Mike Burstyn Stars as Meyer Lansky Off-Broadway

The international stage, film and television leading man Mike Burstyn stars in "Lansky," a new one-man drama written by Richard Krevolin and Joseph Bologna that begins previews Off-Broadway on Friday January 23 at the St. Luke's Theatre, 308 West 46th Street. Directed by Joseph Bologna, "Lansky" brings to light the fascinating and little-known efforts of Meyer Lansky to return to Israel to make aliyah after a fruitful career as the mob's moneyman. "Lansky" opens on Thursday February 5 at 8pm. 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

Inspired by the book "But He Was Good To His Mother" by Robert Rockaway, "Lansky" imagines the notorious businessman and 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. With brutal honesty he subjects himself to an unsparing first degree in which he asks himself if his pursuit of the American dream and first-generation assimilation in this culture are worth the price he paid, and, more profoundly, if it is possible for him to be a good Jew and also a good American.

A native New Yorker and 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" for which he earned a Drama Desk nomination (his second) for lead actor in a musical. The show opened in February 2005 and was brought back by popular demand for nine weeks before moving to Los Angeles the following year.

A scion of Yiddish theatre royalty, Burstyn performed internationally as a child star with his celebrated parents -- Pesach Burstein (1896-1986) and Lillian Lux (1918-2005). Until the late 60's the Bursteins performed in London, Paris, Israel, throughout South America and also in Johannesberg, and, extensively with Maurice Schwartz's company. For over 50 years as a singer and actor, Burstyn has alternated between projects in Yiddish, Hebrew, Dutch and English.
He starred on Broadway in "Barnum" and "Ain't Broadway Grand," and in the national tours of "The Tale of the Allergist's Wife" (with Valerie Harper) and the musical "Jolson" (in which he portrayed Al Jolson, a contemporary and friendly rival of his father). Fluent in eight languages Burstyn has hosted and starred in TV variety shows in Israel and Holland where, incidentally, he starred
in the Dutch production of "Barnum". (The Burstyn family was the subject of the award-winning documentary "The Komediant.")

The Brooklyn-born Joseph Bologna, an actor and writer with a varied career in film, television and the stage, is perhaps best known for his collaborations with his wife Renée Taylor. The couple's breakout hit was the seminal 70's comedy "Lovers and Other Strangers" (both a Broadway play and a film). They cavorted on Broadway together again in "It Had to Be You" and also most recently
on the little screen in an episode of The Nanny in which Taylor played Fran Drescher's mother. His film acting credits include "Blame it On Rio," "Chapter Two" and "My Favorite Year."

A playwright and screenwriter, Richard Krevolin has taught screenwriting at USC and at UCLA Film School, and is the author of several books on screenwriting. His play, "King Levine," directed by Bologna, was nominated for an Ovation Award. His original version of "Lansky" was translated into Hebrew and produced in Tel Aviv in 2005.

"Lansky" starring Mike Burstyn begins previews at the St. Luke's Theatre on Friday January 23, en route to an opening on Thursday February 5 at 8pm. The performance schedule is as follows: 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. The St. Luke's Theatre, 308 West 46th
Street, is between 8th and 9th Avenues.

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