Metro

AROUND TOWN

JETting Onward

Jewish Ensemble Theatre supporters look to the future amid tough economic times.

Don Benyas and Florine Mark of Farmington Hills

Guy and Nora Barron of Bloomfield Hills and Bill and

Susan Winer of Chicago, Melba Winer of West

Madge Berman of Franklin

Bloomfield, and Jan Winer of Los Angeles

T

he curtain went up this week on the world premiere of Kitty Dubin's newest
play The Blank Page, the story of a creative writing professor's struggle to fin-
ish a novel, at the Jewish Ensemble Theatre. Its an appropriate title as the JET
works to write the next chapter in its own future.
The 21-year-old professional Equity theatre based at the Jewish Community Center in
West Bloomfield is in a state of flux. A search is under way for a
new artistic director after the JET and founding artistic director,
Evelyn Orbach, parted ways several months ago. And there's
been more drama. In recent years, hefty state budget cuts, layoffs
and box office losses have made for some difficult times. But the
JET is still moving forward.
"We ended the year brutally last year — there's no question we
had a huge loss',' said JET acting artistic director and managing
director Christopher Bremer of Warren. "But we were able to
make it a manageable loss so we're able to keep our doors open"
More than 180 JET supporters gathered at the Farmington Hills
home of Florine Mark on Oct. 6 for the theater's annual "Behind the
Scenes Gala" fundraiser. The event included cocktails, dinner, dessert
and a performance of Tin Pan Alley music by Jewish composers.

Philanthropist Melba Sklar Winer of West Bloomfield, now in her 90s, was hon-
ored for her role in fostering Detroit's cultural and community life. The event raised
more than $40,000 to keep JET productions going on the main stage and the Dorfman
Foundation Youth Theatre, which regularly visits schools.
"Without donations, we can't make our tickets a reasonable price explained Bremer.
"The financial support from the community is extremely important to us and we're very
grateful."
Spotted in the "Behind the Scenes" crowd were: Deena Lockman and Craig Menuk,
both of Birmingham; Sue Terebelo of Southfield; Roz Fink of Northville; Jona Geller
of Farmington Hills; Mark Litt of Walled Lake; Maggie Allesee of Bloomfield Hills; and
Betsy and Joel Kellman of Huntington Woods. II

Cis Maisel Keliman of Southfield with

Mary and Russell Barnett of Bloomfield

Jill and Craig Menuck of Birmingham

Shirley Benyas and Yolanda Fleischer,

Hills

both of West Bloomfield

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October 15 e 2009

JET's upcoming season includes The Blank Page which runs now through Nov.
9; two farces, The Big Bang and The Tale of the Allergist's Wife; and Palmer
Park, a play about the attempted integration after the 1967 riots in Detroit. For
information, ticket prices and performance schedules, call (248) 788-2900 or
go www.jettheatre.org .

Joel Dorfman and Melissa Ruffner of

Birmingham