Taking Stage

The new year brought renewed enthusiasm and a burst of energy to local theater companies, especially for New Jewish Theatre, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary, and Stray Dog Theatre, which is in its 20th anniversary season.

Rebekah Scallet is starting her second season as NJT’s artistic director. She follows founder Kathleen Sitzer, who retired in 2018, and Sitzer’s successor, Eddie Coffield. Scallet arrived in St. Louis in 2020 after serving for nine years as the producing artistic director of the Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre and working in theater for 10 years in Chicago.

“I first heard about New Jewish Theatre when I was still living in Arkansas,” Scallet says. “I had friends in St. Louis who were working for NJT as actors, directors and designers. They all said wonderful things about the company. Since I am Jewish, I was also particularly excited at the prospect of working with a Jewish theater.”

The 25th anniversary season was previously programmed by Coffield before his departure in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Scallet explains that there are a few differences between past and current productions. “This season was primarily programmed by Eddie, so I haven’t really put my spin on it yet,” she says. “One thing I would say is notably different is our upcoming production of “Into the Woods” in December, which I did select. Though NJT has done musicals in the past, they have typically been chamber musicals or revues. This will be one of the first big Broadway musicals to be produced here.”

Telling stories through a Jewish lens has been an important part of New Jewish Theatre’s mission since its founding in 1997. “Being a Jewish theater makes us unique among other companies in St. Louis,” Scallet says. “Our productions provide both an opportunity for Jewish people to see stories of themselves and their families on stage, as well as offer non-Jewish theater-goers the chance to experience these universal stories and learn more about cultures and traditions that might be different from their own.”

Founded in January 2003, Stray Dog Theatre’s mission statement similarly promises “to create productions and programs that challenge, educate, entertain and inspire audiences, artists and communities alike. Reflecting on the human experience by bringing social awareness to universal issues is paramount. Toward these ends, SDT vows to honor diversity and embrace inclusiveness.”

“These are things people are mentioning now,” says Stray Dog Theatre founder and artistic director Gary Bell. “We were ahead of the curve. Our goal is to make our theater accessible to everyone [with] an affordable mission outreach.”

Of the company’s studio space in Tower Grove, Bell says, “It’s really important for us to be located in the City of St. Louis. [My partner] Rob and I wanted to stress our theater outreach effort. It’s really important for us to be members of the community.”

In addition to producing six mainstage shows per season, Stray Dog Theatre also runs Stray Pups Youth Theatre and Arts-in-Mind, an after-school program committed to cultivating the safe and positive development of children, families and communities. Its Silver Stage program is designed to feature actors over the age of 55. Stray Dog also produces an annual New Works Laboratory and offers an “Arts-in-Reach” for students ages 8 to 15, who participate in hands-on script writing, acting exercises, costume creation and scenic design.

Both New Jewish Theatre and Stray Dog Theatre work hard to bring their growing subscription bases the very best in theater productions while challenging and entertaining them along the way. Congratulations to both on their milestone anniversaries. ln