respect for the JET, but we can’t afford to
be their donor.”
Siegel added that the JCC is committed
to maintaining the theater’s current name
in accordance with the wishes of the
Aaron DeRoy Foundation.

“As we figure out what our season will be, we hope
people will be patient and consider it an adventure
to explore new venues in southeast Michigan.”

— CHRIS BREMER

A NEW ADVENTURE

While the JET’s new home has yet to be
determined, Chris Bremer, JET’s executive
director, and board pres-
ident Elaine Sturman
see the move as a posi-
tive change and oppor-
tunity for growth.
“It gave us the push
we needed to move
forward,” Sturman said.
“We probably wouldn’t
Chris Bremer, JET
executive director have left the JCC yet, but
because of all the chang-
es going on at the JCC
and the Academy [FJA], they’re changing
their focus and so are we.”
As the JET searches for a new home,
leaders are exploring the possibility of
holding some of its productions in mul-
tiple venues. Bremer says this will allow
the theater to stage different kinds of pro-
ductions as well as expand its audience
base. While no specific shows have been
decided on, the theater company is com-
mitted to producing at least four main
stage plays as well as maintaining the suc-
cessful student outreach program during
2018-19, its 30th season.
“The type of space will determine what
shows we do; we want to match the right
show to the right venue,” Bremer says. “As
we figure out what our season will be, we
hope people will be patient and consider
it an adventure to explore new venues in
southeast Michigan.”
The first such venture will be a summer
remounting of Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar
and Grill, which had a successful run at
the JET last fall, at the historic Music Hall’s
Jazz Café July 13-29.
Bremer says the first priority is finding
approximately 1,200 square feet of office
space so the JET can continue its admin-
istrative operations as it searches for
rehearsal and performance space.
“There are some wonderful options
we’re investigating right now — it’s the
best thing to happen to JET,” Sturman
says.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR FJA

Rabbi Azaryah Cohen, FJA’s head of
school, said that the
use of the DeRoy
Theatre will enhance
the school’s performing
arts program and may
also be used for creative
activities that are part of
other classes.
“In fact, art and
Rabbi Azaryah
creative expression in
Cohen, FJA head
general are important
of school
components in our aca-
demic classes and elec-
tive programming,” he said. “We want to

PHOTO BY JAN CARTWRIGHT

The set for Sugarhill, designed by Daniel C. Walker

be able to provide our students with dedi-
cated, well-equipped and purposefully
designed space so they can get the most
out of these creative experiences.”
Cohen said the availability of a dedi-
cated theater would be advantageous
to students who are involved in a range
of creative endeavors; including art and
creative writing competitions, vocal and
instrumental music, fashion design and
performance art.
While discussions have been taking
place, it has not been determined whether
FJA will take over additional space beyond
the theater. Both Siegel and Cohen
declined to discuss details of the new
lease, such as total square footage to be
occupied by FJA.
“We are in the process of determin-
ing how potential additional space will
help fulfill our education vision, which of
course also has to coincide with the avail-
able opportunities of our landlord, the
JCC,” Cohen says. “Since the dedication of
our Genesis STEAM Lab [last year] funded
by the William Davidson Foundation, we
have been moving toward an educational
approach centered around project-based
learning, collaboration, and critical think-
ing and design.”
He believes new common spaces
designed and furnished to foster discus-
sion and collaboration, experimentation
and exploration will facilitate learning

experiences beyond traditional class-
room walls.
“We welcome the possibility of
any additional space, which will only
enhance our already exemplary pro-
gram,” Cohen says.

JET SEASON CONTINUES AT JCC

In the meantime, the JET will finish the
remainder of its 2017-18 season in its cur-
rent location at the JCC. This includes
Hard Love, the drama by Israeli playwright
Motti Lerner (look for the JN’s review in
the April 19 issue), running now through
May 6, and Casa Valentina by Harvey
Fierstein, which runs May 24-June 17. In
addition, the annual Seymour J. and Ethel
S. Frank Festival of New Plays will run
June 4-25 on Monday evenings.
The relocation also will not affect
JET’s Dorfman Family Foundation Youth
Theatre, which will continue to tour
schools during the relocation with its
popular anti-bullying shows, includ-
ing a recent addition on cyber-bullying,
which reached more than 35,000 students
this season. Also unaffected is the JET’s
annual production of The Diary of Anne
Frank, which was performed before 7,000
students at the Berman Center for the
Performing Arts and, for the first time, at
the Detroit Institute of Arts.
“We have more than 100 school produc-
tions per year, and we will continue to

grow this audience regardless of our loca-
tion,” says Bremer, who sees the change
as a chance to accommodate both the
theater’s traditional base and as an oppor-
tunity to attract new audiences. He looks
forward to finding a location that is more
accessible and allows the addition of the-
atrical elements that were not possible in
the current space.
The theater will hold its annual fall
fundraiser Sept. 6 at Temple Israel in West
Bloomfield, featuring last year’s popular
entertainers, the Capitol Steps. According
to Sturman, more than 900 people attend-
ed last year’s sold-out fundraiser, more
than four times the attendance of previ-
ous years.
“Our base has extended radically
in the last year,” Sturman said. “We’ve
done shows the public wants to see.”
She said the JET board members
and administrators are looking at ven-
ues with better parking facilities and
greater accessibility than the JCC to
meet the needs of their older audience
members.
“The Center [ JCC] has been a most
supportive landlord and we appreci-
ate that support and cooperation,”
Sturman said. “However, the timing
couldn’t be better for the theater to
make a change and we are excited to
begin the next 30 years.” •

jn

April 26 • 2018

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