American Stage Theatre Presents MY NAME IS ASHER LEV, Now thru 8/25

American Stage Theatre Company announces the second play of our 2012-2013 Summer Series on our Mainstage: MY NAME IS ASHER LEV a new play by Aaron Posner, adapted from the best-selling novel by Chaim Potok. This production is an area premiere and winner of the 2013 Outer Critics Circle Award for "Outstanding New Off-Broadway Play". Previews tonight, July 17 and the 18th. Opening Night is July 19 and the production runs through August 25.

Special Performances:
"Pay What You Can" Nights: Sundays 8/18 & 8/25 @ 8pm
Tuesday Shows: 8/6 & 8/20 @ 8pm
Wednesday Matinee: 8/21 @ 3pm
Twilight Shows: 8/10, 8/18, 8/24 & 8/25 @ 5pm

Mainstage Lecture Series:
Sunday, July 7 from 1:00-2:30 pm.
American Stage Education continues their Mainstage lecture series for MY NAME IS ASHER LEV to enhance theatre goers experience. Professor Emerita Dedee Aleccia will speak on the history for this current productiion. Following her presentation, an artistic guest speaker will discuss their involvement with MY NAME IS ASHER LEV and their creative process. The lecture is $5 for subscribers and $7 for the general public.

MY NAME IS ASHER LEV takes place during Post-World War II at various locations in Brooklyn, New York. MY NAME IS ASHER LEV follows the journey of a young Jewish painter torn between his Hassidic upbringing and his desperate need to fulfill his artistic promise. When his artistic genius threatens to destroy his relationship with his parents and community, young Asher realizes he must make a difficult choice between art and faith. This stirring adaptation of a modern classic presents a heartbreaking and triumphant vision of what it means to be an artist. There will be brief nudity in the context of a woman modeling for a painting.

T. Scott Wooten*, is both directing and handling the sound design for American Stage Theatre's production of MY NAME IS ASHER LEV, which will be performed in one act with no intermission. Originally from Arkansas, T. Scott was the Artistic Associate of American Stage for nine seasons before leaving to join the stage management team at the Maltz Jupiter Theatre. American Stage audiences will remember his directorial work with productions of A Steady Rain, Driving Miss Daisy, Fully Committed, The New Century, Tuesdays With Morrie, Sleuth, and Krapp's Last Tape.

The cast includes Chris Crawford* (Asher Lev), Brian Webb Russell* (The Men; Father, Uncle, The Rebbe, and Jacob Kahn) and Georgina McKee (The Women; Mother, Anna Schaeffer - the art collector and Rachel - the model). Both Chris and Brian are returning to our stage. Chris Crawford* was last seen on our stage with last summer's hit, The Foreigner. Other regional credits include freeFall Theatre (John & Jen, Romeo + Juliet, A Christmas Carol), The Shakespeare Theatre Company (Edward II and Tamburlaine the Great), Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre (Joseph...Dreamcoat, Othello, The Producers, Taming of the Shrew),Playhouse Tulsa (The Unmentionables, Shining City, Urinetown, Moonlight and Magnolias), and TheatreSquared (Boeing Boeing and Noises Off). Chris is the 2007 National Winner of the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival Irene Ryan Award for Acting, as well as the Mark Twain Award for "Outstanding Comedic Performance".

Brian Webb Russell* was last seen at American Stage in productions such as 7 Homeless Mammoths Wander New England, The Mystery of Irma Vep, The Seafarer, Jacob Marley's Christmas Carol, and Barefoot in the Park. Regional credits include Romeo and Juliet(Arkansas Rep), One Man's Lincoln (Kentucky Rep), and Twelfth Night (Nashville Shakespeare Festival). Brian was the grateful recipient of a Jeff Norton Award for his work in American Stage's Barefoot in the Park, has garnered two First Night Awards in Nashville for his performances in Biloxi Blues and Kiss Me Kate!, and was the 2001 recipient of the Ingram Theatre Fellowship awarded annually by the Tennessee Arts Commission.

Georgina McKee will be making her debut at American Stage. Georgina lives in Milwaukee where her recent credits include A Christmas Carol (Milwaukee Rep), 1000 Words (Forward Theater Company) and In The Park With George (Skylight Music Theatre). Georgina is a proud member of the Advisory Committee for Forward Theater Company in Madison, WI.

In addition to T. Scott Wooten's* Directing and Sound Design, the Artistic Staff also includes;Jerid Fox as Scenic Designer and Properties Master, Adrin Erra Puente returning as Costume Designer, Megan Byrne as Lighting Designer, Karla Hartley* as Production Stage Manager and Timon Brown as Technical Director.

* = member, Actors' Equity Association

Chaim Potok (1929-2002) Born in New York City but raised in Philadelphia, Chaim Potok was raised in a Hasidic family. His father emigrated from Poland in 1921 where he married and had two sons (both rabbis) and two daughters (both of whom married rabbis). Chaim balanced his interest in traditional Jewish studies, which pleased his father, with his personal interest in American and European literature. He also had an interest in painting. Chaim rebelled from his Hasidic youth and, following graduation from Yeshiva University where he received a B.A. in English, attended the Conservative Jewish Theological Seminary in New York where he earned his Master's of Hebrew Literature and rabbinical ordination. In 1965 he earned his PhD in philosophy from the University of Pennsylvania. Chaim served as a Chaplain (lieutenant) in the U.S. army in Korea from 1955-57. From 1965-74 he was Editor-in-Chief of the Jewish Publication Society of America. Chaim was an accomplished author, playwright, biographer, and theologian, who won numerous literary awards for his written works. He was diagnosed with cancer in 2000, and died at his home in 2002.

Aaron Posner has worked as a director and playwright at major U.S. regional theatres including the Folger Shakespeare Theatre, Portland Center Stage, Seattle Rep, Arizona Theatre Company, Actor's Theatre of Louisville, The ALLIANCE THEATRE, and many more. The Chosen, and his musical (with composer James Sugg) A Murder, A Mystery & A Marriage are published by Dramatists Play Service. He has won two Helen Hayes Awards, and is an Eisenhower Fellow. He is married to actress, teacher, and four-time Barrymore nominee, Erin Weaver, and they live in Middletown, NJ.

MY NAME IS ASHER LEV by Aaron Posner, adapted from the best-selling novel by Chaim Potok.
Previews July 17 & 18. Opening Night is July 19 and the production runs through August 25.

Special Performances:
"Pay What You Can" Nights: Sundays 8/18 & 8/25 @ 8pm (suggested donation $10-$20)
Tuesday Shows: 8/6 & 8/20 @ 8pm ($39 ticket)
Wednesday Matinee: 8/21 @ 3pm ($29 ticket)
Twilight Shows: 8/10, 8/18, 8/24 & 8/25 @ 5pm ($39 ticket)

American Stage Theatre Performance Dates, Times and Pricing for the 2012-2013 season:

2012-2013 Performance Dates and Times: Wednesday through Saturday evenings at 8pm. Saturday and Sunday Matinees at 3pm. PLEASE NOTE* Tuesday and Sunday evening performances (8pm) AND Wednesday Matinee performances (3pm) are added on select productions. We also have a special Twilight performances (5pm).

2012-2013 Performance Pricing: $29 Previews and Wednesday Matinees; $39 Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday Evenings , Twilights, and Saturday and Sunday Matinees; $49 Friday and Saturday Evenings; Student Advance tickets are $20 and Student Rush tickets are $10, 30 minutes prior to curtain. Group Ticket Pricing Packages are also available. For tickets, please call the American Stage Box Office at (727) 823-PLAY (7529)

American Stage Theatre Company is located at the Raymond James Theatre, 163 3rd Street North in the heart of downtown St. Petersburg, Florida.

AMERICAN STAGE THEATRE COMPANY is a not-for-profit professional theatre founded in 1977. The company's mission is to create the most satisfying live theatre in the Tampa Bay area, accessible to all members of the community. Their vision is to preserve the greatest human stories from our past, while creating the most defining stories and storytelling of our time. American Stage presents its Mainstage Series in its, 182-seat Raymond James Theatre each year.

Photo Credit: Chad Jacobs

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