Photo Flash: Walnut Street Theatre's BAD JEWS Opens Tonight

Walnut Street Theatre's 2014-2015 Independence Studio on 3 season opens with BAD JEWS. This Philadelphia premiere began previews on October 7th, opens tonight, October 16th and continues through November 30th in the Walnut's Independence Studio on 3. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast onstage below!

In BAD JEWS, audiences will meet Daphna Feygenbaum, a "Real Jew" with an Israeli boyfriend that she met on Birthright. When Daphna's cousin Liam brings home his shiksa girlfriend Melody, he declares ownership of their grandfather's Chai necklace. Forced to bunk in close quarters during a family visit, a vicious and hilarious brawl over family, faith and legacy ensues.

BAD JEWS had its world premiere with a sold-out run at Roundabout Theatre Company's Roundabout Underground in the fall of 2012. At the helm of the production is Director David Stradley. Stradley returns to the Walnut after directing the 2014 world premiere play, Beautiful Boy. Additional Walnut credits include WST for Kids productions of Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day; A Christmas Carol; and Miss Nelson is Missing. His work has also been seen on the stages of Delaware Theatre Company, Act II Playhouse, Delaware Shakespeare Festival, Philadelphia Shakespeare Company and Lost Nation Theater.

Sofie Yavorsky makes her Walnut debut as the passionate Daphna Feygenbaum. Yavorsky's recent credits include Midsummer with Tudor Theatrical, August: Osage County at Ritz Theatre Company and Beautiful Thing with Mauckingbird Theatre Company. Davy Raphaely returns to the Walnut as Liam Haber. He was last seen in the Independence Studio on 3 production of Proof and on the Mainstage in The Eclectic Society. Regionally, Raphaely has performed with Philadelphia Theatre Company, Forestburgh Playhouse, The Arden and 11th Hour Theatre Company. Greg Fallick makes his Walnut debut as Liam's brother Jonah and Laura Giknis joins the cast as Liam's girlfriend Melody. With credits including Bristol Riverside Theatre Company, The Arden and People's Light and Theatre, Walnut audiences will remember Giknis as Sandy in the 2012 production of Grease.

Setting the stage to give audiences a glimpse into the personal lives of the characters is Set Designer Glen Sears (I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change; Beautiful Boy; The Mousetrap). Costume Designer Julia Poiesz returns having most recently designed for Walnut's production of I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change, along with award-winning Sound Designer Christopher Colucci (Other Desert Cities, The Mousetrap, Amadeus). Lighting Designer Jessica Wallace makes her Walnut debut with this production.

Tickets are $35-$45 and are now available at 215-574-3550 or 215-336-1234. Tickets are also available at WalnutStreetTheatre.org or Ticketmaster.com.

Photo Credit: Mark Garvin