, November 9th @ 8:00 pm

Thursday, November 10th @ 8:00 pm

Friday, November 11th @ 8:00 pm

Saturday, November 12th @ 8:00 pm

More information is available at www.uptheater.org

Photos by Gerry Goodstein