My Name is Asher Lev: Ilana Levine to join cast

Ilana Levine will join the cast of My Name is Asher Lev beginning 26 Feb 2013. Levine replaces Jenny Bacon, who plays her final performance in the show on 23 Feb 2013.

Levine is best known to theater audiences for her role of 'Lucy Van Pelt' opposite Kristin Chenoweth and Anthony Rapp in the Broadway revival of 'You're A Good Man Charlie Brown.'

Director Gordon Edelstein said,

"I am extremely excited that Ilana Levine is joining Asher Lev as I have admired her work on stage and on screen for a long time We all thank Jenny Bacon for her amazing contribution to the show and we are in excellent hands with Ilana."

The show opened to mostly excellent reviews: Warm, worthwhile and well-acted (NY Daily News); Intense and heartfelt (Back Stage); A thoroughly satisfying production (Newsroom Jersey).

Set in post-war Brooklyn, My Name is Asher Lev tells the story of Asher Lev, a boy prodigy who must paint at any cost - against the will of family, community and tradition.

Directed by the Long Wharf Theater's artistic director Gordon Edelstein, the cast currently features Ari Brand, who is reprising the role of 'Asher Lev,' which he first portrayed in the Long Wharf production, Mark Nelson as 'Aryeh Lev' and Jenny Bacon as 'Rivkeh Lev.'

The creative team includes set design by Eugene Lee, lighting design by James F. Ingalls, costume design by Ilona Somogyi and original music/sound design by John Gromada.

The play's New York premiere follows an engagement at the Long Wharf Theatre earlier in 2012.