Indecent by Paula Vogel

Indecent play poster

Drama

September 22 – November 5, 2022

Tickets: $15 – $100

Est. run time: 1 hr, 50 mins. No intermission.

Closed November 5, 2022
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Audience (549 Reviews): 4.83

4.8

Indecent

Item: Indecent
Rating: 4.8
Author: San Francisco Playhouse

By Paula Vogel

Directed by Susi Damilano

Music Direction by Dmitri Gaskin

Choreography by Nicole Helfer

Co-produced with Yiddish Theatre Ensemble

Top rating! “Director Susi Damilano shapes the whole shebang with sensitivity and savvy … Indecent gives so many gifts.” San Francisco Chronicle

“Prepare for one of the most theatrical, thrilling, joyous, heartbreaking, illuminating, important plays you are likely to see this — or any other — year. Yes, yes, yes!” Talkin’ Broadway

“Remarkable! Brilliantly performed by seven actors playing 46 different roles.” East Bay Times

“Indecent soars with poignant imagery, gut-wrenching emotion, and thrilling performances.” Broadway World

“Marvelously compelling …Indecent is the kind of play that sticks with you long after you leave the theater” The Mercury News

PLAY DETAILS

Indecent is based on the real-life events surrounding the scandalous Broadway debut of Sholem Asch’s ‘God of Vengeance,’ considered to be a seminal work of Yiddish theatre by some, and a piece of traitorous libel by others. With a klezmer-infused score and filled with joyous songs and dances, this play charts the history of that incendiary work, the artists who risked their careers and lives to perform it, and the evolving identity of the culturally rich community that inspired its creation. Co-Produced with Yiddish Theatre Ensemble.

PRODUCTION PHOTOS

Lemml (Dean Linnard*, center) introduces the troupe (L-R): Mayer Balsam (Matthew Stein), on violin , Nelly Friedman (Audrey Jackson), on clarinet, Halina (Rivka Borek*), Mendel (Ted Zoldan), Chana (Malka Wallick*), Avram (Billy Cohen*), Moriz Godowsky (Dmitri Gaskin), on accordion, Otto (Victor Talmadge*), and Vera (Rachel Botchan*). Production photography by Jessica Palopoli for 'Indecent' by Paula Vogel at San Francisco Playhouse.

Matthew Stein (left) as Mayer Balsam, on violin, and Audrey Jackson (right) as Nelly Friedman, on clarinet, in 'Indecent' by Paula Vogel at San Francisco Playhouse. Production photography by Jessica Palopoli.

The troupe breaks into joyous klezmer song and dance (L-R): Lemml (Dean Linnard*), Halina (Rivka Borek*), Mayer Balsam (Matthew Stein), on violin, Avram (Billy Cohen*), Vera (Rachel Botchan*), Otto (Victor Talmadge*), Moriz Godowsky (Dmitri Gaskin), on accordion, and Chana (Malka Wallick*). Production photography by Jessica Palopoli for 'Indecent' by Paula Vogel at San Francisco Playhouse.

Sholem Asch, played by Avram (Billy Cohen*), waits on his wife Madje Asch, played by Chana (Malka Wallick*) to read the last page of his play, 'The God of Vengeance.' Production photography by Jessica Palopoli for 'Indecent' by Paula Vogel at San Francisco Playhouse.

Halina (Rivka Borek*) takes the violin from Mayer Balsam (Matthew Stein, left). Production photography by Jessica Palopoli for 'Indecent' by Paula Vogel at San Francisco Playhouse.

The musicians of 'Indecent' (L-R): Audrey Jackson as Nelly Friedman, on clarinet, Matthew Stein as Mayer Balsam, on violin, and Dmitri Gaskin as Moriz Godowsky, on accordion. Production photography by Jessica Palopoli for 'Indecent' by Paula Vogel at San Francisco Playhouse.

The troupe recreates the first reading of Sholem Asch's 'The God of Vengeance': Asch, played by Avram (Billy Cohen*, right) passionately presents his play to Nakhmen, played by Mendel (Ted Zoldan, left), for the first time. Production photography by Jessica Palopoli for 'Indecent' by Paula Vogel at San Francisco Playhouse.

The troupe recreates the first reading of Sholem Asch's 'The God of Vengeance' (L-R): Nakhmen, played by Mendel (Ted Zoldan), Lemml, as himself (Dean Linnard*), and Peretz, played by Otto (Victor Talmadge*), all bear witness to Sholem Asch's genius writing. Production photography by Jessica Palopoli for 'Indecent' by Paula Vogel at San Francisco Playhouse.

Dmitri Gaskin (left) as Moriz Godowsky, on accordion, and Matthew Stein (right) as Mayer Balsam, on violin, in 'Indecent' by Paula Vogel at San Francisco Playhouse. Production photography by Jessica Palopoli.

The troupe performs 'The God of Vengeance' in Berlin (L-R): Vera (Rachel Botchan*) plays Sarah, Otto (Victor Talmadge*) plays Yekel, and Chana (Malka Wallick*) plays Rifkele in this 'play within a play.' Production photography by Jessica Palopoli for 'Indecent' by Paula Vogel at San Francisco Playhouse.

Vera (Rachel Botchan*, front left), playing Sarah, and Chana (Malka Wallick*, right), playing Rifkele, perform the last moments of 'The God of Vengeance' in Berlin, St. Petersburg, Constantinople, and Bratislava, as troupe members Halina (Rivka Borek*) and Avram (Billy Cohen*) watch from the wings. Production photography by Jessica Palopoli for 'Indecent' by Paula Vogel at San Francisco Playhouse.

The troupe makes its long journey to America (L-R): Halina (Rivka Borek*), Mayer Balsam (Matthew Stein), on violin, Vera (Rachel Botchan*), Lemml (Dean Linnard*), Moriz Godowsky (Dmitri Gaskin), on accordion, and Mendel (Ted Zoldan). Production photography by Jessica Palopoli for 'Indecent' by Paula Vogel at San Francisco Playhouse.

After the troupe made it through the grueling process at Ellis Island, they line up as Chassidim and sing, as they celebrate their entry into America (L-R): Vera (Rachel Botchan*), Chana (Malka Wallick*), and Mendel (Ted Zoldan). Production photography by Jessica Palopoli for 'Indecent' by Paula Vogel at San Francisco Playhouse.

After arriving at Ellis Island, the troupe celebrates their entry into America (L-R): Vera (Rachel Botchan*), Otto (Victor Talmadge*), Lemml (Dean Linnard*), Chana (Malka Wallick*), Halina (Rivka Borek*), Avram (Billy Cohen*), and Mendel (Ted Zoldan). Production photography by Jessica Palopoli for 'Indecent' by Paula Vogel at San Francisco Playhouse.

Chana as Virginia McFadden (Malka Wallick*, left), Lemml as Lou (Dean Linnard*, second from the left), Otto as Schildkraut (Victor Talmadge*, third from right), Avram as Moriz Carnovsky (Billy Cohen*, second from right), and Vera as Esther Stockton (Rachel Botchan*, right) assemble for a full company meeting with producer Harry Weinberger, played by Mendel (Ted Zoldan, center). 'Indecent' by Paula Vogel at San Francisco Playhouse.

The troupe tells the story of the arrests of the cast and producer following the Opening Night of 'The God of Vengeance' on Broadway: Dorothee Nelson, played by Halina (Rivka Borek*, left), is surprised to see Reina, played by Chana (Malka Wallick*, right), after her night in jail. Production photography by Jessica Palopoli for 'Indecent' by Paula Vogel at San Francisco Playhouse.

Lemml, as himself (Dean Linnard*), recalls watching the sun rise over Staten Island as he prepares his final goodbyes before his return to Poland. Production photography by Jessica Palopoli for 'Indecent' by Paula Vogel at San Francisco Playhouse.

The troupe recreates a meeting between Lemml and Asch: Lemml, as himself (Dean Linnard*, right) confronts Asch, played by Avram (Billy Cohen*), about the cuts made to 'The God of Vengeance' and bids him farewell. Production photography by Jessica Palopoli for 'Indecent' by Paula Vogel at San Francisco Playhouse.

The troupe performs Act Two of 'The God of Vengeance' in an attic they transformed into a stage: Manke, played by Halina (Rivka Borek*, left) gets close to Rifkele, played by Chana (Malka Wallick*, right). Troupe member Avram (Billy Cohen*) watches them perform. Production photography by Jessica Palopoli for 'Indecent' by Paula Vogel at San Francisco Playhouse.

Troupe members (L-R) Moriz Godowsky (Dmitri Gaskin), Otto (Victor Talmadge*), Lemml (Dean Linnard*), Mendel (Ted Zoldan), Avram (Billy Cohen*), stand in line. Lemml envisions Rifkele, played by Chana (Malka Wallick*, center left) and Manke, played by Halina (Rivka Borek*, center right), bursting out of the line and escaping. Production photography by Jessica Palopoli for 'Indecent' by Paula Vogel at San Francisco Playhouse.

Manke, played by Halina (Rivka Borek*, left) and Rifkele, played by Chana (Malka Wallick*, right) embrace the rain in the legendary "rain scene" of Sholem Asch's 'The God of Vengeance', the play within the play, as Lemml (Dean Linnard*) and Mendel (Ted Zoldan) look on. Production photography by Jessica Palopoli for 'Indecent' by Paula Vogel at San Francisco Playhouse.

Halina as Manke (Rivka Borek*, left) and Chana as Rifkele (Malka Wallick*, right) and embrace each other in the rain in the legendary "rain scene" of Sholem Asch's 'The God of Vengeance', the play within the play, as the rest of the troupe looks on (background, L-R): Otto (Victor Talmadge*), Lemml (Dean Linnard*), Mendel (Ted Zoldan), Avram (Billy Cohen*), and Vera (Rachel Botchan*). Production photography by Jessica Palopoli for 'Indecent' by Paula Vogel at San Francisco Playhouse.

Halina as Manke (Rivka Borek*, left) and Chana as Rifkele (Malka Wallick*, right) kiss in the rain in the legendary "rain scene" of Sholem Asch's 'The God of Vengeance', the play within the play, as Otto (Victor Talmadge*) and Mendel (Ted Zoldan) look on. Production photography by Jessica Palopoli for 'Indecent' by Paula Vogel at San Francisco Playhouse.

The actors and musicians of 'Indecent' by Paula Vogel at San Francisco Playhouse: (sitting, L-R) Rivka Borek*, Malka Wallick*, Rachel Botchan*, and (standing, L-R) Dean Linnard*, Billy Cohen*, Ted Zoldan, Dmitri Gaskin, Victor Talmadge*, Audrey Jackson, and Matthew Stein.

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Rivka Borek*
Halina, the Middle
Rachel Botchan*
Vera, the Elder, Dance Captain
Billy Cohen*
Avram, the Ingénue
Dean Linnard*
Lemml, the Stage Manager
Victor Talmadge*
Otto, the Elder
Malka Wallick*
Chana, the Ingénue
Ted Zoldan
Mendel, the Middle
Gabriella Goldstein
UNDERSTUDY: Halina, the Middle
Rebekah Kouy-Ghadosh
UNDERSTUDY: Vera, the Elder
David Schiller
UNDERSTUDY: Lemml, the Stage Manager
Dan Schwager
UNDERSTUDY: Otto, the Elder
Lena Sibony
UNDERSTUDY: Chana, the Ingénue
Matt Standley
UNDERSTUDY: Mendel, the Middle
Simon Winheld
UNDERSTUDY: Avram, the Ingénue

THE MUSICIANS

Dmitri Gaskin

Moriz Godowsky, on Accordion
Audrey Jackson
Nelly Friedman, on Clarinet
Matthew Stein

Mayer Balsam, on Violin
Marco Ghezzo
U/S: Mayer Balsam, on Violin
Travis W. Hendrix

U/S: Nelly Friedman, on Clarinet
Jonathan Kipp

U/S: Moriz Godowsky, on Accordion

THE CREATIVE TEAM

Paula Vogel
PLAYWRIGHT
Susi Damilano
DIRECTOR, FOUNDER, PRODUCING DIRECTOR
Dmitri Gaskin
MUSIC DIRECTOR
Nicole Helfer
CHOREOGRAPHER
Richard Olmsted
SCENIC DESIGNER
Sarah Nietfeld
COSTUME DESIGNER
Wen-Ling Liao
LIGHTING DESIGNER
James Ard
SOUND DESIGNER
Sarah Phykitt
PROJECTIONS DESIGNER
Wallace Ming Yan
PROPERTIES DESIGNER
Dori L. Jacob, CSA, Casting Collective
CASTING DIRECTOR
Bruce Bierman
DRAMATURG, YIDDISH DANCE AND THEATRE CONSULTANT
Kimberly Mohne Hill
DIALECT COACH
Rachel Botchan
YIDDISH CONSULTANT
Jake Krakovsky
YIDDISH TRANSLATOR
Elena Wright
INTIMACY AND FIGHT DIRECTOR
Colleen Lacy*
STAGE MANAGER, FIGHT CAPTAIN
Michaela Creedon
ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER
Bryan P. Clements
PRODUCTION ASSISTANT
Charis Lam
REHEARSAL ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER

ABOUT THE PLAYWRIGHT

PAULA VOGEL Paula Vogel is a Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright whose plays are produced throughout the world. Indecent opened on Broadway in April 2017 and was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Play. How I Learned to Drive received the Pulitzer Prize, Lortel Prize, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, and New York Drama Critics awards for Best Play, and her second OBIE Award. Other plays include The Long Christmas Ride Home, The Mineola Twins, The Baltimore Waltz, Hot ‘N’ Throbbing, Desdemona, And Baby Makes Seven, The Oldest Profession, A Civil War Christmas, and Don Juan Comes Home from Iraq. Most recent awards include the American Theater Hall of Fame Award, the Dramatists Guild Lifetime Achievement Award, the Lillys, the Thornton Wilder Prize, the OBIE Award for Lifetime Achievement, and the NY Drama Critics’ Circle Award. She is honored to have three awards dedicated to emerging playwrights in her name: the American College Theater Festival, the Paula Vogel Award given annually by the Vineyard Theatre, and the recent Paula Vogel mentor’s award by Young Playwrights of Philadelphia. Her plays are published in six volumes by TCG Press and she teaches playwriting workshops throughout the United States and abroad. For more, please visit www.paulavogelplaywright.com

PARTNERS

San Francisco Playhouse | 450 Post St. Floor 2M, San Francisco CA 94102 | (415) 677-9596

Indecent by Paula Vogel

Drama

September 22 – November 5, 2022

Tickets: $15 – $100

Indecent

By Paula Vogel

Directed by Susi Damilano

Music Direction by Dmitri Gaskin

Choreography by Nicole Helfer

Co-produced with Yiddish Theatre Ensemble

PLAY DETAILS

PRODUCTION PHOTOS

THE CAST

Halina, the Middle

Vera, the Elder, Dance Captain

Avram, the Ingénue

Lemml, the Stage Manager

Otto, the Elder

Chana, the Ingénue

Mendel, the Middle

UNDERSTUDY: Halina, the Middle

UNDERSTUDY: Vera, the Elder

UNDERSTUDY: Lemml, the Stage Manager

UNDERSTUDY: Otto, the Elder

UNDERSTUDY: Chana, the Ingénue

UNDERSTUDY: Mendel, the Middle

UNDERSTUDY: Avram, the Ingénue

THE MUSICIANS

Moriz Godowsky, on Accordion

Nelly Friedman, on Clarinet

Mayer Balsam, on Violin

U/S: Mayer Balsam, on Violin

U/S: Nelly Friedman, on Clarinet

U/S: Moriz Godowsky, on Accordion

THE CREATIVE TEAM

PLAYWRIGHT

DIRECTOR, FOUNDER, PRODUCING DIRECTOR

MUSIC DIRECTOR

CHOREOGRAPHER

SCENIC DESIGNER

COSTUME DESIGNER

LIGHTING DESIGNER

SOUND DESIGNER

PROJECTIONS DESIGNER

PROPERTIES DESIGNER

CASTING DIRECTOR

DRAMATURG, YIDDISH DANCE AND THEATRE CONSULTANT

DIALECT COACH

YIDDISH CONSULTANT

YIDDISH TRANSLATOR

INTIMACY AND FIGHT DIRECTOR

STAGE MANAGER, FIGHT CAPTAIN

ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER

PRODUCTION ASSISTANT

REHEARSAL ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER

ABOUT THE PLAYWRIGHT

PARTNERS

San Francisco Playhouse