MY NAME IS ASHER LEV Opens at Westside Theatre

Based on the best-selling novel by Chaim Potok (The Chosen), My Name is Asher Lev, a new play by Aaron Posner, opens tonight.

The play’s New York premiere follows an acclaimed engagement at the Long Wharf Theatre earlier this year.

Set in post-war Brooklyn, My Name is Asher Lev tells the powerful story of a boy prodigy who must paint at any cost -- against the will of family, community and tradition. It is a luminous portrait of a young artist with a universal theme to follow our passion.

Ari Brand (Broadway Bound, directed by David Cromer, The Diary of Ann Frank), who played Asher Lev in the Long Wharf production, will recreate the title role Off-Broadway.

Mark Nelson (nine Broadway productions including After The Fall, The Invention of Love at Lincoln Center, A Few Good Men; Obie Award winner for Picasso at the Lapin Agile) and Jenny Bacon (Heartless, Omnium Gatherum) will portray Asher’s parents Aryeh and Rivkeh.

Led by Director Gordon Edelstein (Long Wharf Theater Artistic Director, The Road to Mecca, Glass Menagerie), the distinguished creative team includes set design by Eugene Lee (Wicked, Ragtime); lighting design by James F. Ingalls (Glengarry Glen Ross); costume design by Ilona Somogyi (Clybourne Park) and original music/sound design by John Gromada (Gore Vidal’s The Best Man, The Columnist). Darren Bagert is lead producer.

The best-selling novel is considered one of author Chaim Potok's finest works. According to The New York Times Book Review, it is “A novel of finely articulated tragic power…Little short of a work of genius.” The Wall Street Journal states, “Profound in its vision of humanity, of religion, and of art.”

My Name is Asher Lev is the newest play to transfer to the New York stage from the Long Wharf Theatre. More than 30 Long Wharf productions have moved to Broadway and Off-Broadway, including:  Wit (Pulitzer Prize), The Shadow Box (Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award for Best Play), Hughie, American Buffalo, The Gin Game (Pulitzer Prize), and Streamers.

Tickets for the 18-week limited engagement of My Name is Asher Lev at The Westside Theatre are on sale at www.Telecharge.com or by calling 212.239.6200.