Pacific Theatre Presents MY NAME IS ASHER LEV

Pacific Theatre presents Aaron Posner's adaptation of Chaim Potock's beloved novel My Name is Asher Lev. A poignant coming of age story where a young Hasidic Jewish prodigy must choose between his need to paint and his faith. Playing Jan 28-Feb 26 Wednesday - Saturday at 8pm with 2pm matinee on Saturday at Pacific Theatre, 1440 W 12th Ave. Pay-what-you-can preview Jan 27.

Artist talkback Friday, Feb 4. For tickets ($16.50-29.50 HST not incl.) call 604.731.5518 or pacifictheatre.org.
VANCOUVER, BC - How do you stay true to yourself when you're split in two? Pacific Theatre presents My Name is Asher Lev adapted for the stage by Aaron Posner from Chaim Potock's beloved novel. Asher Lev is a young Hasidic Jew in New York with an astonishing talent for art and a deep connection to his religious faith and family. His two conflicting loyalties come to a head in this poignant coming of age story when young Asher is forced to make a terrible decision between family and vocation, between his love for God and his desperate need to make art.
Swirling around the heart of My Name is Asher Lev are questions about the meaning and necessity of art that will strike close to home for any artist today. Asher's father asks what he is trying to accomplish with his paintings, while his mother asks why he doesn't depict prettier, happier things like flowers. There's a ring of familiarity to the way artists now much justify, and sometimes change their work, to satisfy not only family and friends, but governments, funding bodies, and society as a whole.
My Name is Asher Lev features up-and-coming young actor Giovanni Mocibob (Confessions of a Paper Boy), taking on the challenge of playing Asher Lev from age 9 through adulthood. Playing his traditional father, Rebbe, and art mentour is Nathan Schmidt. Katharine Venour (The Last Days of Judas Iscariot) holds the heart of the Lev family, playing Asher's mother. At the helm is director Morris Ertman (Espresso).
RAVE REVIEWS
"A truly beautiful theatrical experience. Ninety fast-moving minutes that sparkle with life." -Talkin' Broadway
"A marvelous evening of theatre: intimate, sincere, magical." -Philadelphia City Paper
Details:

MY NAME IS ASHER LEV adapted by Aaron Posner from the novel by Chaim Potock

When:

January 28-February 26, 2010, Wednesdays-Saturdays at 8pm, 2pm matinees Saturdays

Where:

Pacific Theatre, 1420 West 12th Ave (at Hemlock St), Vancouver, BC

Tickets:

$16.50-29.50 (HST not incl.) - to reserve call 604.731.5518, or visit pacifictheatre.org.