Metro
JET Makes Appeal
Theater company needs to raise
$25,000 to stay even.
Suzanne Chessler
Special to the Jewish Jews
W
ith the economic down-
town, arts organizations
are dealing with falling
revenue, and the Jewish Ensemble
Theatre (JET) is no exception.
In the middle of the 2008-2009
season, the best ever in reviews, JET
faces a decline in both single ticket
sales and donations and needs to raise
$25,000 before the end of January to
keep out of debt.
The theater company is looking to
the Jewish community for additional
help.
To save money, administrators
already have postponed one produc-
tion, moved young people's plays from
the Detroit Institute of Arts to the
Jewish Community Center in West
Bloomfield and conducted an emer-
gency phone fundraiser.
"We know we have to deal with the
times, and we've pulled in our belts:'
says Evelyn Orbach, artistic direc-
tor, who launched JET 20 years ago.
"Unfortunately, even with our budget
adjustments and fundraising pro-
grams, we are falling short:"
JET is moving ahead with the
production of Two by Two, a family
musical comedy about Noah planned
to attract audiences over the holiday
season. Also on the schedule are The
Diary of Anne Frank, a young peo-
ple's production aimed at students but
open to the community, and Halpern
and Johnson, a relationship play.
Collected Stories by Donald
Margulies has been set aside for this
year.
Directors and committee mem-
bers, who raised $14,000 during the
phone fundraiser, are maintaining
strong support and outreach for JET.
This year's state funding was $16,000,
down from a previous funding level of
$22,000.
"I believe in promoting cultural
interests through theater, and I think
the world becomes a better place
when plays inspire young people by
addressing ethical issues:' says Joel
Dorfman, a Bloomfield Hills busi-
nessman who serves as JET board
"We know we have
to deal with the
times, and we've
pulled in our belts.
Unfortunately,
even with our
budget adjustments
and fundraising
programs, we are
falling short."
-
Evelyn Orbach
president and offers financial sup-
port through the Dorfman Family
Philanthropic Fund.
"The play Mean Girls deals with
bullying, while the play Shades of
Gray explores how teens relate to the
elderly. When my own children were
younger, they saw the plays for youth,
and we discussed them at home
Kitty Dubin, who teaches playwrit-
ing at Oakland University and serves
as JET's playwright-in-residence, has
had five of her own scripts produced
by JET. A number of her projects have
JET on page A18
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Street of West Bloomfield, it has
felt like home. The staff is kind
and they are experts at what they
do." - Resident Bea Paul
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December 11 • 2008
A17