| Dates: | 1986-1996 |
| Size: | 6 linear feet in 12 boxes, including 1 audio tape reel, 18 folders of photographs |
| Repository: | Chicago Public Library, Harold Washington Library Center, Special Collections, 400 S. State Street, Chicago, IL 60605 |
| Collection Number: | T00012 |
| Immediate Source of Acquisition: | Donated in two portions: First, in 1996 by the National Jewish Theatre (NJT). Second, in 2008 by Northlight Theatre, which absorbed the NJT company when it was no longer independently viable. |
| Conditions Governing Access: | No restrictions. Researchers, please request this material 24 hours in advance of use. |
| Conditions Governing Use: | Please consult staff to determine ability to reuse materials from collection. |
| Preferred Citation: | When quoting material from this collection the preferred citation is: National Jewish Theatre Records, [Box #, Folder #], Special Collections, Chicago Public Library |
| Finding Aid Author: | Johanna Russ, September 2014. Updated and ingested into ArchivesSpace by Johanna Russ, 2021. |
Abstract
The National Jewish Theatre was founded in 1986 as a professional company devoted to producing plays that, according to one of its artistic directors, “explore and illuminate contemporary Jewish life.” This collection includes newsletters, board minutes, scripts, production contracts, programs, press clippings and photographs. The theater closed in 1996.
Biographical/Historical
The National Jewish Theatre (NJT) was founded in 1986 as a professional company devoted to producing plays that, according to one of its artistic directors, “explore and illuminate contemporary Jewish life.” NJT’s home was the Frank Theater in the Meyer Kaplan Jewish Community Center at 5050 W. Church Street in Skokie, a suburb north of Chicago home to a large Jewish population.
NJT quickly established itself on the Chicago theater scene, producing four plays per season and hosting several other performance events. At one time, the company explored developing a children’s theater. Its productions, cast and crew were widely recognized for their work throughout NJT’s ten years.
In 1995, after a season wherein NJT lost $100,000, the Jewish Community Center (JCC) of Chicago decided to withdraw its funding from the theater. It was presumed that NJT would close. After much lobbying and negotiation, NJT came to an agreement with the JCC that allowed it to continue using the theater space for a low fee—it had been rent-free—and to keep the NJT name, becoming a nonprofit organization that could raise its own money. It was able to raise enough money to produce another season, but in 1996, the NJT closed its doors for good. The company was absorbed by Northlight Theatre, another north suburban group.
During its history, the following people served as leaders of NJT:
President of Board
- Joan Krengel, 1986-1996
Chairman of Board
- Allen Turner, 1986-1989
- Charlotte Newberger, 1989-1993
- Joyce Sloane, 1993-1996
Artistic Director
- Stanley Brechner, 1986-1987
- Sheldon Patinkin, 1987-1991
- Arnold Aprill, 1991-1992
- Jeff Ginsberg and Susan Padveen, 1992-1996
Scope and Contents
This collection focuses on the productions put on by the National Jewish Theatre (NJT), with some general administrative files included. Board of Director files include packets of information prepared for the board meetings, including reports, theater reviews, minutes, agendas and other materials discussed during the meeting. Records related to the productions include contracts with lighting, costume, and stage crew; casting information; newsletters; fundraising mailers; newspaper clippings; play bills and programs; promotional pieces; photographs; stage directions; scripts; budgets and other financial information regarding ticket sales and play production; artistic, design, and technical files; and information on securing production rights from the authors.
Arrangement
Arranged in two series:
- Series 1: Administrative Files, 1986-1995
- Series 2: Production Files, 1986-1996
Subject Headings
- Aprill, Arnold
- Jewish theater
- Jewish theater--Archival resources
- National Jewish Theater
- Patinkin, Sheldon
- Sloane, Joyce
- Theater--Illinois--Chicago
Collection Inventory
Series 1: Administrative Files, 1986-1995
Scope and Contents
These files deal with the National Jewish Theatre (NJT) generally or with multiple plays at once. Included are Board of Directors meeting minutes; the company’s newsletter, “House Lights;” subscription mailings; general newspaper clippings and photographs; information on the potential of establishing a children’s theater; information on other hosted performances; and ticket offers from related organizations.
Arrangement
Files are arranged roughly alphabetically by subject, and chronologically within.
| Box 1 | Folder 1 | Board of Directors: agenda, budget, ticket sales report, 1986 December 16 |
| Box 1 | Folder 2 | Board of Directors: minutes, agenda, reports, 1990 October 2 |
| Box 1 | Folder 3 | Board of Directors: agenda, reports, 1990 December 3 |
| Box 1 | Folder 4 | Board of Directors: agenda, minutes, reports, 1990 December 18 |
| Box 1 | Folder 5 | Board of Directors: agenda, reports, 1991 January 23 |
| Box 1 | Folder 6 | Board of Directors: agenda, reports, 1991 January 30 |
| Box 1 | Folder 7 | Board of Directors: minutes, reports, 1991 February 14 |
| Box 1 | Folder 8 | Board of Directors: agenda, reports, 1991 March 18 |
| Box 1 | Folder 9 | Board of Directors: minutes reports, 1991 April 22 |
| Box 1 | Folder 10 | Board of Directors: minutes, reports, 1991 October 22 |
| Box 1 | Folder 11 | Season programs, 1986-1994 |
| Box 1 | Folder 12 | “House Lights” newsletter, 1987-1995 |
| Box 1 | Folder 13 | Mailings; Subscription solicitations, 1989-1994, undated |
| Box 1 | Folder 14 | General press clippings, 1986-1993, undated |
| Box 1 | Folder 15 | General photographs, undated |
| Box 1 | Folder 16 | General photographs, undated |
| Box 2 | Folder 1 | Great Artists Series, 1988 |
| Box 2 | Folder 2 | Event honoring Dr. Chaim Potok. Photographs, 1992 |
| Box 2 | Folder 3 | Proposal for National Jewish Children’s Theater, 1992, undated |
| Box 2 | Folder 4 | Brochures of other children’s theaters, undated |
| Box 2 | Folder 5 | Sample of Young Audience Study Guide, 1992, undated |
| Box 2 | Folder 6 | Chicagoland Advocates for Signed Theater (CAST), 1992 |
| Box 2 | Folder 7 | North Shore Group Sales mailing; Chicago Theatres On-the-Air mailing, 1994-1995, undated |
Series 2: Production Files, 1986-1996
Scope and Contents
These files deal with nearly all of the individual plays produced by the National Jewish Theatre (NJT). The files include newspaper clippings of theater reviews; photographs; programs; promotional pieces; stage directions; contracts with lighting, costume, and stage crew; information on securing production rights; and scripts.
Arrangement
The files are arranged chronologically by production date.
| Box 2 | Folder 8 | A Shayna Maidel, written by Barbara Lebow; directed by Robert Kalfin. Working script, correspondence, 1986 October-December |
| Box 2 | Folder 9 | A Shayna Maidel. Contracts, programs, 1986 October-December |
| Box 2 | Folder 10 | A Shayna Maidel. Press, 1986 October-December |
| Box 2 | Folder 11 | Green Fields, written by Peretz Hirshbein; directed by Stanley Brechner. Contracts, correspondence, script, notes, programs, 1987 March |
| Box 3 | Folder 1 | Green Fields. Photographs, 1987 March |
| Box 3 | Folder 2 | Green Fields. Press, 1987 March |
| Box 3 | Folder 3 | Grown Ups, written by Jules Feiffer; directed by Kyle Donnelly. Correspondence, contracts, script, sketches, 1987 October-November |
| Box 3 | Folder 4 | Grown Ups. Audiotape reel, 1987 October-November |
| Box 3 | Folder 5 | Grown Ups. Script, notes, programs, 1987 October-November |
| Box 3 | Folder 6 | Grown Ups. Photographs, 1987 October-November |
| Box 3 | Folder 7 | Grown Ups. Press, 1987 October-November |
| Box 3 | Folder 8 | The Dybbuk, written by S. Anski; directed by Sheldon Patinkin. Contracts, correspondence, notes, press, 1987 October-November |
| Box 3 | Folder 9 | The Dybbuk. Press, contracts, correspondence, programs, promotional pieces, 1987 October-November |
| Box 4 | Folder 1 | The Dybbuk. Photographs, 1987 October-November |
| Box 4 | Folder 2 | The Dybbuk. Press, 1987 October-November |
| Box 4 | Folder 3 | The Magic Barrel & Other Stories, stage adaptations of the work of Bernard Malamud, Grace Paley, I.B. Singer, Stanley Elkin; directed by Arnold Aprill. Programs, 1988 February-April |
| Box 4 | Folder 4 | The Magic Barrel & Other Stories. Press, 1988 February-April |
| Box 4 | Folder 5 | Minnie’s Boys, book by Arthur Marx and Robert Fisher; songs by Larry Grossman and Hal Hackaday; directed by Estelle Goodman Spector. Contracts, correspondence, photograph, ticket and advertisement sales, 1988 May-June |
| Box 4 | Folder 6 | Minnie’s Boys. Score, contracts, programs, 1988 May-June |
| Box 4 | Folder 7 | Minnie’s Boys. Press, 1988 May-June |
| Box 4 | Folder 8 | The Puppet Master of Lodz, written by Gilles Segal; translated by Sara O’Connor; directed by J.R. Sullivan. Contracts, correspondence, promotional pieces, programs, 1988 October-November |
| Box 4 | Folder 9 | The Puppet Master of Lodz. Press, 1988 October-November |
| Box 4 | Folder 10 | I Can Get it for You Wholesale, book by Jerome Weidman; music and lyrics by Harold Rome; directed by William Payne. Correspondence, contracts, promotional pieces, programs, 1988 December-1989 January |
| Box 4 | Folder 11 | I Can Get it for You Wholesale. Photographs, 1988 December-1989 January |
| Box 4 | Folder 12 | I Can Get it for You Wholesale. Press, 1988 December-1989 January |
| Box 5 | Folder 1 | After the Fall, written by Arthur Miller; directed by Sheldon Patinkin. Contracts, correspondence, promotional pieces, programs, 1989 March |
| Box 5 | Folder 2 | After the Fall. Press, 1989 March |
| Box 5 | Folder 3 | 3 by Mankowitz: The Irish Hebrew Lesson; The Bespoke Overcoat; It Should Happen to a Dog, written by Wolf Mankowitz; directed by Jimmy Bickerstaff. Contracts, correspondence, press, programs, promotional pieces, photograph, stage plan, 1989 May-June |
| Box 5 | Folder 4 | 3 by Mankowitz: The Irish Hebrew Lesson; The Bespoke Overcoat; It Should Happen to a Dog. Press, 1989 May-June |
| Box 5 | Folder 5 | Social Security, written by Andrew Bergman; directed by B.J. Jones. Contracts, correspondence, press, promotional pieces, programs, 1989 May |
| Box 5 | Folder 6 | Social Security. Press, 1989 May |
| Box 5 | Folder 7 | I Am a Camera, written by John Van Druten, adapted from The Berlin Stories by Christopher Isherwood; directed by Arnold Aprill. Press, contracts, correspondence, 1989 October-December |
| Box 5 | Folder 8 | I Am a Camera. Notes, reports, programs, 1989 October-December |
| Box 6 | Folder 1 | I Am a Camera. Script, stage notes, press, 1989 October-December |
| Box 6 | Folder 2 | I Am a Camera. Script, notes, stage plans, 1989 October-December |
| Box 6 | Folder 3 | I Am a Camera. Photographs, 1989 October-December |
| Box 6 | Folder 4 | I Am a Camera. Press, 1989 October-December |
| Box 6 | Folder 5 | Listen to My Song: Kurt Weil’s Theater Music, directed by Estelle Goodman Spector and Sheldon Patinkin; musical direction by Kingsley Day. Contracts, correspondence, notes, stage plan, promotional pieces, programs, 1990 January |
| Box 6 | Folder 6 | Listen to My Song: Kurt Weil’s Theater Music. Press, 1990 January |
| Box 6 | Folder 7 | First is Supper, written by Shelley Berman; directed by Terry McCabe. Script, stage plan, notes, promotional pieces, programs, 1990 April |
| Box 6 | Folder 8 | First is Supper. Script, stage notes, 1990 April |
| Box 7 | Folder 1 | First is Supper. Script, stage notes, 1990 April |
| Box 7 | Folder 2 | First is Supper. Photographs, 1990 April |
| Box 7 | Folder 3 | First is Supper. Press, 1990 April |
| Box 7 | Folder 4 | Cantorial, written by Ira Levin; directed by Jeff Ginsberg. Contracts, correspondence, programs, promotional pieces, 1990 June |
| Box 7 | Folder 5 | Cantorial. Correspondence, notes, script, stage notes, 1990 June |
| Box 7 | Folder 6 | Cantorial. Script, stage notes, 1990 June |
| Box 7 | Folder 7 | Cantorial. Photographs, 1990 June |
| Box 7 | Folder 8 | Cantorial. Press, 1990 June |
| Box 7 | Folder 9 | Bitter Friends, written by Gordon Rayfield; directed by Terry McCabe. Correspondence, promotional pieces, programs, 1990 October-November |
| Box 7 | Folder 10 | Bitter Friends. Script, stage notes, 1990 October-November |
| Box 8 | Folder 1 | Bitter Friends. Script, stage notes, 1990 October-November |
| Box 8 | Folder 2 | Bitter Friends. Photographs, 1990 October-November |
| Box 8 | Folder 3 | Bitter Friends. Press, 1990 October-November |
| Box 8 | Folder 4 | Solomon’s Choice, written by Cheryl Lavin and Marilynn Preston; directed by Michael Leavitt. Contracts, correspondence, promotional pieces, programs, 1990 December-1991 January |
| Box 8 | Folder 5 | Solomon’s Choice. Script, stage notes, 1990 December-1991 January |
| Box 8 | Folder 6 | Solomon’s Choice. Script, stage notes, 1990 December-1991 January |
| Box 8 | Folder 7 | Solomon’s Choice. Press, 1990 December-1991 January |
| Box 9 | Folder 1 | The Golem, adapted by Tom Mula; directed by Arnold Aprill. Script, stage notes, programs, 1991 April-May |
| Box 9 | Folder 2 | The Golem. Photographs, 1991 April-May |
| Box 9 | Folder 3 | The Golem. Press, 1991 April-May |
| Box 9 | Folder 4 | The Sunshine Boys, written by Neil Simon; directed by Tom Gianas. Contracts, correspondence, photograph, press, promotional pieces, programs, 1991 June-July |
| Box 9 | Folder 5 | The Sunshine Boys. Script, stage notes, 1991 June-July |
| Box 9 | Folder 6 | The Sunshine Boys. Press, 1991 June-July |
| Box 9 | Folder 7 | Heidi Chronicles, written by Wendy Wasserstein; directed by Sheldon Patinkin. Contracts, correspondence, press, programs, 1991 October-November |
| Box 9 | Folder 8 | Heidi Chronicles. Photographs, 1991 October-November |
| Box 9 | Folder 9 | Heidi Chronicles. Press, 1991 October-November |
| Box 9 | Folder 10 | In My Mother’s House, written by Kim Chernin; adapted by Arnold Aprill; directed by Estelle Goodman Spector. Contracts, correspondence, notes, programs, press, 1991 December-1992 January |
| Box 9 | Folder 11 | In My Mother’s House. Photographs, 1991 December-1992 January |
| Box 10 | Folder 1 | In My Mother’s House. Press, 1991 December-1992 January |
| Box 10 | Folder 2 | Sins of the Father, written by Chaim Potok; directed by David Cromer. Contracts, correspondence, programs, costume sketches, 1992 March-April |
| Box 10 | Folder 3 | Sins of the Father. Press, 1992 March-April |
| Box 10 | Folder 4 | In My Father’s Court, written by Isaac Bashevis Singer; adapted by Arnold Aprill and Jacqueline Penrod; directed by Arnold Aprill. Contracts, correspondence, press, programs, 1992 May-June |
| Box 10 | Folder 5 | In My Father’s Court. Photographs, 1992 May-June |
| Box 10 | Folder 6 | In My Father’s Court. Press, 1992 May-June |
| Box 10 | Folder 7 | The Songs of War, written by Murray Schisgal; directed by Susan Padveen. Sheet music, programs, 1992 October-November |
| Box 10 | Folder 8 | The Songs of War. Sheet music, contracts, correspondence, 1992 October-November |
| Box 10 | Folder 9 | The Songs of War. Press, 1992 October-November |
| Box 10 | Folder 10 | Whine, Women & Song. Flier, 1992 December 7 |
| Box 10 | Folder 11 | The Wizard of Quiz, written by Steve Feffer; directed by Jeff Ginsberg. Contracts, correspondence, press, programs, 1992 December-1993 January |
| Box 11 | Folder 1 | The Wizard of Quiz. Script prompts, notes, stage plan, background, 1992 December-1993 January |
| Box 11 | Folder 2 | The Wizard of Quiz. Press, 1992 December-1993 January |
| Box 11 | Folder 3 | Adults Can Purim Too. Flier, 1993 March 7 |
| Box 11 | Folder 4 | The Price, by Arthur Miller; directed by B.J. Jones. Contracts, correspondence, press, promotional pieces, programs, 1993 March-April |
| Box 11 | Folder 5 | The Price. Script, stage notes, 1993 March-April |
| Box 11 | Folder 6 | Puttin’ on the Ritz: The American Songs of Irving Berlin, directed by Sheldon Patinkin. Contracts, correspondence, promotional pieces, programs, 1993 June-July |
| Box 11 | Folder 7 | Puttin’ on the Ritz: The American Songs of Irving Berlin. Press, 1993 June-July |
| Box 11 | Folder 8 | Sight Unseen, written by Donald Margulies, directed by Susan Padveen. Programs, 1993 October-November |
| Box 11 | Folder 9 | Sight Unseen. Press, 1993 October-November |
| Box 11 | Folder 10 | Underground, written by Joshua Sobol; English adaptation by Ron Jenkins; directed by B.J. Jones. Contracts, correspondence, script, promotional pieces, programs, press, 1993 December-1994 January |
| Box 12 | Folder 1 | Underground. Costume research, 1993 December-1994 January |
| Box 12 | Folder 2 | Underground. Press, 1993 December-1994 January |
| Box 12 | Folder 3 | They Wrote American: I Didn’t Know What Time it Was: The Music of Richard Rogers, directed by Sheldon Patinkin. Promotional piece, 1994 February |
| Box 12 | Folder 4 | They Wrote American: I Didn’t Know What Time it Was: The Music of Richard Rogers. Press, 1994 February |
| Box 12 | Folder 5 | Telegram from Heaven, from the novel by Arnold Manoff; adapted for stage by Dinah Manoff and Dennis Bailey, directed by Valerie Landsburg. Contracts, correspondence, background, promotional piece, programs, 1994 April-May |
| Box 12 | Folder 6 | Telegram from Heaven. Press, 1994 April-May |
| Box 12 | Folder 7 | Messiah, written by Martin Sherman, directed by Jeff Ginsberg. Contract, correspondence, promotional piece, programs, 1994 June-July |
| Box 12 | Folder 8 | Messiah. Press, 1994 June-July |
| Box 12 | Folder 9 | Rocket to the Moon, written by Clifford Odets; directed by Jeff Ginsberg. Contract, correspondence, notes, press, promotional piece, programs, 1994 October-November |
| Box 12 | Folder 10 | Club Soda, written by Leah Kornfeld Friedman; directed by Steve Scott. Playbills, press, 1994 December-1995 January |
| Box 12 | Folder 11 | Club Soda. Photographs, 1994 December-1995 January |
| Box 12 | Folder 12 | Broken Glass, written by Arthur Miller; directed by Susan Padveen. Contracts, correspondence, reports, notes, press, promotional pieces, programs, 1995 March-May |
| Box 12 | Folder 13 | Broken Glass. Photographs, 1995 March-May |
| Box 12 | Folder 14 | Falling in Love with Love: A Richard Rodgers Revue, directed by Sheldon Patinkin. Programs, press, 1995 June-July |
| Box 12 | Folder 15 | Falling in Love with Love: A Richard Rodgers Revue. Photographs, 1995 June-July |
| Box 12 | Folder 16 | The Sisters Rosensweig, written by Wendy Wasserstein; directed by Susan Padveen. Programs, 1996 February |
| Box 12 | Folder 17 | The American Plan, written by Richard Greenberg; directed by Jeff Ginsberg. Programs, 1996 April |
| Box 12 | Folder 18 | Up on the Roof, adapted by Antje Gehrken; directed by Susan Osborne-Mott. Programs, 1996 June |
| Box 12 | Folder 19 | On a Slow Boat to China: Songs by Frank Loesser, directed by Jim Corti; musical direction by Kingsley Day. Programs, 1996 July |
