NJT's 20th Season Continues with Revival of 'Driving Miss Daisy'

The 2016-17 season marks the 20th anniversary of the New Jewish Theatre (NJT), a truly significant milestone for a small professional theatre. Over the years, NJT has brought audiences the best in professional theatre that examines the full range of the human condition reflected through the lens of the Jewish experience. Establishing itself as the premier small professional theatre in St. Louis, NJT's artistic excellence has garnered the company numerous accolades. During the past 19 years, these have included a total of 78 nominations and 17 awards from both the St. Louis Theater Circle and Kevin Kline Awards.

"Twenty years is a long time in the life of a small or mid-sized theatre. For us to have achieved this milestone is a true cause for celebration," says NJT's artistic director, Kathleen Sizer.

NJT's 20th season continues by revisiting one of their most popular past productions - Alfred Uhry's iconic play, Driving Miss Daisy - which runs from December 1 through December 18 at the JCC's Wool Studio Theatre. Sitzer will step out of her role as artistic director and return to the stage to play the title character, Daisy Werthen, the fiercely independent, stubborn and crotchety Jewish widow who reluctantly gives in to her son's insistence that because of her advancing age, he needs to hire a driver for her.

"When NJT decided to put Driving Miss Daisy in the 2016-17 Season, I just couldn't resist," says Sitzer. "Daisy Werthen is such an iconic character, and at this point in time, she's certainly in my wheelhouse. So I'm taking her on, and am very excited to be returning to the NJT stage after a 9 year hiatus in this delicious role."

Set in Atlanta between the years of 1948 - 73, the play follows the developing and complex relationship between 72 year old Daisy (in 1948) and her African-American driver, Hoke. The initially contentious relationship blossoms into a profound, life-altering friendship that transcends all the societal boundaries placed between them. Throughout the play, we see a snapshot of how acts of segregation and integration are fueled by the racism and prejudice of the time-period as it mirrors the relationship between the Jewish and Black communities of that time. It is also a story about both civil and human rights of the elderly as well as religious, political, and ethnic groups.

Sydney Grosberg Ronga directs this production which features, in addition to Sitzer, J. Samuel Davis as her driver, Hoke Coleburn and Eric Dean White as her son, Boolie.

The season continues with Lynn Nottage's Intimate Apparel January 26 - February 11. Gary Wayne Barker directs this love story set in 1905 New York, between a black seamstress and Hasidic shopkeeper dealing with the impossibility of romance during this era in America.

John Logan's Never the Sinner is the second NJT revival of the season, March 16-April 2. Shakespeare Festival of St. Louis' Artistic Director, Rick Dildine, directs this story of the infamous 1924 Leopold/Loeb "Trial of the Century" as Clarence Darrow defends the two entitled young men in the horrific murder of young Bobby Franks.

The season closes with 2013 Pulitzer Prize finalist 4000 Miles by Amy Herzog. Directed by NJT Artistic Associate Edward Coffield, this compassionate, intimate, and frequently funny play examines the love of the family we can choose, the family we can't, and the healing power of trust. It runs May 11-28.

Single tickets for all NJT productions at the JCC's Wool Studio Theatre (2 Millstone Campus Drive, 63146) range from $39.50 to $43.50 and are available along with partial subscriptions at newjewishtheatre.org or by calling 314-442-3283. There will also be several talkbacks scheduled after select performances. Check the website (newjewishtheatre.org) or call the box office, 314-442-3257 for more information and full descriptions of all the season's offerings.

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