Off Broadway Welcomes 'Old Jews Telling Jokes' March 12, 2012, 4:55 pm One would be hard pressed to find a more honestly titled theater production than "Old Jews Telling Jokes," an new Off Broadway show that promises to reinvent classic Jewish jokes and perform them on stage. Co-created by the authors Peter Gethers and Daniel Okrent and directed by Marc Bruni ("Fanny"), the project is inspired by the Web site oldjewstellingjokes.com which, true to its name, hosts videos of older Jewish raconteurs telling some of their favorite jokes. In a telephone interview, Mr. Okrent explained how the concept behind the site became a stage production. Mr. Gethers had the notion of an Off Off Broadway show that was a cabaret act. That idea evolved into its current, and more theatrical, form in which Broadway actors will perform the jokes, complete with costumes. "It is a real set and like all good Jewish operations the furniture will have plastic slipcovers," Mr. Okrent said. It's not standup. We've taken jokes and turned them into little playlets. The show will also feature songs - old and new - and pay tribute to comedy giants of the past and present. Previews are to begin on May 1, with an opening scheduled for May 20 at the Westside Theater. Casting has not been announced.