Stage West Presents the Regional Premiere of Joshua Harmon's BAD JEWS

There's nothing quite like a death in the family to bring out the worst in people. The loved one is often scarcely gone before the squabbling over keepsakes begins. Sometimes the infighting uncovers a host of other family issues, as in Joshua Harmon's scathing comedy Bad Jews, which begins its 5-week regional premiere on Thursday, October 1 at Stage West.

Joshua Harmon's play Bad Jews received its world premiere at Roundabout Underground and was the first production to transfer to the Roundabout's Laura Pels Theatre (Outer Critics Circle and Lucille Lortel Award nominations, Best Play). It has since become the third most-produced play in the United States this season and transferred to London's West End after sell-out runs at Theatre Royal Bath and the St. James Theatre. His newest play Significant Other opened at Roundabout this summer. His work has been produced and developed by Manhattan Theatre Club, Williamstown Theatre Festival, Hangar Theatre, Ars Nova, and Actor's Express, where he was the 2010-2011 National New Play Network Playwright-in-Residence. He has received fellowships from MacDowell, Atlantic Center for the Arts, SPACE at Ryder Farm, and the Eudora Welty Foundation. Joshua is a recent graduate of Juilliard and at work on commissions for Roundabout Theatre Company and Lincoln Center Theater.

Bad Jews is being directed by Richard J. Allen, who wrote Stage West's Starbright & Vine. The cast features Kelsey Milbourn, most recently seen as Rosaline in Trinity Shakespeare's Love's Labours Lost, as Daphna, with Stage West's Marketing and Production Assistant Garret Storms, who just directed our production of Mr. Burns, a post-electric play, as Liam. Matthew Grondin, most recently seen as Stevie in Good People at Santa Barbara's Ensemble Theatre Co., will play Jonah, while Alexandra Lawrence, who appeared as Katya in The Fairytale Lives of Russian Girls at Undermain Theatre, will appear as Melody.

The set will be designed by Jim Covault, with lighting by Michael O'Brien. Costume design will be handled by Jim Covault and Peggy Kruger-O'Brien. Jakie Cabe will provide fight choreography. Props and set décor will be by Lynn Lovett.

Bad Jews will preview Thursday, October 1 at 7:30 and Friday, October 2 at 8:00, and will run through Sunday, November 1. Performance times will be Thursday evenings at 7:30, Friday and Saturday evenings at 8:00, with Sunday matinees at 3:00. The opening night reception will be Saturday, August 8. Ticket prices range from $31 to $35, with discounts for the preview performance, and for students, seniors, and military. Food service is available 90 minutes prior to performances (reservations are necessary), and the Friday Prix Fixe special (dinner and show for $45) will be available beginning October 9. Reservations and information are available through the Box Office (817-784-9378), or on the website, www.stagewest.org.

NOTE: this play contains strong language.

Photo Credit: Buddy Myers