ARTS&LIFE
THEATER
continued from page 41
42 | MARCH 3 • 2022
JET Season
The Jewish Ensemble
Theatre will reopen its
2021-2022 season with:
Same Time Next Year by
Bernard Slade
April 21-May 15
The Full Monty by Terrence
McNally and David Yazbek
June 2-26
Amadeus by Peter Shaffer
July 14- Aug. 7
TBD
Aug. 25-Sept. 18
JET’s 2022-2023 Season
begins Oct. 6 with the
Rocky Horror Picture Show
Single ticket prices $49/
adult, $47/senior, $42/sub
scribers.
Prorated subscriptions are
on sale now. All dates and
titles subject to change. To
reserve, call (248) 788-
2900.
JET is at 1124 E. West Maple
Road, Walled Lake.
A DETROIT PRODUCTION IN ARIZONA
While bringing The Diary of Anne Frank from
Detroit to Arizona in 2020 helped Ginn plant
the seed for the Jewish Ensemble Theatre to
have an Arizona presence, donors told her
that they wanted to see jobs created locally
for Phoenix-area actors and crew. With that
promise, Ginn was able to secure funding
from the Burton Family Foundation through
the Arizona Community Foundation, the
Diane and Bruce Halle Foundation and
the Molly Blank Fund through the Jewish
Community Foundation.
“We had to start from scratch. We had to
procure every single thing,
” said Ginn, whose
daughter, Peggy, flew in from England to
help.
Everything included finding an off-site
rehearsal space and The Scottsdale Center for
the Performing Arts for the shows, reserving
a storage facility for costumes, props and
set pieces for future Arizona productions;
reporting to the Actors Equity Association
with COVID compliance updates, including
ordering over 1,000 rapid-test kits for the cast
and crew; and arranging and booking the
school groups.
In addition to recruiting her Arizona
friends for help, Ginn relied on Toby
Haberman of Birmingham, who also has a
home in Phoenix, to go on prop and fur-
niture-finding expeditions to all the local
Goodwill, thrift and resale shops.
“We needed to duplicate the Michigan
set, costumes and props that we now own
and store for annual use with the Arizona
production,
” said Haberman, retired owner
of Haberman Fabrics in Royal Oak who has
also been very involved with costuming at
Michigan Opera Theatre. “I found objects on
our list like a half-barrel that was tossed out
at a Phoenix boutique. I also made assorted
props, like a small lace Shabbos table cover
and burlap potato and rations bags.
”
Ginn also enlisted Haberman to help with
registration during the local auditions. And
Toby and her husband, Sam, graciously host-
ed the cast and crew party at their Phoenix
home after the last performance on Feb. 11.
“When finding the set pieces and props,
we tried to be as realistic as possible. Not
only does that create an honest visual image
to draw the audience into a believable scene,
but it helps the actors develop their char-
acters when they use or wear something
that could have actually been from that time
and place,
” said Haberman.
While Ginn dealt with the production
logistics, Bremer flew back and forth weekly
from Michigan to Arizona, assembling his
Arizona cast and crew while simultaneously
preparing for the March Diary of Anne Frank
Detroit production and getting the JET 2021-
2022 season ready to reopen. Fully masked
rehearsals started Jan. 13 in Scottsdale.
Twelve rehearsals later, The Diary of Anne
Frank opened at The Scottsdale Center for
Performing Arts at a 10 a.m. matinee on
Jan. 31.
“It was like doing summer stock on ste-
roids,
” Bremer says with a laugh.
With 10 matinee performances, more than
3,500 students attended, at half-capacity, with
some schools driving from more than two
hours away.
“I don’t consider this a field trip. It’s an edu-
cational trip,
” said Ginn. “Eight months ago,
it was mandated that the Holocaust be taught
in Arizona [at least twice between seventh
and 12th grade]. We’re doing something for
humanity, for all walks of life and all cultures.
That’s what keeps me going and really gives
me a purpose. That’s why I joined JET.
”
As a theater lover, parent and former teach-
er, Haberman is also dedicated to the cause.
“Perhaps more than ever, there are lessons
that need to be taught in an honest, mean-
ingful way. This production helps do that.
The goal is to serve a crucial history lesson to
middle school children throughout the com-
munity, from widely diverse backgrounds.
This is a powerful educational, live-theater
tool. Live theater done well can have a great
impact, especially when young people watch
what might be their first, professional the-
atrical performance, not a digital screen,
”
Haberman says.
JET provides every school attending with
pre- and post-study guides and an evaluation
form. Following each performance, there is
an audience question-and-answer session
with the cast. As a special enhancement to the
Arizona production, local Holocaust survivor
Dirk van Leenen attended every talkback and
interacted with the students.
One of the strongest takeaways after seeing
the show is that children have a strong inter-
est in finding out about other people’s culture
and experiences, Bremer says.
“You can never walk in someone else’s shoe
or understand other people’s skill in society
and success in life. It’s been an honor, privi-
lege and responsibility to provide this won-
derful experience to people.
”
Sam and Toby Haberman hosted the
cast party at their Phoenix home, with
JET Arizona Producer Sally Ginn and JET
Executive Director Christopher Bremer.