ANNOUNCING OUR 2011-12 SEASON
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PERFORMANCES are on Thursdays and Saturdays at 8 p.m., and Sundays at 3 p.m.
See our Audition page for audition information
MY NAME IS ASHER LEV
Adapted
by Aaron Posner
Based on the book by Chaim Potok
Directed by: Jason Marlett
Show Dates: November 9, 10, 12, 13, 16, 17, 19, 20, 2011
How do you stay true to yourself when you’re split in two? This question is explored in Aaron Posner’s adaptation of Chaim Potok’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 difficult decision between family and vocation, and between his love for God and his desperate need to make art. 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. 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. Because of the smaller seating capacity of Spectrum’s Black Box Theater two extra Wednesday performances of this show have been added to the run.
YENTL
Adapted for the stage by Leah
Napolin and Isaac Bashevis Singer
Directed by: Barbara Wepman
Show Dates: April 19, 21, 22, 26, 28, 29, 2012
Based on Singer’s 1962 short story “Yentl the Yeshiva Boy,” the play centers on a young girl who loves discussing and debating Jewish law and theology with her rabbi father. After her father dies, she cuts her hair, dresses as a man, adopts the name Anshel, and sets out to find a yeshiva where she can continue to study Talmud. As Anshel, she meets another student, Avigdor, and they become great friends learning together at the yeshiva. Because of her growing friendship and love for Avigdor, she consents to marry Hadass, the woman he cannot have, further spiraling the coverup out of control. Eventually living as an imposter becomes too much to bear, and she confesses to Avigdor her true identity. “Yentl” raises a host of dilemmas that question male/female relations, gender identity, roles, and aspirations, and how they might apply to Judaism. We experience Yentl’s emotions as she struggles with deeply conflicting desires.
CHECKING OUT
Written by Allen
Swift
Directed by: TBA
Show Dates: June 14, 16, 17, 21, 26, 24, 2012
Allen Swift’s comedy centers on ninety-year-old Morris Applebaum, a retired Yiddish stage actor with a long and colorful career filled with rave reviews, adoring fans, and wild evenings. Since his wife’s death, however, life has felt diminished; so Morris has decided to “check out” by throwing a big party and then committing suicide. When news gets out of his plan to schedule and stage manage his own death, his three grown children race to New York, luggage in one hand and emotional baggage in the other, where they frantically try to dissuade Morris from implementing his plan.