THE JEWISH KING LEAR Now Playing At Metropolitan Playhouse to Close On Sunday, May 27

The Obie Award winning Metropolitan Playhouse (220 E. 4th Street) current production of Jacob Gordin's The Jewish King Lear, one of the foundational works of the "Golden Age of American Yiddish theater," closes on Sunday, May 27.

Performance Schedule:

Thursday, May 24 - 7:30PM

Friday, May 25 - 7:30PM

Saturday, May 26 - 7:30PM

Sunday, May 27 - 3PM

The Jewish King Lear is credited with establishing the popularity of "serious" Yiddish theater in America. Not a translation of Shakespeare's Lear, but a retelling of the story in 1892 that is farcical, introspective, and politically pointed all at once. Prosperous merchant, Reb Dovidl Moysheles, divides his worldly possessions among his three daughters before retiring to a pious life of study. The youngest and most devoted doubts the wisdom of his plan, in return for which he casts her from his house. But as years pass, he finds the two eldest daughters and their husbands will treat him as a beggar in his own home. Filled with pride, consumed by remorse, and nearly blind, he exiles himself with only the company of his devoted, irreverent servant. But this Lear's no tragedy.

Directed by Ed Chemaly, the cast features Kelly D. Cooper, Thomas Daniels, Katie Hahn, Deanna Henson, Tyler Kent, Olivia Killingsworth, Clara Kundin, Jeremy Lawrence, Joel Leffert, Amanda (Miryem-Khaye) Seigel, Tori Sicklick, Jack Sochet and Diane Tyler. The production team includes Traci Bargen, stage manager; Amanda (Miryem-Khaye) Seigel, musical director; Joel Leffert, fight choreographer; Mario Alonso, set design; Sidney Fortner, costume design; Scott Andrew Cally, lighting design; Elena Kaye, assistant stage manager; Max Frank, technical apprentice.

Tickets: $30 general; $25 seniors/students; $10 children, and may be purchased online at www.metropolitanplayhouse.org or by phone (800) 383-3006.

METROPOLITAN PLAYHOUSE explores America's theatrical heritage through forgotten plays of the past and new plays of American historical and cultural moment. Now in its 26th season, the theater received a 2011 OBIE Grant from The Village Voice for its ongoing productions that illuminate who we are by revealing where we have come from. Called an "indispensable East Village institution" by nytheatre.com and "invaluable" by Back Stage, Metropolitan has earned accolades from The New York Times, The Village Voice, and The New Yorker. Other awards include Outstanding Performing Arts Group from the Victorian Society New York, and 18 nominations for NYIT Awards since 2010, with winners Lenore Wolf for short script, Sidney Fortner for costumes, Frank Anderson for lead actor. Recent productions include A MARRIAGE CONTRACT; ON STRIVERS ROW; LEAH, THE FORSAKEN; END OF SUMMER; O'NEILL (Unexpected); WALK HARD; ALISON'S HOUSE; INJUNCTION GRANTED; THE MAN OF THE HOUR; ICEBOUND; WITHIN THE LAW; THE HERO; A MAN'S WORLD; BOTH YOUR HOUSES; THE HOUSE OF MIRTH; DEEP ARE THE ROOTS; THE JAZZ SINGER; ONE-THIRD OF A NATION; UNCLE TOM'S CABIN; and DODSWORTH; as well as the Alphabet City and East Village Chronicles series.

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