Mike Burstyn Stars In 'LANSKY', Opening At St. Luke's 2/5

"Lansky," a new one-man drama written by Richard Krevolin and Joseph Bologna about the little-known efforts of Meyer Lansky to move to Israel to make aliyah after a fruitful career as the mob's moneyman, begins previews Off-Broadway on Friday January 23 at the St. Luke's Theatre, 308 West 46th Street. Directed by Joseph Bologna, "Lansky" stars the two-time Drama Desk nominated stage, film and television actor Mike Burstyn. "Lansky" opens on Thursday February 5 at 8pm after playing 16 previews beginning January 23.

Inspired by the book "But He Was Good To His Mother" by Robert A. Rockaway, "Lansky" imagines the notorious gangster, who masterminded some of the most ingenious wealth managements systems of his day, struggling to reconcile his material successes with his desire to gain Israeli citizenship, live out his days in the Promised Land and ultimately be buried next to his beloved grandfather in Jerusalem.

Members of the press are welcome to assimilate the following performances:

Wednesday January 28 at 2pm & 8pm
Thursday January 29 at 8pm
Friday January 30 at 8pm
Saturday January 31 at 2pm & 8pm
Sunday February 1 at 2pm
Tuesday February 3 at 7pm
Wednesday February 4 at 2pm & 8pm
Thursday February 5 at 8pm

A two-time Kinor David-winner (Israel's Oscar), Burstyn was last seen in New York in the widely acclaimed hit musical revue "On Second Avenue" (Drama Desk nomination). He starred on Broadway in "Barnum" and "Ain't Broadway Grand," Off-Broadway in "The Rothschilds," and in the national tour of "The Tale of the Allergist's Wife" (with Valerie Harper). In the musical "Jolson" he portrayed Al Jolson, a contemporary and friendly rival of his father.

Joseph Bologna was last seen on Broadway in "It Had to Be You" with his wife Renée Taylor, his frequent collaborator starting with their seminal 70's comedy "Lovers and Other Strangers" (both a Broadway play and a film). Richard Krevolin is the author of several books on screenwriting. His play, "King Levine," directed by Bologna, premiered at the Odyssey Theatre in Los Angeles and was nominated for an Ovation Award. His original version of "Lansky" was translated into Hebrew and produced in Tel Aviv in 2005.

The "Lansky" performance schedule is Tuesdays at 7pm, Wednesdays 2pm & 8pm, Thursdays & Fridays 8pm, Saturdays at 2pm & 8pm, and Sundays 2pm. Tickets, which range from $31.50 to $56.50, are now on sale via Telecharge by phone at 212/239-6200 or online at www.telecharge.com

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