Beyond the Stage
Artistic Director Roundtable Discussions
As our mission states, Theater J is dedicated to taking its dialogues beyond the stage, offering an array of innovative public discussion forums and outreach programs which explore the theatrical, psychological and social elements of our art. We frequently partner with those of other faiths and communities, stressing the importance of interchange among a great variety of people wishing to take part in frank, humane conversations about conflict and culture. Theater J is proud to be both a top-flight performance company on the cutting-edge of new play development, and a civically-minded organization using theater as a springboard for engaging the community.
Theater J’s commitment to hosting free public discussions that explore issues raised by its mainstage productions began in 1998, when Ari Roth joined Theater J as Artistic Director and opened the season with a production of Waiting for Lefty/Still Waiting that included a series of discussions with a panel of community leaders. So well-received were these initial discussions, they have been an essential part of the Theater J experience ever since. A thriving program for ten years now, audiences have continued to enjoy and demand these conversations on topics covering the range of human existence, putting Theater J on the map for its ambitious range of public programming that celebrates the distinctive urban voice and social vision that are part of the Jewish cultural legacy.
Artistic Director Roundtable Discussions take place weekly following virtually every Sunday matinee performance.
Entrance is free with a ticket to any mainstage production.
History of Roundtable Discussion
Highlighted topics and guest panelists from the last ten seasons, in association with the corresponding mainstage performance they accompanied can be found here.
Current Roundtable Discussions:
Click here for information on current discussions