About Us
Mission
The Alliance for Jewish Theatre’s mission is to promote and preserve Jewish theatre.
AJT is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization made up of theatre-artists, theatres, and other people connected and dedicated to Promoting and Preserving Jewish Theatre, including the creation, presentation, and preservation of both traditional and non-traditional theatrical endeavors by, for, and about the Jewish experience.
As the leading organization for Jewish theatre worldwide, AJT:
Advocates for Jewish theatre and theatre-artists doing Jewish content
Provides an active online presence year-round to promote Jewish theatre
Hosts annual conferences in cities throughout the United States and the world
Provides education and networking to develop works with Jewish content
Develops pathways, formal and informal, to cooperatively develop new projects
Seeks collaborations with other like-minded organizations that share our mission
Our Values
Guided by our North Star of honoring and preserving Jewish theatre, our core values are:
A Catalyst for Development
Being a catalyst for the development of theatre with a Jewish sensibility
Building Bridges
Building bridges between theatre artists, theatres, and the communities they serve
Empowering Artists
Empowering, educating, and inspiring theatre artists to tell Jewish stories
Expanding Reach
Expanding the reach of theatre that explores Jewish identity in a multi-cultural world
Our History
Decades of Promoting Jewish Theatre
Jewish theatre is “the vessel for putting our meanings.”
— Theodore Bikel
Founded in 1979 with support from the National Foundation for Jewish Culture, the Association for Jewish Theatre (AJT) began as a hub for Jewish creativity, bringing together Jewish theatres, performers, playwrights, and scholars across North America. Early festivals and conferences inspired the growth of Jewish theatres in JCCs and independent venues, and helped launch the first International Jewish Theatre Festival in Tel Aviv in 1982.
Over the years, AJT has evolved from the Jewish Theatre Association to the Council of Jewish Theatres, and ultimately, to the Association for Jewish Theatre. Along the way, we've gathered in cities across the globe—from New York to Vienna—welcoming artists like Theodore Bikel, Wendy Wasserstein, Carl Reiner, Adam Kantor, and so many more.
Since 2011, AJT has operated as an independent nonprofit, supporting Jewish theatre-makers and organizations with an ongoing commitment to creative exploration, cultural expression, and community-building. We continue to be a vital space for connection and collaboration, with a growing international network and a thriving annual conference, ensuring the next generation of theatre-makers are mentored, supported, and celebrated.
As the beloved Theodore Bikel once said, Jewish theatre is “the vessel for putting our meanings.” At AJT, we believe those meanings — stories, identities, and questions — matter more than ever. We honor the tradition of L’dor V’dor, building bridges between generations through performance, dialogue, and shared purpose.
Become a Member
We Need You!
Become a part of the organization dedicated to the art, culture, and future of Jewish theatre.