Tag Archives: Middletown Lyric Theatre

Middletown Lyric Theatre
1530 Central Avenue
Middletown, Ohio 45042
513-425-7140

AUDITION DATES & TIMES:

• Sunday, October 22nd – 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
• Monday, October 23rd – 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm
• Tuesday, October 24th – 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm

AUDITION REQUIREMENTS:
Cold reading from the script

PRODUCTION DATES:
February 16, 17, 23 & 24 at 8:00 pm
February 24th at 3:00 pm

REHEARSAL AND PRODUCTION WEEK COMMITMENT:
MUST BE AVAILABLE: January 20
Rehearsal Begins January 31
Evenings and weekends

STIPEND: These are paid positions

CHARACTER DESCRIPTIONS:

• ASHER LEV: (early 20’s – 30 – character at peak is only 25)
  The narrator of the story, ages from 6 to 25 throughout the play. He is an artistic prodigy whose passionate love for painting isn’t accepted by his father. Curious, sensitive, willful, and driven. Asher struggles to reconcile his love for his family and the traditions of his faith, with the demands of his art. Requires an actor of vast depth, imagination and presence.

THE WOMEN: (early 30’s – to late 40’s)
All “women” are played by one actor; requires an actor of vast depth, imagination, humor and ability to transform

• Rivkeh Lev: Asher’s mother who ages 30-50, suffers deeply from the loss of her brother. A woman of extraordinary strength and frailty, she is devoted, curious, and loves her family. She sees and encourages Asher’s gift, but this places her in the middle of the conflict between father and son.
• Anna Schaeffer, (40-45): Sophisticated, business savvy art gallery owner, who displays Asher’s art.

Rachel: (30): A model that poses for Asher.

THE MEN: (early 40’s – 60)
All “Men” are played by one actor; requires an actor of vast depth, imagination, humor and ability to transform.

• Aryeh Lev: age 40 – 60: He is passionate with tireless devotion to his faith. He works for the Rebbe, and frequently travels to Russia to save Jews from persecution. Aryeh doesn’t understand why his son creates art and suffers greatly by Asher’s inability to follow Hasidic traditions.
• Jacob Kahn: ages from 70-80: A highly successful artist who mentors Asher. As a Jew unconstrained by religion or society, he pushes Asher to discover his own artistic voice and path in life.
• The Rebbe: A wise, compassionate leader of the Ladover Hasidic Jews. He arranges for Asher to study with Jacob Khan.
• Yitzchok: Asher’s uncle who encourages his art

ABOUT THE SHOW:
MY NAME IS ASHER LEV
Written by Aaron Posner
adapted from the novel by Chaim Potok
Directed by Charley Shafor

Asher Lev tells his story in a series of flashbacks. He is a Ladover Hasidic Jew born with a great artistic talent. His sect of Judaism, however, does not believe that art is a worthwhile pursuit. When he begins to draw nudes and pictures of the Crucifixion, through the years, he has continued to argue with his parents about the nature and value of his work. They attend one of his shows in New York, but are horrified by the centerpiece of the exhibit: a painting of Jesus Christ.