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.