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A Jewish Voice
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International theater conference draws
130 professionals froze every aspect of Jewish theater.
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Louis, Mo.-based New Jewish
Theatre,
presents four full produc-
Jewish ielegraphic Agency
tions annually at the city's Jewish
community center. Sitzer says she
here was a time when
seeks plays that "reflect the Jewish
every Jewish play was
experience and promote multicultur-
either about Yankele or
the Holocaust," according al understanding and tolerance."
However, even with a 75-year his-
to Deborah Baer Mozes, founder
tory and a subscriber base of 700
and artistic director of Theater Ariel,
patrons, Sitzer still struggles to create
Philadelphia's independent Jewish
an artistically and financially viable
theater.
product within a JCC setting, where
Not any more. Jewish theater has
resources are scarce and theaters are
seen tremendous growth in the past
generally expected to earn their
two decades, and that growth was
keep.
made clear at the Association for
"The challenge is that we are not the
Jewish Theatre (AJT) International
primary focus in an agency
Conference, held March 8-
whose focus is the whole
12 in Washington.
community," she says.
The event, sponsored by
Locally, the Jewish
the AJT, Washington's
Ensemble Theater (JET)
Theater J and the Center
is an independent organi-
Company of the Northern
zation that does not
Virginia Jewish Community
receive funding from
Center, brought together
either the JCC or the
130 people associated with
Jewish Federation of
Jewish theater.
Metropolitan Detroit, says
"Making Jewish theater
founder and artistic direc-
allows us to tap into the
"The in ternational tor Evelyn Orbach. In
most personal of identity
aspect [ of the
fact, she points out, JET
issues," says Ari Roth,
confere ncel was
pays rent to the JCC —
Theater J's artistic director.
a deligh t, as well
and that rent has more
The conference attracted
as enlig htening."
than doubled for next
artistic directors from San
year.
Francisco and Schenectady,
"When we started, I was con-
N.Y.; performers and directors from
cerned about censorship, but there
London and Austria; actors from
hasn't been any," Orbach says.
Vancouver; agents from New York
"They have never had anything to
and Los Angeles; JCC theater and
say about what we do — and I'm
cultural arts directors from a pletho-
planning some more controversial
ra of U.S. cities; and, most notably,
plays for next year."
a delegation of 14 playwrights,
JET'S subscription base has
directors and producers from Israel.
remained steady, at about 1,200, for
Together, they wrestled with the
the past few years. Meanwhile, in
"how to" questions: how to collabo-
rate; how to find the right balance of Atlanta, Mira Hirsch, artistic director
serious and light plays; how to devel- of the JCC-based Jewish Theatre of
the South, struggles to attract audi-
op audiences; how to survive in
ences to her professional produc-
tough political and economic times;
tions.
and how to bridge the cultural
"There's a misperception in the
divide between Diaspora and Israeli
Jewish community that we're doing
Jewry.
community theater. That is simply
In addition, Jewish playwrights
not the case. This is a professional
contributed staged readings of more
theater," she says.
than 40 new Jewish works.
William Hoffinger's Jewish Theatre
"Jewish theater globally is finally
of
Rapids remains an amateur
finding its voice," says Theater
community theater that performs for
Ariel's Mozes.
an audience that he estimates is 90
But there are still problems.
Kathleen Sitzer, who directs the St. JEWISH VOICE on page 75
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