Casting Complete for New Yiddish Rep's GOD OF VENGEANCE at La MaMa

Casting is now complete for New Yiddish Rep's highly anticipated "God of Vengeance," which begins previews for a five-week Off-Broadway run at La MaMa, 74A East 4th Street, starting December 22. It opens on Christmas Day, Sunday, December 25 at 7:30pm.

The notorious and ground-breaking drama, which many consider one of 20th century's greatest plays in any language and which is the subject of Paula Vogel's Broadway-bound "Indecent," is directed by Tony nominee Eleanor Reissa.

Playing featured roles in the cast of 11 are Yiddish theatre veterans Shane Baker; David Mandelbaum; Caraid O'Brien, and Reissa; Off-Broadway veteran Rachel Botchan, and Yiddish theatre newcomers, Shayna Schmidt and Melissa Weisz as the young lesbian lovers. (Weisz was Juliet in the controversial Yiddish film "Romeo & Juliet.") Appearing in his professional stage debut is the ex-Satmar Hasid from Brooklyn, Luzer Twersky, star of the critically acclaimed "Félix and Meira" (Canada's Oscar entry in 2015) and a Transparent Season 2 regular. Also in the cast are Amy Coleman, Mira Kessler and Eli Rosen.

The production design team includes Vicki Davis (set and costumes), and Jesse Freedman (sound). Mark Brystowski is the production stage manager.

"Got fun nekome," tells the wrenching story of a brothel owner's attempt to marry off his daughter to lead a dignified religious life, only to have her drawn back into the life of sin in which she grew up. In addition to being highly explosive for its conflicted view of Judaism, the show is credited with presenting the first lesbian kiss on Broadway when its English premiere was presented at the Apollo Theatre on West 42nd Street in 1923.

Baker assumes the role of the brothel owner Yankel, a part made famous by Rudolph Schildkraut (in Europe and on Broadway), while David Mandelbaum plays Reb Eli (a part played by Sam Jaffe on Broadway). Reissa plays Sarah, Yankel's wife. Reissa was nominated for a Tony Award in 1991 for "Those Were the Days."

"God of Vengeance" is being produced by the internationally acclaimed New Yiddish Rep. The company's "Waiting for Godot" (2013 & 2014), and last season's "Death of a Salesman," which was nominated for two Drama Desk Awards (Best Revival of a Play and Best Actor in a Play) were both widely praised for illuminating classics of the modern theatre by doing them in Yiddish.

New Yiddish Rep presents modern theater for diverse contemporary audiences (especially non-Yiddish-speakers) in Yiddish.

Interestingly enough "God of Vengeance's" La MaMa run (5-weeks, 35 performances, from December 22 to January 22) is next door to where the play had its world premiere in 1907. (The premiere, in what is now the Ellen Stewart Theatre at La MaMa, starred the legendary David Kessler in the role of the brothel owner Yankel.) This is the first Yiddish production to be seen in the United States in decades.

"God of Vengeance" is performed in Yiddish with English supertitles. Tickets are $36. For tickets and more information visit www.newyiddishrep.org, or call 800-838-3006

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