MY NAME IS ASHER LEV Montreal Premiere September 11

The Segal Centre proudly presents My Name Is Asher Lev by Aaron Posner, directed by Steven Schipper. Based on the popular Chaim Potok novel of the same name, My Name Is Asher Lev tells the story of a young Hasidic man with a passion for painting that threatens to tear his family and community apart. The 2012 Outer Critics Circle Award winner for Outstanding New Off-Broadway Play, Asher Lev makes its Montreal premiere on the Segal stage for three weeks only, September 11 through October 2, before heading to theRoyal Manitoba Theatre Centre in Winnipeg from October 12 to 29.

For as long as he can remember, Asher Lev wanted to draw; needed to draw. Every surface was a canvas for his mystifying artistic talent. Unfortunately for Asher, his passion for making art conflicts with the beliefs of his traditionally religious family. When his gift threatens to divide his entire community, Asher must look deep within himself to decide if he is willing to give up his faith to fulfill his destiny.

"Just as the book became an instant classic and a riveting page-turner," said Lisa Rubin, Segal Centre Artistic and Executive Director, "the play will captivate audiences with its timeless themes and unforgettable performances.

Steven Schipper, Artistic Director of the renownEd Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre in Winnipeg, will be directing this production at the Segal Centre before it transfers to the Royal MTC. "I'm delighted to be back at the Segal Centre, and working on My Name Is Asher Lev, an artistic coming-of-age tale that will resonate with people of all cultures," said Schipper. "It's a perfect project for our two theatres to bring to Winnipeg and Montreal, where audiences embrace work that touches, challenges, and entertains, while asking important questions about how we may best live our lives." Schipper was appointed to the Order of Canada and received the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012 for his contributions to Canadian theatre. The former Montrealer's past contributions at the Segal Centre includeThe Mousetrap, The Last Night of Ballyhoo, Over the River and Through the Woods, and Cabaret, which earned the Masque Award for Best Production.

Making his Segal Centre debut, David Reale (seen in Hamlet, Suits, and Mean Girls) stars as Asher Lev, the young man searching for his true path. He will have the unique challenge of portraying Asher through his entire life as he grows from a small boy to a man. He will be joined by the incomparable and multi-talented Montreal icon Ellen David (her numerous credits include Brooklyn, Barney's Version, and Mambo Italiano) and the gifted Alex Poch-Goldin (seen in Soulpepper's production of The Dybbuk, Canadian Stage's Angels in America, and RMTC'sQuills). Both originally from Montreal, the pair will each take on multiple roles as the men and women in Asher's life.

The creative team includes Martin Ferland (Set Designer), Louise Bourret (Costumer Designer), Hugh Conacher (Lighting Design), Emily Auciello (Original Sound Designer), Luciana Burcheri (Stage Manager) and Jessica Alexander (Apprentice Stage Manager).

About the Segal Centre for Performing Arts

The Segal Centre for Performing Arts is a not-for-profit theatre company dedicated to nurturing, producing and presenting world-class English-language theatre and to showcasing the best professional artists from Montreal and beyond. Founded in 1967, the Segal Centre has expanded to become a nationally recognized venue for the performing arts with a focus on creation, innovation, diversity and cross-cultural collaborations. Driven by a belief in the power of the arts to strengthen and connect communities, the Segal's programming emphasizes original interpretations of popular classic and contemporary works, new Canadian musicals and engaging productions with universal appeal. www.segalcentre.org

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