When Rabbi Chaim Potok wrote the novel My Name Is Asher Lev in 1972, he was telling a story that was largely autobiographical. Like the Hasidic hero of his novel, Potok struggled with the conflict between artistic expression and his ultraconservative Jewish upbringing. Potok's famous painting, Brooklyn Crucifixion, is described as Asher's work in the novel. Aaron Posner's stage version debuted two years ago in Philadelphia and became an instant favorite of Lakewood Playhouse Managing Artistic Director Marcus Walker, himself a Baptist minister.

The Puget Sound version debuted at the Broadway Center in Tacoma, where I saw it two weeks ago.

Read my full review of the show here.

My Name Is Asher Lev

Through March 20, Friday-Saturday 8 p.m., Sunday 2 p.m.
$21.50-$27.50
Lakewood Playhouse
5729 Lakewood Towne Center Blvd., Lakewood
253.588.0042