Mark Nelson, Ari Brand, et al. Set for Long Wharf's ASHER LEV

Long Wharf Theatre will present My Name is Asher Lev, by Aaron Posner and adapted from Chaim Potok's 1972 novel,directed by Long Wharf Theatre Artistic Director Gordon Edelstein.

The show will run from May 2 through May 27 on the Mainstage. The press opening will take place Wednesday, May 9 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $40-$70. For a complete performance schedule, visit www.longwharf.org.

Asher Lev, a young man with a true artistic calling, is torn between his deeply observant Hasidic Jewish community and the passionate need to paint. When the boy runs afoul of his family and tradition by attempting to embrace his gift, he is forced to make the difficult choice between faith and art. Based on the classic novel by the author of The Chosen, My Name is Asher Lev was described by the Philadelphia City Paper as "Afascinating coming-of-age story seamlessly blended with a debate about the nature of art... This is a marvelous evening of theatre: intimate, sincere, magical."

"I was looking for a play with gravitas, high literary content and seriousness of purpose. Happily, I found an adaptation of a much loved and much read novel by a distinguished writer. My Name is Asher Lev is a beautiful story about the coming of age of an artist whose God-given gift is in conflict with his strict religious upbringing," said Artistic Director Gordon Edelstein. "The play asks timeless questions about community, God, family and artistic talent."

Mark Nelson returns to Long Wharf Theatre, having recently been seen in A Doll's House and Underneath the Lintel. Ari Brand, playing Asher, and Melissa Miller, make their Long Wharf Theatre debuts.

Brand made his Broadway debut in The Neil Simon plays, directed by David Cromer. Since then he's played the roles of Teddy in the world premiere of A.R. Gurney's critically-acclaimed Black Tie at Primary Stages' 59E59 Theaters, and Peter van Daan in The Westport Country Playhouse's production of The Diary of Anne Frank.

Melissa Miller has appeared on Broadway in Tartuffe at the Roundabout and off- Broadway in The Merchant of Venice with F. Murray Abraham, Civilization, I Never Sang For My Father, and Richard III, among others. Miller has worked regionally at The Alley Theater, Premiere Stages and the Williamstown Theatre Festival.

In addition to his appearances at Long Wharf Theatre, Nelson has been in Timon of Athens with Richard Thomas (Public Theater); Secrets of the Trade (Primary Stages); The Winter's Tale (BAM and London); Picasso at the Lapin Agile (Obie Award); The Invention of Love (Lincoln Center); Three Sisters and After the Fall (Roundabout); A Few Good Men; and four plays by Neil Simon. He recently played Shylock in The Merchant of Venice at The Shakespeare Theater in Washington, DC; the title role in Uncle Vanya at Seattle's Intiman Theatre; and all thirty-six roles in I Am My Own Wife.

The creative team is comprised of Eugene Lee (sets), Ilona Somogyi (costumes), Chris Akerlind (lights), John Gromada (sounds), and Bonnie Brady (stage manager.)

For more information about Long Wharf Theatre's 2011-12 season, visit www.longwharf.org or call 203-787-4282.