EXPLORING JEWISH VOICE to Premiere at the Milwaukee Chamber Theatre in 2012 - 2013 Season

Milwaukee Chamber Theatre (MCT), Jewish Museum Milwaukee (JMM) and the Harry & Rose Samson Family Jewish Community Center (JCC) are collaborating on "Exploring Jewish Voices." During the 2012-2013 season, Milwaukee Chamber Theatre is producing three plays by prominent Jewish playwrights. MCT, JMM & the JCC decided this was an ideal opportunity to partner and provide additional educational and outreach opportunities to the Milwaukee area Jewish community.

The three productions in the series are A THOUSAND CLOWNS by Herb Gardner (August 9-26, 2012), COLLECTED STORIES by Donald Margulies (November 21 – December 16, 2012) and UNDERNEATH THE LINTEL by Glen Berger (February 21 – March 17, 2013). Each theatrical production will feature a preshow 'ViewPoints' lecture by an expert in Jewish culture and a 'Jewish Community Ticket' performance featuring a post show talkback led by JCC Educator Jody Hirsh. Although the special events will focus on Jewish themes, culture and history, the programs will be accessible and relevant to all MCT patrons.

MCT Producing Artistic Director C. Michael Wright explains the impetus behind the series, "It was actually like a 'light bulb' moment for me. One day it suddenly struck me that our upcoming season contains three strong playwrights, all with Jewish roots, but from different generations. Each of these writers has such a clear, distinct voice that I decided we should take the opportunity to celebrate that fact! We've had a number of successful collaborations with the JMM and the JCC in the past, so it also made perfect sense to partner with both of them on this unique project."

When asked about the collaboration, JMM Educator Ellie Gettinger said, "Theater has been such an important part of the Jewish experience, both as patrons and participants. We are excited to celebrate the impact that Jewish playwrights have had in shaping the American cultural landscape and are delighted to explore this topic with Milwaukee Chamber Theatre over the course of their 2012-2013 season."

SEASON PREVIEW PRESENTATION
The "Exploring Jewish Voices" series kicks off with a season preview presentation, "A Midsummer Night's Preview," on Thursday, July 12, 2012 at 7:00 p.m. MCT staff members and guest artists C. Michael Wright, Jonathan West, Tom Klubertanz and Jacque Troy will discuss the season's highlights and offer dramatic readings from each play. The preview will be at the Jewish Museum Milwaukee (1360 N. Prospect Ave.) and is free for JMM members and $5 for non-members.

"EXPLORING JEWISH VOICES" PRODUCTIONS & EVENTS
A THOUSAND CLOWNS by Herb Gardner
August 8 – 26, 2012, Broadway Theatre Center
Herb Gardner's comic chestnut from the 1960s is about the irrepressible Murray Burns, who believes in living life fully, even if that means going to the movies instead of looking for a job – which makes him a questionable role model raising his young nephew in New York City.
Jewish Community Ticket: Sunday, August 12 - 2:00 p.m., featuring a talkback with JCC Jewish Educator Jody Hirsh.
ViewPoints Lecture: Wednesday, August 15 - 6:30 p.m., featuring Milwaukee Jewish community member Jerry Benjamin discussing Jewish life and literature in the 1960s.

COLLECTED STORIES by Donald Margulies
November 21 – December 16, 2012, Broadway Theatre Center
A renowned, reclusive short story writer and her evolving relationship with a bright-eyed young protégée are the center of this play by Donald Margulies, author of Brooklyn Boy.
Jewish Community Ticket: Thursday, December 6 - 7:30 p.m., featuring a talkback with JCC Jewish Educator Jody Hirsh.
ViewPoints Lecture: Wednesday, November 28 - 6:30 p.m., featuring Jewish Museum Milwaukee staff discussing Jewish women and their contrasting generational voices.

UNDERNEATH THE LINTEL by Glen Berger
February 21 – March 17, 2013, Broadway Theatre Center
A puzzling mystery begins when a Dutch librarian discovers a surprise in the overnight return slot …a travel guidebook that is 113 years overdue! The librarian, who has never left his hometown, travels around the world to track down the offender.
Jewish Community Ticket: Sunday, March 10, 2:00 p.m., featuring a talkback with JCC Jewish Educator Jody Hirsh.
ViewPoints Lecture: Wednesday, February 27, 6:30 p.m., featuring Joel Berkowitz, Director of the Sam & Helen Stahl Center for Judaic Studies at UWM, discussing Yiddish theatre and myths.

In addition, MCT Education Director/Literary Manager Jacque Troy is working closely with JMM professionals Ellie Gettinger and Molly Dubin on several education initiatives for students and adults. For COLLECTED STORIES, they will offer workshops to area high schools about using playwriting to capture one's personal story. Students will then attend a student matinee performance of COLLECTED STORIES. For UNDERNEATH THE LINTEL, Troy will lead a one-day theatrical writing workshop at the Jewish Museum on Sunday, March 3, 2013, which includes an opportunity for participants to write short scenes that either explore their personal stories or reflect their response to an artifact at the museum.

Milwaukee Chamber Theatre productions (including the Jewish Community Ticket and ViewPoints performances) will be held at the Broadway Theatre Center, 158 N. Broadway in Milwaukee's Historic Third Ward. The July 12, 2012 Season Preview Presentation and the March 3, 2013 Theatrical Writing Workshop will be both be held at Jewish Museum Milwaukee, located at 1360 N. Prospect Ave. Milwaukee.

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