by David Sklar, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
(AJNews) – Chai Life Productions is helping bring Jewish theatre back to Calgary and according to one of the founders Laura Shuler and director Zelda Dean, the timing could not be more urgent.
In a recent episode of the podcast Chai There, Shuler and Dean discussed the revival of Jewish community theatre in Calgary through Chai Life Productions and their upcoming play, The Last Yiddish Speaker.
For Dean, the project represents a continuation of a legacy that stretches back decades. She co-founded the Beth Israel Players in 1969, one of Calgary’s earlier Jewish theatre companies, which operated until the mid-1980s. Now, she sees Chai Life Productions as “the circle going all the way around.”
The idea for reviving Jewish theatre in Calgary began unexpectedly during a community production of Fiddler on the Roof. Shuler, who had not performed in theatre for nearly forty years, reunited with longtime collaborators and discovered there was still strong interest in creating Jewish stories on stage. “Build it and they will come,” she recalled, describing how performers immediately rallied around the idea of starting a new Jewish theatre company.
Their latest production, The Last Yiddish Speaker by playwright Deborah Zoe Laufer, explores survival, repression, identity, and cultural erasure in a near-future America overtaken by fascism. The story follows a Jewish father and daughter forced to conceal their identity while struggling to survive under an authoritarian regime.
Dean described the play as a “cautionary tale” rather than a political statement. “The theme of the story is survival,” she said. “How brave can you be in making sure that you will survive?”
Although the play was written years ago, both women said its themes feel especially resonant today. Shuler noted that when she first read the script, “my jaw dropped to the floor,” adding that the play’s relevance to current conversations around antisemitism and identity felt almost “divine.”
Language also plays a central role in the production. Shuler described Yiddish as “a language that speaks from the soul of ancestors, of culture, of heritage.” While many audience members may not speak Yiddish fluently, Dean explained that the playwright cleverly incorporates theatrical devices so audiences can still understand the emotional meaning and context behind the words.
For both women, community theatre offers something deeper than performance alone. Shuler emphasized that community artists participate “for the love of it,” creating a sense of belonging and shared purpose that cannot be measured financially. Dean added that community theatre can help break down barriers by bringing together people from different backgrounds, including many non-Jewish performers and audiences. “One of the most important things about community theatre is that it actually gives a voice to everybody,” she said.
That spirit was evident in Chai Life Productions’ first major production, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, which drew enthusiastic audiences and demonstrated a strong appetite for Jewish-centred theatre in Calgary. Shuler and Dean both described the response as emotional and affirming, particularly at a time when many Jewish artists and audiences have felt increasingly isolated or hesitant to speak openly about their identity. Dean pointed to several productions in Western Canada that faced protests or cancellations in recent years, arguing that some theatre companies have become hesitant to stage work viewed as politically sensitive. Still, both women stressed that The Last Yiddish Speaker is ultimately about humanity, resilience, and empathy rather than partisan politics.
Dean, who directed much of the production remotely from Victoria over Zoom, admitted the process was challenging but rewarding. She praised the cast and crew for their dedication and believes audiences will leave deeply moved by the story.
Beyond the production itself, both Shuler and Dean see the company as part of a broader effort to create space for Jewish stories within the city’s cultural landscape. They spoke about theatre not simply as entertainment, but as a way to foster dialogue, preserve heritage, and create empathy between communities. For Dean, who has spent decades directing socially conscious theatre, the goal remains simple: to engage audiences emotionally first and allow understanding to grow from there. “First, we engage an audience. Then we entertain them. And if we happen to enlighten them at the end, that’s a bonus,” she said.
Shuler hopes the production encourages audiences to reject intolerance and engage more openly with difficult conversations. “History does not have to repeat itself,” she said. “One act of kindness, one act of tolerance, one act of acceptance at a time.”
The Last Yiddish Speaker will be presented at Temple B’nai Tikvah on May 20, 24, 30, 31, June 6 and 7, 2026. Tickets can be purchased at https://www.chailifeyyc.ca/.
For Chai There! visit https://chaithere.ca/
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