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ENSEMBLE CORNER
Dear Friends:
As you'll notice on the masthead, this is the first issue of "A Traveling Jewish Theatre Review". Those of you who've been with us for a while know that it's been over two years since we published our last newsletter. So much has been happening that it's been hard to find the time.
This new publication grows out of our eighteen year old tradition of keeping in touch with our audiences between, around and beyond our performances. Our intention is that the "Review" will appear each time we prepare to mount a production in our new space - in this case, Albert Greenberg's "The Fatherless Sky." The "Review" will feature articles by the artists and background material about the piece as well as other news about ATJT.
The articles in this issue will give you some idea of the amazing developments that have occurred since we wrote our last letter in the fall of 1993: the acquisition of our first permanent home; travels around the world; upcoming new works, collaborations and residencies. But perhaps the most amazing development of all is that we'll be celebrating our eighteenth birthday this year.
In Hebrew, the word for life, "chai", has a numerical value of 18. In our eighteen years of life as a theatre, we've experienced marriages, divorces, deaths and births. Almost nothing is now as it was in 1978 when we began. Somehow, we've found ways to hold on to the vision that got us started while still responding to all the changes. As we begin a new life cycle, we are discussing new responses to our constantly changing situation:
- an apprenticeship program we hope to implement in the not-too-distant future;
- a consortium of other ensemble theatres around the country to create an alternate touring network;
- new programs to develop young audiences;
- innovative programming in our new theatre.
We'll let you know more about all these possibilities in future issues of the "Review".
In the meantime, if you have any questions or responses, you can e-mail us at atjt@well.com or write to us at ATJT, 323 Geary St., Suite 415, San Francisco CA 94102.
With wishes for a Joyful Spring and a Happy Pesach,
Corey Fischer, for ATJT