Two Exciting Events

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Although our 2012-2013 production season has come to a close, MJTC has two upcoming events to be excited about!

MJTC is excited to host the Association for Jewish Theatre's 32nd annual international conference June 2-5, 2013. The conference offers playwrights, performers, artistic directors, theater educators, scholars, and theater-makers of all kinds the opportunity to meet, exchange ideas, and learn about the latest trends in theater. Two juried showcases will spotlight solo performers and playwrights of Jewish works of all kinds. Sessions will include Children's and Family Theater with a panel moderated by Peter Brosius, Artistic Director of the Tony Award-winning Children's Theatre Company; Visionaries in Contemporary Theater and application of unique ideas and programming; Arts Marketing; and Funding Sources. Emily Mann, multi-award winning director and playwright, will be the keynote speaker and will address the conference theme "Imagining Jewish Theater in the 21st Century." Ms. Mann has been the artistic director of the McCarter Theatre for the past 22 years and has garnered several Obie Awards. Under her direction, the McCarter received a Tony Award for Outstanding Regional Theater. Ms. Mann is the recipient of Helen Hayes and Joseph Jefferson Awards, and has been nominated for Drama Desk and Outer Circle Awards. A special event honoring the world-renowned performer Theodore Bikel will take place on Sunday evening, June 2nd. Best known for his performances as Tevye in the film Fiddler on the Roof and Captain Von Trapp in the original stage production of The Sound of Music, Mr. Bikel is a film, recording, television, and stage performer. He is the recipient of an Emmy Award, and co-founder of the Newport Folk Festival. There will also be a tribute in memory of Tamara Brooks, Mr. Bikel's wife, who was a good friend of AJT and a talented musician.

All events are open to the public. To register for the entire conference please visit the Association For Jewish Theatre.  To register for individual events, please call MJTC at 651-647-4315.

Did you enjoy this past season and are looking forward to our next season? Please join us on Thursday, June 6 at 6pm for a special event at I Nonni Italian Restaurant as we announce our 2013-2014 season. Get to know other MJTC supporters like yourselves, feast on a delicious dinner and enjoy actor-read short readings from the 19th season's productions!

Cost per person is $100 (Forty dollars of which is considered a donation to MJTC). This fabulous dinner will include appetizers, wine, salad, choice of four entrees, bread, dessert and coffee/tea. Space is limited, please make your reservations by calling 651-647-4315. 

Celebrating a Milestone

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Minnesota Jewish Theater Company is marking a major milestone – this is our 18th birthday.  In the Jewish culture, the number 18 has special significance.   You may know that the Hebrew word “chai” means “life” in English.  It also symbolizes the value of life and all the hope that accompanies it.  What is the connection between “chai” and 18?  In Hebrew, each letter has a numeric value, and the word “chai” is spelled with two Hebrew letters that equal 18. 

For these special birthdays there is a Jewish tradition of giving monetary gifts in multiples of $18 as a good omen for life.  

MJTC has accomplished so much in its first 18 years!  We’ve been recognized by our theater peers with three Ivey awards going to our artists for productions in recent years.  We’ve commissioned or presented world premieres of five plays that have been well received and gone on to productions elsewhere.  Our audiences have consistently grown.  A successful ticket subsidy fund has made it possible for thousands of young people to attend our performances.  With support from you, we can continue to offer award winning, thought provoking and touching productions with universal appeal. 

If you’d like to support this wonderful and award winning theater, and make a special contribution to celebrate MJTC’s 18th birthday, keeping tradition alive with a gift of $18 or $36 or any other multiple of 18, please send a check to MJTC.  We thank you in advance for supporting our continued success!

Laura Schindelman

Chair, Fundraising Raising Committee, Board of Directors

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Growth and Strategic Planning

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MJTC is poised for growth and we want to be smart about it. 

It’s hard to be cautious when you are excited about the work!  I’ve been familiar with MJTC since its inception and have the utmost respect for Barbara and those who came before us on the Board.  I’ve always said this is the best theater bargain in town – not just an inexpensive ticket (although that’s nice!) but overall, the artistic value that comes from this small-budget theater company is amazing. 

It’s a gem.  As a non-Jewish friend of mine said just last week, “Every time I go to that theater I learn something new about the Jewish culture.  And it’s great theater!” 

It speaks to our souls.

Too many theaters have tried to grow and failed – not only in the Twin Cities, but nationally.  There are less than a handful of independent Jewish theaters remaining in the US.   As a theater that has previewed many new plays about Jewish life, the MJTC is a leader nationally – although the secret is too well kept! 

Last year, the MJTC board took stock of the theater and set four key goals for the future:

  1. Increase attendance and visibility/awareness of MJTC.  You’ll notice more social media, a refreshed branding and marketing strategy, and audience research.
  2. Improve contributed income.  Public money and individuals are particularly critical to the theater’s operations.  Your contributions literally keep us going and allow us to keep ticket prices reasonable.
  3. Expand and enhance performance season to improve the experience of attending MJTC performances.  We want to make sure the core product achieves our mission – ignite the hearts and minds of people by producing theater of the highest artistic standards rooted in Jewish content and serving people from all cultural backgrounds.
  4. Improve organizational and governance capacity to sustain MJTC for the long-term.  We want to strengthen our board, increase staffing from two people to three, and build our cash reserve.

This planned growth is measured -- not overreaching.  It’s designed to keep the “gem” grounded in both artistic excellence and earthly realities.

Blog posting by Mary Pickard, Chair, Governance Committee, Board of Directors.  Mary is a Principal Advisor at Opus Philanthropy Group where she and her colleagues advise a group of family foundations and a corporate foundation associated with one family.  Mary joined OPG after retiring in 2007 as president of the Travelers Foundation where she served for 35 years.