FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: david@alljewishtheatre.org
DATE: August 8, 2018

The Alliance for Jewish Theatre Announces Its 2018 Jewish Theatre Conference in Philadelphia

The Alliance for Jewish Theatre (AJT), an international network of theatres, will bring together theatre-makers from across the U.S. and abroad to its October 21-23 conference hosted by Philadelphia’s Theatre Ariel. With a focus on creating new Jewish theatre the conference will provide participants with opportunities to connect, discover, learn and be inspired!

Highlights of the 2018 conference: Legendary star Tovah Feldshuh will receive the Theodore Bikel Award for Excellence   in Jewish Theatre. Best known as the originator of “Golda’s Balcony,” the longest-running one woman show in Broadway history, and now featured in CW Network’s award winning “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend.” The keynote will be delivered by the talented actor and singer Adam Kantor, currently in the Tony award-winning “The Band’s Visit.” Nationally acclaimed Philadelphia-based playwright Jacqueline Goldfinger will lead a special playwright’s workshop. Another exciting highlight will be a panel on new play development by Artistic Director Paul Meshejian, whose company PlayPenn developed “Oslo.”

The Alliance for Jewish Theatre (AJT) brings together theatres, theatre-artists and others connected to promoting the creation, presentation, and preservation of both traditional and non-traditional theatrical endeavors by, for and about the Jewish experience. These conferences are vital for creative renewal, as well as networking for Jewish arts and culture. The conference will feature a playwright and solo performers showcase, panel presentations and hands-on workshops.

AJT also celebrates emerging and young Jewish theatre makers through its AJT Theatremachers program. Through an application process, AJT Theatremachers receive subsidies to attend the conference, thereby becoming ambassadors for Jewish culture.

Other artistic partners for the 2018 AJT conference include Theatre Philadelphia and theatre companies PlayPenn, InterAct, Simpatico, Azuka, and Inis Nua. The Covenant Foundation, once again, is a sponsor of the conference.

Deborah Baer Mozes, Artistic Director, Theatre Ariel says, “I can sum up my goals for this AJT conference in one word – new! We set out to create opportunities for our participants to interact with Jewish sources & resources, to explore content and discover new stories that should come to the stage. We will draw from incredible Philadelphia theatre companies engaged in new play development and learn best practices from their expertise and experiences. Finally, we will create a space for new conversations on issues of multiculturalism and social justice in the theatre, to challenge us to explore making new Jewish theatre in 2018.”

For information on membership, attending, the AJT Theatremachers, submitting for a showcase, or public programs, see alljewishtheatre.org. For interview requests, email david@alljewishtheatre.org.