The Jewish Federation Connecting with Community presents "Using Theatre to Extend Community and Deepen Empathy" with Daniel Elihu Kramer, producing artistic director of Chester Theatre Company, as well as chair of the Theatre Department at Smith College.

At Chester Theatre Company, contemporary plays are produced that will inspire audience engagement and thoughtful, productive conversations that create and extend community.  "Every play there opens us up both to difference and to shared humanity: coming to know the stranger, coming to love the stranger, and seekng a world where strangers are embraced."

Daniel Elihu Kramer became Producing Artistic Director of Chester Theatre Company in fall of 2015, after four years as Associate Artistic Director, and produced his first season in 2016.   Kramer holds an MFA in Directing from Yale School of Drama and a BA from Haverford College, and is a member of the Society for Stage Directors and Choreographers (SDC) and the Dramatists Guild. He was a Founding Artistic Director of Salt Lake Shakespeare, Associate Artistic Director of Spiral Stage, and assistant to the Artistic Director of Circle Repertory Theatre. Kramer was also drama editor for the Kenyon Review.

This free program is part of the Federation’s Connecting With Community Series and will be followed by a kosher hot lunch. Lunch is a $2 suggested donation for adults over 60 years of age or $7 for all others. Advance reservations are required for lunch and can be made by calling (413) 442-2200 before 9 a.m. on the day of the program.