ENTERTAINMENT All the World's a Jewish Stage MICHAEL ELKIN Special to The Jewish News udd Nelson, hot hip movie star and teen idol (From the Hip, The Breakfast Club), could have gone anywhere in the search for his next new project. Instead, he chose Temple. This off-Broadway production at a small, 99-seat theater, focusing on a radical youngster's search for his Judaic heritage, was a radical move for a young actor rooted in screenwork. Radical — but not unorthodox in the entertainment world. Melissa Gilbert, who grew up in front of televi- sion viewers' eyes as a resident of "Little House on the Prairie," has opted for new frontiers also, turning away from more lucrative television and screen work to star in A Shayna Maidel. Another off-Broadway play of Jewish interest, Maidel featured Gilbert as a young woman coming to terms with her family's Holocaust past. Ava Haddad, for three years a star of television's "One Life to Live," is living her life these days as Gilbert's replacement in the role of Rose. These three sought-after young Jewish actors are taking part in what is developing as one of the hottest trends on the American stage — Jewish theater. Eschewing more profitable parts, Nelson, Gilbert, Haddad and many others are profiting from a thriving theater that is exploring varied aspects of the American Jewish ex- eil I GOING PLACES WEEK OF DEC. 23-29 SPECIAL EVENTS HARLEM GLOBETROTTERS Joe Louis Arena, Wednesday, admission. 567-6000. GREAT LAKES INVITATIONAL HOCKEY TOURNAMENT Joe Louis Arena, Thursday and Dec. 30, admission. 567-6000. COMEDY COMEDY CASTLE 2593 Woodward, Berkley, Ibm McGillen, today; Roger Behr, Tuesday through Dec. 30, admission. 542-9900. Gordana Rashovich and Melissa Gilbert appear in Barbara Lebow's A Shayna Maidel at New York's Westside Arts Theater. One of the hottest trends in show business is Jewish theater perience: Holocaust survivors adap- ting to a new homeland and old memories; assimilation, Jewish self- defense against the onslaught of anti-Semitism. Temple, for example, tackled the seeming dichotomy of a young radical, hellbent on changing society, attemp- ting to preserve the traditions of his Judaic heritage. In their own attempt to preserve their identity and secure a future for themselves, more than 30 companies have banded together to form the Council of Jewish Theaters, coor- dinatd by the National Foundation for Jewish Culture. "In the past 1 1/2 years, activity has increased tremendously," says Andrea Morgan, council administrator. "It is a real phenomenon." But is this a true harbinger, an in- dication of a theater that can take root and survive alongside more secular theatrical styles? Or is this merely a trend, a fleeting fancy for a fickle theatergoing public? Interviews with dozens of actors, directors, playwrights, producers and scholars associated with Jewish theater reveal the consensus that a trend has, indeed, developed over the past few years. Where that trend leads, however, is cause for concern and argument on the part of many observers. And deciding who is responsible for the direction of American Jewish theater has many of those interviewed poin- ting fingers in different directions. While many praise a movement that has drawn attention to Jewish heritage, others rail against pro- ducers and audiences reluctant to risk provocative productions. Nearly all question a continued future without guaranteed subsidy. lb some, the curtain is going up; for others, it is about to come crashing down. But there is no doubt among those interviewed that American Jewish theater is currently at a critical stage. "This trend has been a long time coming," says Stanley Brechner, longtime force in the movement and artistic director of New York's American Jewish Theatre, where Temple was performed for a limited run this spring. "When I first started out, about 15 years ago," Brechner recalls, "there was not a single professional cultural endeavor that was specifical- ly Jewish in this country." In the intervening years, much has changed. "These are different times," says Braodway star and Jewish performer Mike Burstyn. "The stage reflects what many Jews are going through today: a search for significance in their lives, trying to reach the truths of their experience, to show their pride in what they are. "Big-name Jewish performers are keeping their real names, not chang- ing them to sound less Jewish. Among Jews, there is more of a need to represent what they really are to the world. "And, in many ways," adds Burstyn, "Jewish theater reflects just that, showing Jews that self-pride can be a beneficial thing while showing THEATER HILBERRY AND BONSTELLE THEATERS Wayne St. University, Detroit, Romeo and Juliet, now through Jan. 28; admission. 577-2972. VAN DYKE HOTEL 31800 Van Dyke, Warren, dinner theater, An Old-Fashioned Holiday Revue, Saturday, admission. 939-2860. GREENFIELD VILLAGE Dearborn, The Wizard of Oz, now through Dec. 30, admission. 271-1620. BIRMINGHAM THEATRE 211 S. Woodward, Birmingham, Stepping Out Dec 30through Feb. 5, admission. 644-3533. MUSIC DETROIT SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Ford Auditorium, Nutcracker, now through Dec 31, admission. 567-1400. ART SHOWS TROY ART GALLERY 755 W. Big Beaver, Troy, "Holiday time at Troy Art Gallery," with gifts of art available, now through Jan. 7. 362-0112. DETROIT INSTITUTE OF ARTS 5200 Woodward, "Sixteenth Century Tuscan drawings from the. Uffizi" now through Jan. 8; Andrew Wyeth: The Helga Pictures, now through Jan. 22; photographs by Frederick H. Evans, now through Feb. 12; `‘Ibrn Parish; Selected Paintings;' now through Feb. 19 832-2730. Continued on Page 70 THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS 59