'Old Jews' set off Broadway

Website-inspired Off Broadway play "Old Jews Telling Jokes" will bow Off Broadway within an open-ended commercial run that begins in May. Co-produced by Peter Gethers, the scribe-editor and Random House Films prexy, and journo Daniel Okrent, "Old Jews" is really a five-thesp revue of jokes and tunes both old and new. Marc Bruni, helmer from the approaching Encores! staging of "Fantasy," directs. According to website OldJewsTellingJokes.com, the show hits Off Broadway inside a production backed by Tom Viertel, Marc Routh, Richard Frankel and Steven Baruch, producers from the approaching Rialto tuner "Leap of Belief" in addition to past excursions "Just A Little Evening Music," "Company" and "Sweeney Todd," amongst others. Cast has not yet been introduced for "Old Jews," which starts previews May 1 in front of a May 20 opening at Off Broadway's Westside Theater. Contact Gordon Cox at gordon.cox@variety.com