arts & entertainment
Christopher
Bremer
has been
appointed
executive
At JET
I
Jewish Ensemble
Theatre hangs on
in a theater-
challenged
C I i n'1 ` eii
director of
JET.
"
4
di.
Pi
Imp-
Suzanne Chessler
Contributing Writer
T
he Jewish Ensemble Theatre is staging its 26th season with new roles for administra-
tive staff and volunteers, a changed lineup of mainstage productions and a reconfigu-
ration of business practices.
The goal is to bolster community attention and finances that began falling short
during rough winter weather, when otherwise regular attendees stayed away
as the 25th season played out.
The Value of Names, a comedic father-adult daughter production writ-
ten by New York playwright Jeffrey Sweet (see related story on page 60), will
have the opening spotlight as members of the young adult community are
being asked to give their input for JET's future (see related story on page 59).
Christopher Bremer, former managing director, has accepted the newly
established position of executive director after the resignation of David
Magidson, who served as artistic director for five years.
Mary Lou
"David is a talented director and wonderful teacher, and we hope we'll be
Zieve
able to bring that talent back to our theater in the near future Bremer says.
In a July 13, 2013, article published in the JN, 2013-2014 JET President
Gail Mayer of West Bloomfield celebrated JET as the longest, continually
performing, professional Jewish theater in North America.
Now, JET is working in an environment that has seen the closing and
reopening of the Performance Network Theatre in Ann Arbor, the winding
down of the Magenta Giraffe Theatre Company in Detroit and the dissolu-
tion of the Michigan Equity Theatre Alliance, which promoted joint ven-
tures to save money for nonprofit production companies.
Elaine
Still, "we are optimistic about JET's future Bremer says. "We will be
Sturman
working hard at reinventing ourselves and analyzing what we can provide
for a wider community. In a difficult time for theaters, we are upbeat about
making connections with projected audiences, including contacts with
NEXTGen members at Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit.
"Besides getting NEXTGen input and hopefully other young-adult par-
ticipation, we are in touch with Hillel organizations at local universities to
make arrangements for special programs that would include their members.
Timing conflicts prevented that from happening last season; Bremer says.
The goal of "productions for children and [finding] more sponsors,
Elizabeth
corporate and individual; put forth by the JET board in last summer's JN
"Betty"
article, also apparently has fallen short of stated desires.
Pernick
In a new restructuring of the JET board, longtime members Mary Lou
Zieve and Elaine Sturman, both of Bloomfield Hills, and Elizabeth "Betty"
Pernick of West Bloomfield are serving as 2014-15 co-presidents, seeking
new funding sources and making decisions — including play choice in
consultation with the Play Reading Advisory Committee — that would have
been assumed by an artistic director.
Lewis Tann of Bingham Farms, who joined the board in the 2012-2013
season, became treasurer for 2013-2014 and is firming up his role after
7 r''
reviewing the long-term history of JET finances.
Lewis Tann
While Sturman explains that the 2013-2014 season got off to a sound
start because of a generous bequest, Tann is trying to establish ways to keep
finances stable.
"This is my first experience in the nonprofit world, and I've been observ-
ing operations:' says Tann, whose business experience contrasts with the
entertainment experience of administrators and volunteers.
"Over JET'S years of existence, I've found, there have been times of narrow
profits and times of narrow losses with no reserves. While fluctuations have
been met with support that 'fills in the holes: that did not happen last sea-
David
son when the deficit reached from mid- to low-five-figure numbers7 Tann
Magidson
declined to provide an exact figure.
2014-2015 JET Season
A
s the Jewish Ensemble Theatre enters its 26th year, the follow-
ing productions have been planned; note that changes have been
made to the schedule, and current listings also are subject to
change. Productions can be seen in the Aaron DeRoy Theatre at the
Jewish Community Center in West Bloomfield. Prices for mainstage pro-
ductions are $41-$48, with discounts for seniors, students and groups.
To purchase subscription or individual tickets, call (248) 788-2900 or
visit www.jettheatre.org .
Sept. 3 - Oct. 12
The Value of Names
By Jeffrey Sweet
Directed by Yolanda Fleischer
Legendary Hollywood director
Leo Greshen denounces his contem-
poraries - including his best friend,
actor Benny Silverman - before
the House Un-American Activities
Committee. Thirty years later,
Benny's daughter is cast in a play
directed by Leo, and the old antago-
nists meet - and spar - once again.
Oct. 22 - Nov. 16
Enter Laughing
By Joseph Stein
Based on the novel by Carl Reiner
Directed by Mary Bremer
David's parents want him to
become a pharmacist, but he
dreams of becoming an actor. While
working in a machine shop, he wins
a part but not because of his stage
talents.
Nov. 26 - Dec. 21
Old Jews Telling Jokes
dinner at 7:30 p.m.; or 9 p.m., pre-
ceded by dinner at 7:30 p.m. and/
or dancing, dessert and midnight
champagne toast following the
performance. Mix and match: $60/
show; $50/dinner; $20/afterglow.
Feb. 21
Fried Chicken and Latkes
(tentative)
Berman Center
Written by and starring Rain Pryor
The daughter of comedian
Richard Pryor presents a one-
woman show about growing up as
the biracial daughter of a Jewish
mother and African-American
father in Beverly Hills, Calif.
Feb. 24 - March 6
The Diary of Anne Frank
By Frances Goodrich and Albert
Hackett
Adapted by Wendy Kesselman
Directed by Harold Jurkiewicz
A lesson in history and prejudice
for schoolchildren and families.
By Peter Gethers & Daniel Okrent
Based on the book and website by
Sam Hoffman & Eric Spiegelman
Directed by Kayla Gordon
Full of one-liners, double-enten-
dres and comical routines, this
show pays tribute to a long line of
Borscht Belt comics and their jokes.
April 15 - May 10
Who Am I This Time? (& Other
Conundrums of Love)
New Year's Eve
Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen
May 20 - June 14
Bad Jews
An evening with the Andrews
Sisters - Patty, Laverne and Maxine
- starring Company B, a trio that has
performed across the United States.
Two shows: 6 p.m. followed by
By Joshua Harmon
Directed by Christopher Bremer
Cousins fight over a grandfather's
cherished possession.
By Aaron Posner
Three plays adapted from sto-
ries by Kurt Vonnegut showcase
characters entering new worlds as
romance beckons.
❑
Changes At JET on page 59
IN
August 21 • 2014
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