GEORGE STREET PLAYHOUSE My Name is Asher Lev Board of Trustees Chairman: James N. Heston* President: Penelope Lattimer, Ph.D.* First Vice President: Lucy Hughes* Second Vice President: Janice Stolar* Treasurer: David Fasanella* Secretary: Sharon Karmazin* Ronald Bleich Ben Sifuentes-Jauregui, Ph.D. David Capodanno Frances C. Stromsland, Ed.D. Kenneth M. Fisher David Saint* William R. Hagaman, Jr. Jocelyn Schwartzman Norman Politziner Lora Tremayne Kelly Ryman* Stephen M. Vajtay W. Burton “Tripp” Salisbury Alan W. Voorhees *Denotes Members of the Executive Committee Trustees Emeritus Robert L. Bramson Cody P. Eckert Clarence E. Lockett Al D’Augusta Peter Goldberg Anthony L. Marchetta George Wolansky, Jr. Honorary Board of Trustees Thomas H. Kean Eric Krebs Honorary Memoriam Maurice Aaron∆ Arthur Laurents∆ Dr. Edward Bloustein∆ Richard Sellars∆ Dora Center∆∆ Barbara Voorhees∆∆ Douglas Fairbanks, Jr.∆ Edward K. Zuckerman∆ Milton Goldman∆ Adelaide M. Zagoren John Hila ∆∆ – Denotes Trustee Emeritus ∆ – Denotes Honorary Trustee From the Resident Artistic Director As a teenager, it took me only one day to read Chaim Potok’s arresting novel, My Name is Asher Lev, but the singular power of Asher’s journey toward his true self has vividly remained with me through the years. So, I’m thrilled that Aaron Posner’s adaptation of this moving story is our season’s closing Michael Mastro production. It is packed with thematic issues Resident Artistic Director and questions at once familial, artistic, ethical and religious. I’m particularly impressed with Mr. Posner’s elegant adaptation – an insightful and theatrically poetic distillation of the novel for the stage. The director of the piece, Jim Jack, is our very successful Director of Education here at George Street, and his fiery commitment to the fostering of artistic impulses in young people gives him a unique point of view in bringing this play to life. The members of Jim’s gifted design team are all favorites here at GSP, and the very talented cast Jim has assembled includes two George Street alumni, Bob Ari and Lena Kaminsky, and impressive newcomer, Miles G. Jackson. With such a beautiful play and this wonderful creative team in place, I’m confident you will findMy Name is Asher Lev a moving and memorable experience. Enjoy! Michael Mastro Resident Artistic Director Productions sponsored by The Blanche and Irving Laurie Foundation (from top-left clockwise): Bryan Cranston as Lyndon Baines Johnson in All The Way; Santino Fontana and Tony Shalhoub in a scene from Lincoln Center Theater’s production of Act One; Primary Stage production of Bronx Bombers and Peter Gallagher, Kristin Chenoweth, Andy Karl, Michael McGrath and Mark Linn-Baker in On the Twentieth Century. THE BLANCHE & IRVING LAURIE F O U N D AT I O N GEORGE STREET PLAYHOUSE David Saint, Artistic Director Michael Mastro, Resident Artistic Director Kelly Ryman, Managing Director Presents My Name is Asher Lev by Aaron Posner adapted from the novel by Chaim Potok directed by Jim Jack scenic design by R. Michael Miller costume design by David Murin lighting design by Christopher J. Bailey original music/sound design by Scott Killian har and wig design by Jared Janas production stage manager Thomas Clewell* production manager Christopher J. Bailey casting by McCorkle Casting My Name is Asher Lev is presented by special arrangement with Dramatists Play Service, Inc., New York. Originally commissioned and produced by the Arden Theatre Company Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Dramaturgy by Michele Volansky. This play was developed with the support of PlayPenn: Paul Meshejian, Artistic Director April 12 - May 1, 2016 Sponsored by: The Blanche and Irving Laurie Foundation In accordance with Actors’ Equity Association regulations, we remind you that all electronic devices, including pagers, cellular phones and watches must be turned off during the performance. This program is made possible in part by funds from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/ Department of State, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts. George Street Playhouse is a constituent of the League of Resident Theatres (LORT) and a member of the New Jersey Theatre Alliance. The theatre operates under an agreement between LORT and Actors’ Equity Association, the union of professional actors and stage managers in the United States, and is a member of the New Brunswick Cultural Center. The Wilf family is proud to support My Name is Asher Lev and George Street Playhouse A vital cultural institution in our community CAST in order of appearance The Men Bob Ari* (Aryeh Lev, Yitzchok Lev, The Rebbe, Jacob Kahn) Asher Lev Miles G. Jackson* The Women Lena Kaminsky* (Rivkeh Lev, Anna Schaeffer, Rachel) *- denotes member of Actors’ Equity Association. First Movement Early Lev Second Movement As a Young Man Third Movement The Act of Creation Fourth Movement The Artist My Name is Asher Lev runs approximately 90 minutes without an intermission. Understudies: Kirk Geritano and Alexa Johnson The actors and stage managers employed in this production are members of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States. The director is a member of The Stage The stage technicians of Directors and Choreographers Society, Inc., George Street Playhouse an independent national labor union. are proud members of IATSE Local 21. The Scenic, Costume, Lighting and Sound Designers in LORT theatres are represented by United Scenic Artists Local USA-829, IATSE. The George Street Playhouse playbill is published five times a year by George Street Playhouse, Inc., a not-for-profit corporation. Please send advertising inquiries to George Street Playhouse, 9 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, attn: Playbill Advertising. SAVE THE Date: SUNday, May 22, 2016 George Street Playhouse Annual Gala Benefit Join us as we honor the actors fund and their president and CEO, Joseph P. Benincasa with the thomas h. kean arts advocacy award Black Tie Dinner • Silent Auction Star-Studded Cabaret The Heldrich • Livingston Avenue • New Brunswick (event begins at 5:00) for further information contact Steve Barry at 732-846-2895 x144 • [email protected] Past Gala Stars have included: Bernadette Peters, Tyne Daly and Constantine Maroulis. compaNY bios. Bob Ari Lena Kaminsky (The Men) returns to (The Women) is thrilled George Street Playhouse, to return to George where he starred as Street Playhouse, where artist Mark Rothko in she was last seen in Red. Broadway: Act The Pillowman. Prior to One, Frost/Nixon, The that, she was a company Constant Wife, Bells Are member with GSP’s Ringing and Laughter on the 23rd Floor. Educational Touring Theatre. Selected Off-Broadway: The Late Christopher credits: Swimming in the Shallows (Kitchen Bean, Die Mommie Die, Jolson & Co., June Theatre Company); Outside Mullingar (Saint Moon, Witnessed by the World, Picasso Michael’s Playhouse); In the Next Room, or at the Lapin Agile. Regional: Kiss Me Kate The Vibrator Play (Syracuse Stage); Frankie (The Shakespeare Theatre), Lombardi & Johnny in the Claire de Lune (Virginia (Cleveland Play House, Arizona Theatre Stage Company); Black Pearl Sings! (Portland Co.), Sleuth, Witness for the Prosecution Center Stage); Love, Janis (Kansas City (Olney Theatre Center), Dracula, Twelve Repertory Theatre); as well as work with Angry Men (Pioneer), Cat on a Hot Tin Passage Theatre, Hartford TheaterWorks, Roof (Fulton Theatre), Art, Hotel Suite Northern Stage, Chicago Shakespeare, (Walnut Street Theatre), Fiddler on the Cleveland Play House and others. TV: Law Roof (Galveston Outdoor Musicals) and & Order. www.LenaKaminsky.com three productions of Born Yesterday Aaron Posner and Twelfth Night. Moscow Art Thetre (Playwright) is a Helen Hayes and Barrymore Studio: The Three Sisters (Chebutykin), Award-winning director and playwright. The Grapes of Wrath (ensemble & musical He is a founder and former Artistic Director of director). Tours: Frost/Nixon, West Side Philadelphia’s Arden Theatre, is an Associate Story. Film: Two Lovers, Wanted, Kissing Artist at both the Folger Theatre and Jessica Stein, Music of the Heart, Cradle Milwaukee Repertoy Theatre, and has directed Will Rock. Over 30 television programs. at major regional theatres from coast to coast Born and raised in Manhattan. including the Folger, Seattle Rep, Portland Miles G. Jackson Center Stage, The Alliance, Actor’s Theatre (Asher Lev) George Street of Louisville, Arizona Theatre Company, debut. Stage credits Milwaukee Rep, California Shakespeare include 4000 Miles Theatre, Shakespeare Santa Cruz, Roundhouse (Capital Rep), Good Theatre, Studio Theatre, Signature Theatre, Men Wanted (Arena Theatre J, American Player’s Theatre and many more. His adaptations include Chaim Potok’s Stage), and Mad Forest The Chosen and My Name is Asher Lev (Williamstown). Recent (both of which has enjoyed successful runs film credits include In Reality (Lumanova at more than 50 other theatres across the Pictures) and Flora (Pulp Pictures). Thank country), Ken Kesey’s Sometimes a Great you to the powerhouses I get to share Notion, Mark Twain’s A Murder, A Mystery this stage with, Jim, and the entire and a Marriage, an adaptation of three creative team and crew. Toda raba to Kurt Vonnegut short stories, entitled Who McCorkle Casting, Kevin, Rachel, and Am I This Time? (And Other Conundrums of the whole mishpucha. This is for the Love) and Stupid F**king Bird, a variation Goodman women and Abby. Upcoming: on Chekhov’s Seagull. Aaron was raised Harry and the Thief (The Habitat) and in Eugene, Oregon, graduated from Tribes (Barrington Stage). Northwestern University, is an Eisenhower www.milesgjackson.com Fellow, and lives near Washington, DC. Withum’s brand is a reflection of our people, our culture… our strength. Our new logo is an extension of our brand promise — to be bold, innovative and accessible — for our clients, our communities and our staff. It is a positive expression of our underlying values — what we call the Withum Way. compaNY bios. Chaim Potok R. Michael Miller (Author) was born Herman Harold Potok (Scenic Designer) GSP: Outside Mullingar, on February 17, 1929.