INDECENT Director and More Set for New Yiddish Rep's GOD OF VENGEANCE Talk-Backs

New Yiddish Rep's highly anticipated revival of the controversial classic "God of Vengeance" will host two talk-backs of note that allow audiences to delve deeply into aspects of this groundbreaking play by Sholem Asch.

"God of Vengeance" is directed by Tony nominee Eleanor Reissa and features Rachel Botchan; Shane Baker; David Mandelbaum; Caraid O'Brien, and Reissa; and introduces, in their professional stage debuts, Melissa Weisz (Juliet in the controversial Yiddish film "Romeo & Juliet.") and Luzer Twersky (star of the critically acclaimed Canadian film "Félix and Meira" and a Transparent Season 2 regular).

During the show's five week Off-Broadway run at La MaMa, 74A East 4th Street, from December 22 through January 22, the production welcomes Rebecca Taichman (on Tuesday January 10), the director and co-creator of the Broadway-bound play "Indecent," which is based on the history of the play, and Gene Steinberg, the executive director of Off the Derech, a support organization for Jews who have opted to leave their Orthodox communities (on Tuesday January 17). FYI, Twersky, Weisz and Eli Rosen are all former Hasids.

"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.

The Yiddish play premiered in 1907 around the corner on Second Avenue in a production starring the great David Kessler as the brothel owner Yankl, played here by Baker. (Incidentally the first Yiddish theatre production in New York played at what is now La MaMa's Ellen Stewart Theatre in 1883.) It subsequently was performed throughout Europe before returning to New York where its English premiere at the Provincetown Playhouse transferred to Broadway and was produced by noted early civil liberties attorney Harry Weinberger, who also helped produce the plays of Eugene O'Neill. That production was denounced by members of the Jewish establishment in New York, and charges of indecency were brought against the Entire company.

New Yiddish Rep is known for its innovative and eye-opening approach to Yiddish -- a language and theatre culture central to American popular culture that continues to illuminate, excite and entertain audiences of all backgrounds.

The notorious and ground-breaking "God of Vengeance" ("Got fun nekome") is performed in Yiddish with English supertitles from December 22 to January 22 (35 performances) at The First Floor Theatre at La MaMa, 74A East 4th Street. Perfs are Wed, Thur, Fri at 7pm; Sat at 3pm & 7pm; Sun at 3pm. Added perfs Sun Dec 25 at 7pm; Mon Dec 26 at 3pm; Sun Jan 1 at 7pm; Mon Jan 2 at 3pm; Tues Jan 10 at 7pm; Tues Jan 17 at 7pm. Tickets are $36. For tickets and more information visit www.newyiddishrep.org, or call 800-838-3006.

Photo Credit: Ronald Glassman

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