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A nonprofit, independent news source to inform, inspire, educate and connect the St. Louis Jewish community.

St. Louis Jewish Light

A nonprofit, independent news source to inform, inspire, educate and connect the St. Louis Jewish community.

St. Louis Jewish Light

A nonprofit, independent news source to inform, inspire, educate and connect the St. Louis Jewish community.

St. Louis Jewish Light

Graham Emmons and Jessica Kadish play the bride and groom in New Jewish Theater’s ‘I Now Pronounce.’ Photo: Jon Gitchoff

Say ‘I do’ to ‘I Now Pronounce’ at NJT

By Judith Newmark, Special to the Jewish LightPublished 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...

New Jewish Theatre’s production of ‘I Now Pronounce’ (coming May 15). PHOTO: Eric Woolsey

Wedding gown again plays key role in NJT production

BY ELLEN FUTTERMAN, EDITORPublished 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...

Jerome Davis and Gary Wayne Barker star in the New Jewish Theatre’s production of ‘District Merchants.’ Photo: Eric Woolsey

‘District Merchants’ blows the cobwebs off Shakespeare

BY JUDITH NEWMARK, SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH LIGHTPublished 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”...

Chef Rossi’s 2015 memoir ‘The Raging Skillet: The True Life of Chef Rossi’ is the basis for the New Jewish Theatre’s upcoming play, ‘Raging Skillet.’ Photo: Melissa Donovan

New Jewish Theatre opener looks at punk rock chef; art for a cause

By Ellen Futterman, EditorPublished 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,...

At a local senior living facility, history teacher Joe Regenbogen (standing) found 16 men and women who served during or were deeply affected by  World War II; he tells their stories in the new book ‘The Boys of Brookdale.’ Photo: Ellen Futterman

New leader at NJT, veterans’ stories, ‘Nuremberg’ play

Ellen Futterman, EditorPublished April 18, 2018

NJT gets new ADSometimes things just work out. That’s certainly the case with Edward Coffield recently being named Artistic Director of the New Jewish Theatre. He will replace Kathleen Sitzer, who is retiring in July after 22 years with NJT, and neither...

Rob Riordan and John Flack in ‘New Jerusalem’ at the New Jewish Theatre.

Spinoza vindicated in riveting production of ‘New Jerusalem’’

BY ROBERT A. COHN, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF EMERITUSPublished April 11, 2018

In one of the most shameful episodes of Jewish history, the astoundingly brilliant Baruch de Spinoza was railroaded into a harsh cherem, or excommunication, from the Jewish religion in the very Talmud Torah Congregation in Amsterdam he was once considered...

Jacqueline Thompson’s performance in the New Jewish Theater’s production of ‘Intimate Apparel’ won the St. Louis Theater Circle’s award for  Lead Actress in a Drama. Photo: Eric Woolsey

Seder humor, guns and art, NJT wins, JCRC honors

Ellen Futterman, EditorPublished March 28, 2018

Prelude to PassoverLast week I was having lunch with a fairly new friend who asked if I would like to join her for Passover. She and her husband were having 18 guests to their home — two more would be no trouble at all, she assured me.I politely declined...

Jacqueline Thompson and Jim Butz perform in New Jewish Theatre’s 2017 production of ‘Intimate Apparel.’  Photo: Eric Woolsey

NJT nominations, local NA’AMAT office closing

Ellen Futterman, EditorPublished January 31, 2018

Dress for successCongratulations to the New Jewish Theatre, whose show “Intimate Apparel” last year earned the second highest number of production nominations from the St. Louis Theater Circle. The group released its 2018 award nominees last week...

Samuel Davis and Kathleen Sitzer star in the New Jewish Theatre production of ‘Driving Miss Daisy.’ Photos: Eric Woolsey

That’s a wrap: Sitzer retiring from NJT after 22 years

Ellen Futterman, EditorPublished January 10, 2018

After 21 seasons and more than 100 plays that reflect the human condition through a Jewish lens, Kathleen Sitzer, artistic director of the New Jewish Theatre, will retire in June, shortly after the close of NJT’s 2017-18 season.Sitzer, 72, has been...

Andrew Michael Neiman (left) as Mitch and James Anthony as Morrie in the NJT season opener, “Tuesdays with Morrie.’ Photos: Eric Woolsey

Poignant, powerful ‘Tuesdays With Morrie’ opens NJT season

BY ROBERT A. COHN, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF EMERITUSPublished October 11, 2017

“Old age ain’t no place for sissies,” Bette Davis famously said, and the New Jewish Theatre’s “Tuesdays With Morrie” drives that truth in every heart-wrenching scene.  To begin its 21st season, NJT has produced a poignant and often powerful...

Chris Tipp and Amy Loui in the NJT production of ‘4000 Miles.’ Photo: Eric Woolsey

Touching, thought-provoking ‘4000 Miles’ caps NJT’s 20th season

BY ROBERT A. COHN, Editor-in-Chief EmeritusPublished May 18, 2017

Generations of American Jews brought up on a steady diet of “Fiddler on the Roof” and “Hester Street” often idealize their grandparents’ backgrounds as Jewish versions of plaster saints: Orthodox, shtetl-born and eager to assimilate into the...

Chris Tipp and Amy Loui star in the New Jewish Theatre’s production of ‘4000 Miles.’ Photo: Eric Woolsey

‘4000 Miles’ closes out NJT’s 20th season

Published May 4, 2017

The New Jewish Theatre closes its milestone 20th season with Amy Herzog’s “4000 Miles,” which will run May 11- 28. It quietly tells of the developing relationship between a 91-year-old “lefty” political activist and her 21-year-old grandson....

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