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Change Of Focus

JET board decides to beef up its youth outreach programs.

Ronelle Grier I Contributing Writer

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From the stage of the cozy
176-seat Aaron DeRoy Theatre
in the lower level of the Jewish
Community Center in West
Bloomfield, audiences enjoyed
musicals, comedies and dramas
intended to provoke stimulat-
ing after-theater conversation
or raucous laughter, depending
on the production. Playwrights
ranged from Pulitzer Prize win-
ners, such as the late Wendy
Wasserstein (The Sisters
Rosenzweig), to up-and-coming
acclaimed local writers, such as
Joseph Zettelmaier (The Scullery

and middle school girls; and I
Was Just Kidding, for elementary
students. According to August,
the post-show talkbacks help
solidify the messages conveyed
in the plays.
"It's an extraordinarily effec-
tive medium with young people
August said. "The students really
respond; it really gets to them:'

Financial Issues

JET Executive Director Chris
Bremer, whose position will
remain unchanged, is looking
forward to the new season and
the changes it will bring.
Maid).
"The JET has been around
JET is the oldest continuously
for 27 years, and we plan on
operating professional Jewish
being here for another 27 years:'
theater in North America, and
Bremer said. "We plan on getting
August and other JET supporters
our financial house in order and
feel it's time for a different focus.
our priorities set, and this is the
"Our overall programming
ideal time to do this:'
has been the same for 27 years:'
According to Bremer, an aver-
August said. "We need to change,
age stage production may cost
too:'
$35,000-$50,000, not including
He says interest from some
the ongoing overhead expenses
of the theater's major donors
of maintaining the theater.
To date, more than 100,000 local students have seen JET's production of The Diary of Anne Frank.
"If we were to charge what it
prompted JET leaders to evaluate Shown here are actors Gillian Cooper, Linda Ramsay, Deanna Kleitz-Singleton, Andrew Huff, Trudy
actually costs, our ticket prices
operations and develop a new
Mason and Hugh Maguire.
would be double he said.
strategy with more emphasis on
August acknowledged finan-
youth programs. In past seasons,
an organization that advocates for
the theater had three main ini-
groups from schools throughout Metro
cial issues were also a factor in
social justice locally and world-
tiatives: four or more main stage produc-
Detroit at the Berman Center for the
the decision to cut back on stage
tions; the Dorfman Family Foundation
wide. According to Executive
Performing Arts. This season's shows are
shows and expand the focus on
Director Robert Cohen, the
Y.E.S. (Youth Education Services), which
scheduled for Feb. 25-March 9, with a
youth outreach.
JCRC will serve as a "connector"
includes three anti-bullying plays and an
public performance Feb. 28. To date, more
He said the JET budget has
between the JET and local school
annual production of The Diary of Anne
than 100,000 students have seen Anne
been about $600,000 for several
Frank; and a week of staged readings of
Frank, which is subsidized to make the
districts and other agencies by
years, including production costs
new plays.
tickets affordable to school groups.
using its contacts in the city of
— I as well as overhead.
Chris B remer
This season, there
The staged readings at the DeRoy
Detroit as well as in Chaldean,
"Regional theaters always
Latino, African American and
will be two shows in
Theatre will continue, with additional
depend on donor support, and
the spring of 2016:
readings in the works at new venues
other ethnic communities.
that's become more difficult as
Kalamazoo, a comedy
geared for new audiences and special
"This is a perfect vehicle for us to col-
our audience gets smaller. We have to take
about two 70-something
interest groups.
laborate on:' Cohen said. "There's a univer- positive, aggressive steps:' August said.
"The timing of some very major [for us]
would-be lovers, one
sal need for work on the bullying issue. We
New Partnership
Jewish and one Catholic;
plan on helping the victims, the perpetra-
bequests have helped us control the losses
Jim August
and Dancing Lessons, a
To further the goal of
tors and the bystanders:'
and provided an occasional surplus. This
critically acclaimed play
reaching more audiences
The anti-bullying plays have been seen
year's budget is about $400,000 reflecting
about two offbeat New
with the anti-bullying
by more than half a million students, with
lower production costs from fewer major
plays, JET has formed
York neighbors who discover they have
plans to expand both the audience num-
productions and cuts in overhead:'
more in common than the apartment
a new partnership with
bers and the geographic areas. Three age-
Letters were sent to season ticket sub-
scribers announcing the JET's program-
building they inhabit.
the Jewish Community
appropriate plays are included in the rep-
)
As in past years, The Diary of Anne
Relations Council (JCRC) ertoire: Word, for middle and high school
ming changes, and patrons were offered
Robert Cohen
Frank will be performed for student
of Metropolitan Detroit,
students; Mean Girls, for upper elementary various options for requesting refunds or

Change Of Focus on page 10

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August 20 • 2015