Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre-Media Centre
“INDECENT is the tonic for anyone’s cynicism. It reminds me of why I love the theatre so much.” – Broadway World

From Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Paula Vogel comes a stunning play about one of the most shocking events in theatre history. Indecent tells the true story of the rise and explosive demise of the 1923 Broadway debut of Sholem Asch’s The God of Vengeance, where its producer and entire cast were arrested on the grounds of obscenity.
 
Asch’s play originated in Poland in 1907, and while criticized by his peers, it wowed audiences across Europe and in New York's Yiddish theatre scene. But when an English translation opens on Broadway, the play's inclusion of the first same-sex kiss on an American stage proves too scandalous for the public. Told through music, song, dance and comedy, Indecent is an arresting play about forbidden love, artistic censorship and the enduring power of theatre.


Sponsored by:
The Asper Foundation Gail Asper Family Foundation
Opening Night sponsor:



Cast & Crew

Production
Kelly Thornton photo
Kelly Thornton

Director

Director Kelly Thornton
Kelly Thornton photo

Kelly Thornton

Grace Hrabi photo
Grace Hrabi

Music Director

Music Director Grace Hrabi
Grace Hrabi photo

Grace Hrabi

Rachel Cooper photo
Rachel Cooper

Choreographer

Choreographer Rachel Cooper
Rachel Cooper photo

Rachel Cooper

Scott Penner photo
Scott Penner

Set Designer

Set Designer Scott Penner
Scott Penner photo

Scott Penner

Joseph Abetria photo
Joseph Abetria

Costume Designer

Costume Designer Joseph Abetria
Joseph Abetria photo

Joseph Abetria

Hugh Conacher photo
Hugh Conacher

Lighting Designer

Lighting Designer Hugh Conacher
Hugh Conacher photo

Hugh Conacher

Justin Stadnyk photo
Justin Stadnyk

Sound Designer

Sound Designer Justin Stadnyk
Justin Stadnyk photo

Justin Stadnyk

Carly Rackal photo
Carly Rackal

Intimacy Director

Intimacy Director Carly Rackal

Carly Rackal

Itai Zutra photo
Itai Zutra

Yiddish Language Consultant

Yiddish Language Consultant Itai Zutra
Itai Zutra photo

Itai Zutra

Cora Matheson photo
Cora Matheson

Assistant Director

Assistant Director Cora Matheson
Cora Matheson photo

Cora Matheson

Amelia Carlson photo
Amelia Carlson

Apprentice Costume Designer

Apprentice Costume Designer Amelia Carlson
Amelia Carlson photo

Amelia Carlson

Zahra Larche photo
Zahra Larche

Stage Manager

Stage Manager Zahra Larche
Zahra Larche photo

Zahra Larche

Angela Marshall photo
Angela Marshall

Assistant Stage Manager

Assistant Stage Manager Angela Marshall
Angela Marshall photo

Angela Marshall

Tia Morann photo
Tia Morann

Apprentice Stage Manager

Apprentice Stage Manager Tia Morann
Tia Morann photo

Tia Morann

Cast
Josh Bellan photo
Josh Bellan

The Ingenue, Avram

The Ingenue, Avram Josh Bellan
Josh Bellan photo

Josh Bellan

Mariam Bernstein photo
Mariam Bernstein

The Elder, Vera

The Elder, Vera Mariam Bernstein
Mariam Bernstein photo

Mariam Bernstein

Andrew Cecon photo
Andrew Cecon

The Middle, Mendel

The Middle, Mendel Andrew Cecon
Andrew Cecon photo

Andrew Cecon

Amy Lee photo
Amy Lee

The Middle, Halina

The Middle, Halina Amy Lee
Amy Lee photo

Amy Lee

Katherine Matlashewski photo
Katherine Matlashewski

The Ingenue, Chana

The Ingenue, Chana Katherine Matlashewski
Katherine Matlashewski photo

Katherine Matlashewski

Dov Mickelson photo
Dov Mickelson

The Elder, Otto

The Elder, Otto Dov Mickelson
Dov Mickelson photo

Dov Mickelson

Alex Poch Goldin photo
Alex Poch Goldin

The Stage Manager, Lemml

The Stage Manager, Lemml Alex Poch Goldin
Alex Poch Goldin photo

Alex Poch Goldin

Shiloh Hiebert photo
Shiloh Hiebert

Nelly Friedman, Violin

Nelly Friedman, Violin Shiloh Hiebert

Shiloh Hiebert

Myron Schultz photo
Myron Schultz

Mayer Balsam, Clarinet

Mayer Balsam, Clarinet Myron Schultz

Myron Schultz

Orit Shimoni photo
Orit Shimoni

Moriz Godowsky, Accordion

Moriz Godowsky, Accordion Orit Shimoni

Orit Shimoni

Loading ticket information
Production ID: 33951
Start Date: 2/12/2025 3:03:37 PM
End Date: 3/8/2025 3:03:51 PM
Title: Indecent
Playwright: By Paula Vogel
Billing: Directed by Kelly Thornton
Warnings:
Synopsis: “INDECENT is the tonic for anyone’s cynicism. It reminds me of why I love the theatre so much.” – Broadway World

From Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Paula Vogel comes a stunning play about one of the most shocking events in theatre history. Indecent tells the true story of the rise and explosive demise of the 1923 Broadway debut of Sholem Asch’s The God of Vengeance, where its producer and entire cast were arrested on the grounds of obscenity.
 
Asch’s play originated in Poland in 1907, and while criticized by his peers, it wowed audiences across Europe and in New York's Yiddish theatre scene. But when an English translation opens on Broadway, the play's inclusion of the first same-sex kiss on an American stage proves too scandalous for the public. Told through music, song, dance and comedy, Indecent is an arresting play about forbidden love, artistic censorship and the enduring power of theatre.
Facility: John Hirsch Mainstage
Alternate URL: https://royalmtc.ca/Current-Plays/Indecent.aspx
Play Image:
Word Mark: f6160b69-271e-4424-bf96-a635437e9f1c
Rotator Image: 784e352a-ffc9-4342-9fc6-c38114f26e32
Display Rotator From: 1/20/2025 9:00:00 AM
Display Rotator To: 3/8/2025 11:59:00 PM
 

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