A Letter to You from SJCT

9/1/21 Covid-19 Policy Update:
Proof of Vaccination & Masking REQUIRED
A Letter from the Executive Artistic Director

Dear SJCT Patrons,

Nathan Kessler-Jeffrey – Contributed photo

You may have seen our social media posts today regarding the new policy requiring proof of vaccination at San Juan Community Theatre performances and events. If not, you can find our updated policies here. We have already received numerous messages, both concerned and appreciative, as we work collectively through another year of this pandemic. I want to thank everyone who has offered feedback across the spectrum because it reminds me that we all care deeply about the place that SJCT has in our community.

This was a difficult decision, and I have heard intelligent, reasoned, and articulate arguments from all along the spectrum. And I deeply admire people who think in differing ways on the subject. But my purpose in writing to you isn’t centered on policy.

My purpose today is to celebrate something wonderful:

After almost eighteen months, I heard applause in our auditorium last Friday. I heard actors from our community, guided by directors in our community, speak words written by playwrights in our community. And I wept. Because we are meant to be in community. It’s part of our name: San Juan Community Theatre. It’s part of our mission statement: Enriching Community Through Performing Arts.

Our staff have heard me say a couple of times that, “Community is simply a word for a bunch of people who disagree about everything except where to live.” And while there may be a sliver of truth to that, it is such an incomplete picture. A community is a group of people with whom we get to share our stories, our artistry, our greatest dreams, our deepest fears, our longings, our joys, our heartaches, and more. Our community rejoices with us when we live up to our ideals: compassion, justice, kindness, equity, excellence, artistry, and love. And our community helps us rebuild when we don’t.

For those who are ready to be back in the Theatre, I’ll be at Morten Lauridsen’s concert on Saturday and I hope to see you there! If you’re not ready to join us yet, I understand that too, and I empathize. We’re living through something incredibly difficult and we respond with all multi-faceted complexity of what it means to be human. I for one am so grateful to be experiencing it as part of this community.

Sincerely,

Nathan Kessler-Jeffrey
Executive Artistic Director
San Juan Community Theatre

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