RHINOCEROS Actor Leads New Film by the Creators of JESUS CAMP

Luzer Twersky, currently in rehearsal for the Yiddish world premiere of Eugene Ionesco's Rhinoceros, is the subject of the new film documentary ONE OF US.

Produced and directed by Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady (JESUS CAMP, DETROPIA) for Netflix, ONE OF US will debut at the Toronto Film Festival on September 10th.

The upcoming film chronicles Luzer's break from the insular world of New York's Hasidic community, despite threats of retaliation and the necessity of cutting all ties with his family.

In 2008, Luzer made his painful break from the Hasidic community at age 23 in order to pursue an acting career. He landed his breakout role as Shulem in the 2014 filmFÉLIX & MEIRA. Last season, he appeared in New Yiddish Rep's hit production of GOD OF VENGEANCE. New Yiddish Rep along with Artistic Director, David Mandelbaum, are also featured in ONE OF US.

Performances of Rhinoceros will begin next Thursday, September 7th at the Castillo Theatre, 543 West 42 Street (between Tenth & Eleventh Aves.) Presented by New Yiddish Rep in association with the Castillo Theatre, Rhinoceros will be performed in Yiddish with English supertitles. Luzer Twersky will appear as Berenger, the play's protagonist.

Nearly 60 years since its premiere, the darkly comedic and terrifying Rhinoceros is making its Yiddish language debut with a translation by Eli Rosen. The sublime is merged with the ridiculous in this savage commentary on the human condition, in which an individual citizen of a small town watches his friends turn into Rhinoceroses one by one until he alone stands unchanged. Under the direction of Moshe Yassur, the cast of Rhinoceros also features Alec Burko, Amy Coleman, Macha Fogel, Malky Goldman, Sean Griffin, Chezky Israeli, David Mandelbaum, Caraid O'Brien, Eli Rosen, Gera Sandler, and Melissa Weisz.

Eugene Ionesco (1909 - 1994) was one of the foremost figures of the French avant-garde theatre. Among his most popular plays are Rhinoceros, THE BALD SOPRANO, THE LESSON, THE CHAIRS and THE KILLER.

RHINOCEROS marks the second Yiddish world premiere at New Yiddish Rep, following their groundbreaking production of GOD OF VENGEANCE which scored a New York Times Critics' Pick. New Yiddish Rep is dedicated to creating modern theater which speaks to a diverse contemporary audience, including those who never might have thought they could connect to a performance in a language other than their own.

Performances of Rhinoceros will be Wednesdays through Saturdays at 7:30 pm, with matinees Saturday & Sunday at 2 pm. Tickets are $45 ($25 for students). Rhinoceros is scheduled to play a limited Off-Broadway engagement through October 8th.