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news media, venting his anger over
the budget cuts.
Referring to the state, he pointed
out that "the time has come to put
your money where your mouth is, and
cutting the funding to arts cries of
hypocrisy."
Bremer says the article "just stuck
in my craw; the reasoning doesn't
make sense." In his letter, he cites
the huge budgets of the Detroit
Symphony Orchestra, the Detroit
Institute of Arts and Henry Ford
Museum, and the thousands of dol-
lars that even JET, "a small anchor
arts organization with six full-time
employees:' pumps into the commu-
nity while producing an average play.
This money includes close
to $300,000 in salaries "for
Michiganders (the actors) who live,
spend and pay taxes in Michigan:'
$15,000 for printing costs, $7,000 for
credit card services, $6,000 for the
phone company, $4,800 for insurance
and other expenses.
"I figure that for every $1 we spend,
it produces another $10-$20 in return
for the area's economy, including such
things as restaurant revenue for peo-
ple going out to eat before the show,
gas to get here and so on:' Bremer
reasons. "I believe state officials had
some inkling of a pending budget cri-
sis. If they would have warned us and
discussed it with us, we could have
readjusted our plans and forecasts!'
The letter added: "Our state gov-
ernment ... lauds their 'Cool Cities'
project, which places arts and cul-
ture as the centerpiece of our state's
revival. We have been told ... we must
lure more outstanding companies to
relocate in the state. The quality of
life in society is directly proportional
to the arts and culture available for
consumption."
With a $750,000 JET annual budget,
the $13,000 shortfall would cover six
weeks of operation. Bremer is consid-
ering a staff layoff for at least a month
to help alleviate the deficit. There
usually are one- or two-week layoffs
each summer during the production
hiatus.
JET received $25,000 in donations
from DaimlerChrysler and Masco for
the past season, and Orbach is hoping
for continued corporate contributions
for next season.
"I hope the state cuts are not
reflected in our donor base fears
Orbach, who co-founded JET in 1989.
"In order to combat the cuts, we need
more and more people in the commu-
nity who value the theater enough to
provide us with additional financial
support.
"The moral of An Inspector Calls
is that we do not live alone. We're
not isolated; we're all connected and
should be responsible for our actions.
The same applies to the current
financial situation."
Orbach is moving ahead with
JET's plans for the 19th season, even
increasing the list from five to six
shows, including two musicals: a
reprise of the highly successful Hello
Muddah, Hello Fadduh! (a non-sub-
scription offering) and Neil Simon's
They're Playing Our Song. "My philos-
ophy is that it's always better to have
the theater light than dark;' she says.
ArtServe Michigan, an organiza-
tion with many Jewish members that
helps build awareness of the arts in
the state, also would be hampered by
the grants freeze and budget cuts. The
Southfield-based group stands to lose
$86,000 of its $134,000 state stipend,
according to ArtServe's new president
and CEO, Neeta Delaney.
"We may have to lay off some staff
and cut school educational programs
and some awards programs:' she says.
Delaney, of Jackson, formerly the
dean of continuing education at
Eastern Michigan University, replaced
Barbara (Bunny) Kratchman, who
retired after 10 years in the top post,
although she will remain as a part-
time consultant to the group.
ArtServe, which also receives pri-
vate donations, spearheaded a rally
in Lansing last month that drew
several hundred arts lovers who want
the freeze lifted, no more cuts in
2007 and $1 million more in grants
next year. Delaney pointed to a study
that shows the arts supports about
100,000 jobs in Michigan and gener-
ates nearly $2 billion annually in the
state economy
"People forget that the arts is an
industry:' she says. II
The Jewish Ensemble Theatre
will hold its first People's Choice
Awards fundraiser at 6:30 p.m.
Monday, May 21, at Bentley's
Restaurant, Drake and Walnut
Lake roads, in West Bloomfield.
Following a gala dinner, results
of voting by theatergoers will
be announced on the best play
and actors of JET's 2006-2007
season. Cost is $75 person. For
information, call the JET office
(248) 788-2900.
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