Right now there are only two ways to see the hit play “My Name is Asher Lev.” You can fly to New York or you can drive to 39th and Main in midtown to the Unicorn Theatre.

The Unicorn is under the artistic and executive leadership of Producing Artistic Director Cynthia Levin, who joined the company in 1980. Currently in her 34th season with the theater, Levin said theaters across the country are now clamoring for the rights to the hit play, but the producing rights have been “frozen” while it’s playing in New York.

However, Levin saw the play’s potential early and sought the rights to it about 18 months ago. That makes the Unicorn the first theater to do the play, other than off -roadway, anywhere in the country.

Described as powerful and moving, this story follows the journey of a young painter torn between his religious upbringing and his insatiable need to fulfill his artistic passion — against the will of his family, community and tradition. The Chronicle is one of the sponsors of this production.

A couple of things attracted Levin to the play.

“First, I always try to keep my eye out for a play that has some sort of Jewish theme. I just think that’s important and in my quest for cultural diversity that does include bringing Judaism to the midtown area, now that everybody’s left the area,” she said.

Levin had read the novel “My Name is Asher Lev” by Chaim Potok, who died in 2002. The author began his career as a novelist in 1967 with the publication of “The Chosen,” the first book from a major publisher to portray Orthodox Judaism in the United States. Throughout his writing career Potok continued to examine the conflict between secular and religious interests. Aaron Posner adapted the book, along with Potok’s widow, for the stage.

“I love the story. I love the book. I knew we had to do it here. I’ve been so excited and I’ve been waiting for years to get in rehearsal. There was no question about doing this play,” the Jewish director continued.

Levin said the play follows the book to a T.

“The only thing, of course, that happens in the play is that fewer things happen in the play. You have to condense in a 90-minute play and you have to condense this novel in theatrical terms. So we lose a lot of the background and a lot of depth that you get in the novel. But what’s great is that we can bring in all of that depth and character because we have living, breathing actors portraying this story,” she explained.

She said the play has a fascinating script.

“The dramatization of it is really exciting and interesting and very contemporary. You’re telling a story about Chasidism in the ’50s, which is pretty much based on the Lubavitch movement of Chasidism, but it’s done in such a new, vibrant, contemporary way. It’s a great mix of a story that took place 50 years ago but told in very new, modern terms,” she said.

The play takes place in what Levin explained was the height of abstract expressionism.

“We create the ’50s. We create this Jewish home. We create what an artist’s studio looks like,” she said.

As in the book, there are many passages where Asher speaks directly to the audience.

“He tells part of the story in between the dramatized scenes. He will speak as an adult, as the book does. We see Asher from age 6 to 26, so it’s very interesting and then he can step out of the character and also speak out about what he’s thinking in looking back on it and the retrospect that he has,” Levin said.

Levin said that all of the actors read the book while preparing for the production. Levin helped them research some of the themes in the play, including Chasidism and Orthodox Jewry. The actors even attended a service at BIAV.

“Plus all my ancestry is Russian, and Yiddish was spoken in my home, so I get to use everything in my religious and cultural background to bring to this play. We’ve done shows with Jewish themes before, but I’m not sure we’ve ever done a show that is this Jewish,” she said.

“It’s just so cool to be able to bring a little bit of Orthodox Jewish life to the stage and to Kansas City. It’s just not done very often.”

She praised BIAV’s Rabbi Daniel Rockoff and the assistance he has provided during the pre-production.

“Rabbi Rockoff was great. The actors got to meet with him and talk to him. Anything they needed, he’s been available,” she said.

Talk back performances, where patrons are encouraged to stay after the show and discuss the play with the actors and director, are scheduled for April 23, 28, and May 5. Rabbi Rockoff will participate in two, April 23 and April 28. These talk backs will also feature an art expert on stage with the cast, to foster the discussion of art and faith in society.

Levin hopes this play will appeal to the general community as well as the Jewish one. She said she finds it fascinating to turn people on to something that they haven’t known about before.

“I do plays about every diverse group I can think of. Whether it’s African-American or the women in Afghanistan or homosexuals or poor people, every sort of minority or disenfranchised group that we in Kansas City may not be a part of or we may not know about,” she explained.

“We hunger to know about people in our community. I have to believe that we do want to know about all of the people that make up our community. That’s important to me and I certainly know that that must be an interest to the thousands of people who come to The Unicorn because those are the kinds of shows that I do.”

Levin said a reception was recently held at the theater and those who attended got to see a scene from the play. Most of the attendees weren’t Jewish, and Levin said they were enthralled by it.

“They get to see something that they didn’t know. They get to hear a language that they didn’t know. I would stop and explain … I’m putting a glossary in the program so people can follow along. I think people will love it and I think people will be fascinated.”

‘My Name is Asher Lev’

“My Name is Asher Lev” plays on Unicorn Theatre’s Mainstage located at 3828 Main Street in Kansas City, Mo., through May 12. Previews are April 18 and 19. Opening Night is April 20.

Performances Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday are at 7:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m., and Sunday at 3 p.m.

For ticket information, call 816-531-PLAY (7529) Ext. 10, go online at www.UnicornTheatre.org or buy in person at the box office. Special discounts are available for seniors (60+), students and patrons under age 35.