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Mark Lit

Todd Sachse

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"SAJE, the annual Jewish Book Fair,
the Lenore Marwil Film Festival and the
Stephen Gottlieb MusicFest all have flour-
ished. Imagine what they will become
when presented in proper facilities.
"We have no place to teach theater or
music or dance to children," Lit added.
"We have no space for amateur produc-
tions. The Berman Theatre will be the
heartbeat of this agency."
JCC President Todd Sachse said, "This
is an incredible gift, and we're honored
and delighted that it will be located at
the Jewish Community Center. This the-
ater will open so many new possibilities
for arts, education and entertainment
throughout our community."
While a number of JCCs in the United
States include theaters, the Mandell and
Madeleine Berman Theatre will be the
largest and most technically advanced in
the county

"We have no place to
teach theater or music
or dance to children.
We have no space for
amateur productions.
The Berman Theatre
will be the heartbeat of
this agency."

- JCC's Mark Lit

More Funding
Total cost for the theater has not been
determined vet, said Andrew Echt, Jewish
Federation of Metropolitan Detroit's chief
financial resource development officer.
"We have received a very generous com-
mitment from Bill and Madge Berman to
build a first-rate theater and an important
cultural icon for community," he said. "It
will take additional dollars to complete
the project. The Federation and the JCC
will work together to raise the money
needed through a very-focused fundrais-
Community on page A14

Madge and

Bill Berman

at the Jewish
Community
Center in West

Bloomfield, where
the Mandell and

Madeleine Berman

Theatre will be
built

June 4 . 2009

A13