Minnesota Jewish Theatre Company Announces Upcoming Season

The Minnesota Jewish Theatre Company has announced its 18th season. Barbara Brooks, MJTC's producing artistic director stated, "I'm very excited about our upcoming 18th season. 18 is a special number, Chai, in the Jewish tradition, and we're moving into this season with some special firsts: our first summer run and an enlarged season with five shows for the first time."

My Mother's Lesbian Jewish Wiccan Wedding will be returning as the summer production for a limited engagement. MJTC is delighted to bring this sold-out hit back this summer, opening on August 18, 2012.

The season will continue with the regional premiere of Photograph 51, by Anna Ziegler. Photograph 51 tells a bittersweet tale about ambition and the quest for greatness. It's the story of Rosalind Franklin, who did much of the fundamental work in uncovering the structure of DNA, and her male co-scientists who eventually received the Nobel Prize for the discovery. Photograph 51 will run October 13 through November 4, 2012.

MJTC will revive the hit production Hanukkah Lights in the Big Sky, by Buffy Sedlachek, for the holiday season. Hanukkah Lights in the Big Sky is an uplifting story based on actual events from 1993 in Billings, Montana. When a young boy puts a menorah in his bedroom window a racist throws a cinder block at it, shattering the window and splintering a community. Leaders of all faith rally their community to come together in an extraordinary demonstration of love that blends the traditions of Hanukkah and Christmas. Hanukkah Lights in the Big Sky will run December 8-21, 2012.

The winter weekend production will run March 2-24 and is the regional premiere of Compulsion or The House Behind by Rinne Groff. In 1951, Sid Silver is deeply moved by Anne Frank's Diary and is earnestly determined to share her story honestly with the masses. He becomes embroiled in litigious battles once publishers and producers become involved. Compulsion or The House Behind is a rich mix of history, entertainment gossip, and one man's obsession over a young girl's work of art that doesn't really belong to him. In a unique storytelling fashion, Anne Frank and her family are portrayed by marionettes.

The regional premiere of Handle with Care will close the season. Ayelet is a young Israeli woman and a reluctant traveling companion to her grandmother on a trip to America. She finds herself stranded in the U.S. when her grandmother dies unexpectedly, and her body is lost by DHL. It's a tender tale of loss and love that gently explores faith, friendship, family, and the eternal question of destiny. Handle with Care will run April 15 through May 5.

Season passbook subscriptions are now on sale for $51 - $72, with a specially priced student passbook for $36. Season passbooks may be purchased by calling 651-647-4315 or e-mailing info@mnjewishtheatre.org. Box-office hours are Monday through Friday 9 am – 4:30 pm.