Theater J to Receive NEA Grant for Arthur Miller's BROKEN GLASS

Theater J, of the Edlavitch DCJCC, announced the award of a $10,000 Art Works grant from the National Endowment for the Arts for the upcoming Theater J production of Arthur Miller's Broken Glass. Art Works grants focus on the creation of art that meets the highest standards of excellence, public engagement with diverse and excellent art, lifelong learning in the arts, and the strengthening of communities through the arts.

Few theater goers have had the opportunity to see this lesser-known work by Miller, which received the Tony Nomination for Best Play the year it debuted. This production in June will be the first in DC in 20 years. The play explores how American Jews were impacted by news of the Holocaust in 1938 as news of Kristallnacht was breaking across the country.

"BROKEN GLASS is a rich and complex play that delves into themes of American Jewish identity, assimilation into American culture, and how we as Americans grapple with events happening in the world around us," said Adam Immerwahr, Theater J's artistic director. "With a wave of sentiment against outsiders on the rise, both nationally and internationally, this play is especially potent and vital right now. It's an urgent reminder of our collective history."

"We're grateful to the NEA for this generous and prestigious grant, which will help bring an important work and a meaningful discussion about remembering the Holocaust to diverse audiences within the EDCJCC community," said EDCJCC CEO Carole Zawatsky.

Theater J will offer a series of free post-show discussions following performances on Sunday afternoons to further explore the issues raised in the play with the community. These moderated discussions with the audience will feature experts, scholars, and writers, as well as the artist from the production and local Jewish clergy.

The Theater J Passports Education and Access program will provide free and subsidized tickets for BROKEN GLASS to underserved communities, senior citizens and students. Theater J offers free tickets for every production to community partners involved in our Passports program, including homeless clients of soup kitchen Miriam's Kitchen, women's shelter N-Street Village, the Adas Israel Seniors Group, and the Mt. Gilead Baptist Seniors Group.

Rehearsals for the production will begin on May 16, 2017 and performances will run from June 14 to July 9, 2017.