National Jewish Theatre Records

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

• Allen Turner, 1986-1989
• Charlotte Newberger, 1989-1993
• Joyce Sloane, 1993-1996

• Stanley Brechner, 1986-1987
• Sheldon Patinkin, 1987-1991
• Arnold Aprill, 1991-1992
• Jeff Ginsberg and Susan Padveen, 1992-1996