By Judith Newmark, Special to the Jewish Light
• Published January 16, 2020
Maybe I’m just super-aware of these things. But I can’t be the only one to have noticed that on stages around St. Louis, 2019 seemed exceptionally . . . Jewish.And we’re not just talking schmaltz. This was challenging, high-quality theater, beautifully...
BY JUDITH NEWMARK, SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH LIGHT
• Published December 12, 2019
In 2017, Will Bonfiglio won the St. Louis Theater Circle Award for outstanding actor in a comedy for his performance in “Buyer and Cellar,” a one-man show at Stray Dog. He portrayed an unemployed actor who goes to work in Barbra Streisand’s private...
By Ellen Futterman, Editor
• Published September 26, 2019
Play timeFew Monday mornings start off as chill as a coffee date with Eddie Coffield, artistic director of the New Jewish Theatre. We got together at Colleen’s in Clayton to talk about the new NJT season, the first one he officially put together. Of...
By Judith Newmark, Special to the Jewish Light
• Published May 22, 2019
A wedding is a lot like theater, complete with stars, costumes, sets and, not infrequently, plot twists. So, if writers take inspiration from the altar, why not? After all, the source material is abundant.Playwright Tasha Gordon-Solmon draws from that...
BY ELLEN FUTTERMAN, EDITOR
• Published May 9, 2019
Weddings, while usually joyous occasions, can also generate more than their fair share of stress, including the bride’s decision about what to wear on the big day. Google wedding dress and stress, and more than 100 million results come back. Popular...
BY ROBERT A. COHN, Editor-in-Chief Emeritus
• Published February 1, 2019
At one time not long ago, it would have been unthinkable for a Jewish theater company to produce William Shakespeare’s “Merchant of Venice,” the lead character of which is Shylock, a bloodthirsty and corrupt moneylender in the fabled city during...
BY ROBERT A. COHN, Editor-in-Chief Emeritus
• Published February 1, 2019
At one time not long ago, it would have been unthinkable for a Jewish theater company to produce William Shakespeare’s “Merchant of Venice,” the lead character of which is Shylock, a bloodthirsty and corrupt moneylender in the fabled city during...
BY ELLEN FUTTERMAN, EDITOR
• Published January 18, 2019
When it’s cold outside, our tendency is to hibernate — get into our PJs, cozy up with a glass of wine or hot toddy and binge-watch whatever (might I recommend “Killing Eve” on Hulu).And while that’s fine for a night or two, staying in means...
BY JUDITH NEWMARK, SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH LIGHT
• Published January 17, 2019
“I’m not a genius,” playwright and director Aaron Posner insists. “But I get to work with geniuses all the time.”There’s probably something wrong with both parts of that remark. In the first place, plenty of people would gladly bestow a “genius”...
BY ELLEN FUTTERMAN, EDITOR
• Published October 11, 2018
Any theater production that serves audiences Snickers and Potato Chip Casserole scores points with me. “Raging Skillet,” which opens the 22nd season of the New Jewish Theatre, is one of those productions.The play also serves up plenty of raucous laughs...
By Ellen Futterman, Editor
• Published September 21, 2018
Chef is all the rageIf “Raging Skillet” is half as entertaining as the person on whom it is based, then St. Louis audiences should prepare for a thoroughly raucous experience. Written by Jacques Lamarre, the play takes its cue from the 2015 memoir,...
BY ROBERT A. COHN, Editor-in-Chief Emeritus
• Published May 31, 2018
Aaron Posner’s ironically titled “Life Sucks,” a comedic adaptation of Anton Chekhov’s “Uncle Vanya” is closing out the 21st season of the New Jewish Theatre, appearing through June 21 in the Jewish Community Center’s Arts & Education...
