AJT Newsletter
Come See What's Happening
FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Dear Friends:
The Association for Jewish Theatre is about to make some major changes for the future of Jewish culture and for the future of Jewish theatre that we love. Becoming an independent 501(c)3 non-profit a few years ago has led to many discussions with our members, the Board, and key stakeholders. We have deepened our understanding of who we are, what we are achieving, and what we want to achieve. We also better understand the landscape of Jewish and arts organizations that make us truly unique in what we do.
With the AJT Board, Hank Kimmel (AJT President), Eli Taylor (AJT Coordinator), and I are ready to go further for you, our membership -for theatre with Jewish sensibility, and for our ever-expanding community to bring Jewish theatre to the world! Stay tuned for our announcement of significant changes coming soon.
Have a great rest of the summer and feel free to contact Hank, Eli, and myself to keep us informed of your doings, about ideas you might have, or ways you want to be involved with AJT. My email is chack@iglou.com, Hanks’ is hwkimmel@gmail.com, and Eli’s is etaylor@afjt.com
Sincerely,
David Chack
Executive Director
David with Hannah Hessel Ratner, Audience Enrichment Manager for Shakespeare Theatre Company in Washington, D.C., at the 2014 AJT Conference in Washington. (picture by Elaine Siegel)
JULY’S AJT POP-UP EVENT AT THE MUSEUM OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK – by Michelle Slonim
(The Association for Jewish Theatre held its first Pop-up on July 18, in conjunction with the Museum of the City of New York’s public program on the legacy of the Yiddish Theatre. 200 people attended and many came from the AJT community. AJT’s Executive Director David Chack was the facilitator for the panel with Adam Kantor currently on Broadway in “Fiddler” as Motel, Michelle Slonim comedian, Tovah Feldshuh known for “Golda’s Balcony” and many stage and screen credits, and Jackie Hoffman comic actor. Here is a piece Michelle wrote about it and AJT.)
"I'm a Jew both on stage and off, in fact right now my mother is in the front row smiling and my dad is in the back sleeping." I am at a panel discussion (at the Museum of the City of New York) co-produced by the Association for Jewish Theatre; the subject matter is Yiddish and Jewish theater. I originally got involved with the AJT because of my interest in connecting my Jewish identity to my theatrical work. I had created a one-ish woman show called Michelle’s Jewish Date Party inspired by all the Jewish single parties I threw in the hopes of landing a Jewish husband… Unfortunately, as I got deeper into the stand-up comedy world I disconnected from my Jewish background. I was delighted to be a part of the panel because it was a reminder of my Jewish roots. Also, you give me a mic and an audience and I’ll talk to you about anything, did I tell you about the first time I found the afikomen at my uncle Al’s -- you got three hours? Here is the story!
AJT POP-UP IN ATLANTA
theatre dybbuk’s
S'LACH LANU: FORGIVE US
Aaron Henne, Artistic Director
September 23, Friday at 6 pm,
The Temple, an historic landmark and institution 1589 Peachtree St, Atlanta 30309
RSVP Hank Kimmel, 404/735-9132 hwkimmel@gmail.com
Pre-show meet-up at Java Negilah coffee shop, 5:15 pm, located at the front of The Temple.
theatre dybbuk, Southern California's premiere Jewish theatrical arts and education company, comes to The Temple for their acclaimed theatre/spiritual experience to take us on a journey through our own personal connections to forgiveness. The evening culminates with a reading, by professional actors, of the community’s stories. This is a wonderful opportunity to prepare, emotionally and spiritually, for the High Holy Days. Please note that this program includes a writing workshop, which begins the evening, followed by a service experience, and the reading/performance. Plus an oneg! This is a free event. Please note that The Temple has strong dramatic roots. Playwright Alfred Uhry grew up in this sanctuary, and the main characters in "Driving Miss Daisy" and "Parade" were Temple members.
PUT A “POST-IT” FOR THE UPCOMING CONFERENCE IN BOSTON, FALL 2017
The planning for the 2017 AJT Conference is happening now and we are expecting the conference to be AMAZING! Our location is the Boston area with its incredible universities, culture, and Jewish life. If you are interested in being involved please let us know. We are having a planning meeting in Boston about the conference in mid- September. Contact Eli Taylor at etaylor@afjt.com if you have interest in attending the September meeting.
ZELDA FICHANDLER, MAY HER MEMORY BE FOR A BLESSING
Association For Jewish Theatre
Email: etaylor@afjt.com
Website: www.afjt.com
Location: 8030a West Lyons Street, Niles, IL, United States
Phone: 847-965-4283
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/jewishtheatre/
Twitter: @ajttweets