Metro
Restaging
Seeking a "new direction," JET board parts way with its founding artistic director.
Bill Carroll
Special to the Jewish News
Park, which describes white flight to the
suburbs and integration in the 1950s
time period. There are 10 characters in
the play, making it a costly production;
but we could share the cost with an
urban theater so that [the play] could
be seen by [both] urban and suburban
audiences that don't want to travel far
[from home].
JET is now negotiating a partner-
ship production of Palmer Park with a
Detroit theater.
"These discussions could lead to an
important evolution for JET and our
future growth:' said Dorfman.
Palmer Park, by former Detroiter
Johanna Glass, won acclaim at the
Stratford (Ontario) Festival last year
and is on JET's schedule for next April/
May.
ust weeks after the curtain
fell on the Jewish Ensemble
Theatre's 20th season, Evelyn
Orbach, its founder and longtime artis-
tic director, has also .exited the stage.
Expanding on a press release, JET
Chairman Joel Dorfman of Bloomfield
Hills told the Jewish News that Orbach
was dismissed by the board because
we wanted to take JET in a new direc-
tion, and we felt we couldn't go in a
new direction with Evelyn Orbach still
there."
Orbach, reached by the Jewish News
at a Jewish theater conference in New
York, confirmed that she is no longer
with the West Bloomfield-based theater,
but added: "I am not
Interim
retiring."
Replacement
She declined fur-
Dorfman
said a new
ther comment at this
artistic director has
time.
not been named to
Some of JET's
replace Orbach. JET
15 board mem-
Managing Director
bers would only
Christopher Bremer
discuss the situa-
will serve in both
tion off the record;
roles until a new
others declined
artistic director is
to talk about it at
appointed. Bremer,
all. Orbach, who
of Warren, who isn't
also had acting
Jewish, said, "I per-
and directing roles
- Joel Dorfman, board chairman sonally feel a Jewish
in many JET pro-
theater's artistic
ductions, had no
director should be
contract with the
Jewish. That's the best way to present
theater.
what the Jewish community wants to
see. The board made the decision on
Board Response
"There have been a lot of rumors in the Evelyn, and JET now enters a new phase
of its existence."
Jewish community about this, and we
Bremer, a 10-year JET employee, said
wanted to dispel them with the news
release:' said Dorfman. "Suffice it to say the theater "would not have gotten to
where it is now without Evelyn Orbach.
that JET is moving forward and plans
It was her tenacity, desire and deter-
for the 2009-2010 season, our 21st, are
mination that brought JET through 20
in place. Subscription sales are going
years. We want to thank her for all the
well for this time of year; and produc-
tion work on the main-stage season, the work she did. Personally, she has been
my mentor; and I learned a lot from her
staged readings and our outreach pro-
during my time at JET."
gram are right on schedule!'
Bremer and Dorfman agreed that JET
Asked to explain what he means by
has a deficit now, "but it's a manageable
"new direction:' Dorfman said, "For
deficit:' said Dorfman. "We're asking the
example, we want to partner with other
community to help us out by planning
theaters for some new productions like
the first Detroit-area showing of Palmer to buy tickets for next season, especially
j
"
"Suffice it to say
that JET is moving
forward, and plans
for the 2009-2010
season, our 21st, are
in place."
A20 June 18 • 2009
subscriptions. And we would appreciate
any outright donations to help keep us
going." JET has nonprofit status.
Bremer pointed out that average
ticket sales per show were $12,500 last
season, compared to $25,000 the year
before. "That's a drop of exactly .half,
and it can be attributed almost entirely
to the poor economy:' he said. "We cut
prices and tried all kinds of promotions
last season, but we're still suffering a
deficit. As a result, we've cut staff pay
and made other cost-cutting changes!'
Curtain Call
Dorfman became involved with JET
in 1995 when his former company,
Thornapple Valley, sponsored the the-
ater's outreach program. He then joined
Evelyn Orbach
the board of directors and moved up to
the chairmanship two years ago. "I don't
Down The Road
want to focus on the negative he said. "I
Dorfman added that JET looks forward
want to emphasize the great new shows
to completion of the new Mandell L. and
we have planned for the new season!'
Madeleine Berman Theatre announced
JET'S four-production season — one
recently for the Jewish Community
less than usual — will open Oct. 13 with
Center in West Bloomfield, expected to
The Blank Page by local playwright Kitty
be finished by the summer of 2010.
Dubin, directed by renowned British
"That would be a great venue for a
director Gillian Eaton. The Big Bang, a
few of our shows each year, especially
musical by Jed Feur and Boyd Graham
musicals:' Dorfman pointed out.
about two would-be Broadway producers
Bremer said the Berman Theatre
trying to promote a new musical to an
"holds
great potential for JET because
audience of potential backers, will follow
we finally could
in December/January.
stage family shows
The Foreigner by
that
are appropriate
Shue
takes
the
Larry
for children — and
stage in January/
have enough room
February. Palmer Park
to include them."
is the season finale.
The Aaron DeRoy
JET's 2009-2010
Theatre for cur-
season also includes
rent JET shows has
the Ethel S. and
only 173 seats; the
Seymour J. Frank
Berman Theatre
Festival of New
is planned for 400
Plays, which is a col-
seats. "We're defi-
lection of four staged
nitely moving in a
readings; the annual
new direction in
production of The
all respects, said
Diary of Anne Frank;
Bremer!'
- Christopher B remer, managing director
and outreach tour-
Added JET board
ing shows. Last year,
member
Sue
Curtis
of
West
Bloomfield:
nearly 35,000 pre-teens and teens par-
"Evelyn
made
some
incredible
accom-
ticipated in the outreach program.
plishments for JET; but we're now going
All of the shows in the new season
forward, and I'm excited about the
were arranged by Orbach, "but that's
future.
not to say we couldn't make any chang-
es," said Dorfman.
"It was her
tenacity, desire and
determination that
brought JET through
20 years. We want to
thank her for all the
work she did.