arts&life

theater

Capitol Steps

When You’re A JET

The new season,

with plays by David

Mamet and Harvey

Fierstein, kicks off

with a capital gala.

SUZANNE CHESSLER
CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Playwright David Mamet

I

f the political climate is getting you down, the Jewish
Ensemble Theatre (JET) wants to lift you up with
an evening of pure political comedy provided by the
Capitol Steps, a popular satirical troupe based just outside
Washington, D.C., and traveling the country to cover differ-
ent sides of issues.
While the entertainment makes this season’s JET kickoff
gala a little different, the event still will include dinner — in
a strolling setting with main dishes before the comedians

Playwright Harvey Fierstein

appear and desserts during an afterglow.
It all takes place 6-9 p.m. Monday, Sept. 18, at Temple
Israel and contrasts with the schedule of four serious plays
that will be staged October through May.
“Our fall gala has grown over the past dozen years, and we
thought we’d change it up a bit before we get into the main-
stage productions,” says Christopher Bremer, JET executive
director. “We started out with small events in homes and
had to move into a commercial hall to accommodate grow-

continued on page 44

jn

September 7 • 2017

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