The Benard L. Maas Foundation, in partnership with the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit, named Professor David Magidson the recipient of the 2013 Benard L. Maas Prize for Achievement in Jewish Culture and Continuity. The award is conferred annually on a rotating basis in the areas of humanities, performing arts and fine arts. The Maas Prize celebrates and honors individuals whose work enhances Jewish life and community and is awarded in conjunction with the Federation's Alliance for Jewish Education in support of its efforts to promote Jewish education and identity building throughout the community. A monetary prize of $5,000 and a certificate of achievement is awarded to Professor Magidson at a public ceremony on Thursday, May 30 at the Federation's Awards Night held at the Jewish Community Center.

Winner in the category of Humanities, Dr. Magidson of Bloomfield Hills, is a professor of theatre at Wayne State University as well as artistic director of the Jewish Ensemble Theatre. JET presents its productions in the intimate Aaron DeRoy Theater, located in the West Bloomfield Jewish Community Center. It is one of the few remaining professional theaters in the country dedicated to plays of Jewish interest. Currently it is presenting My Name is Asher Lev based on the novel by Chaim Potok and adapted for the stage by Aaron Posner. Directed by Magidson, the play is produced jointly with Performance Network Theatre of Ann Arbor and will be performed there this summer.

As a professor of theatre at Wayne State, Magidson interacts with and instructs students in both the graduate and undergraduate programs and directs plays at the Hillberry and Bonstelle Theatres. He is a gifted director, has directed over 100 plays and has produced approximately 200 additional productions. He has had a long and rich career as a scholar and educator in the humanities and has the ability to explain complicated humanistic issues simply, beautifully and usefully. He once was elected "favorite professor" by his students.

Prior to becoming artistic director of JET, Magidson developed and served as director of the Lenore Marwil Jewish Film Festival for more than ten years, a vital component of the Jewish cultural scene in the Metro Detroit area. He also partnered with Ann Arbor, Flint, Windsor and Kalamazoo film festivals over the years. Thematically related film choices and programming that allowed audiences to access deeper meanings helped make the festival a permanent success. Dr. Magidson's desire to enhance the educational aspect of the films as well as Jewish life in our community was extremely important to the festival.

In his long and rich career in the arts, Magidson's work has won numerous awards; among them: Favorite Play for 2012 - God of Carnage at JET and Performance Network; Best Play in Detroit, Wilde Award, and Best Direction in 2003 for Glengarry Glen Ross; Maas Institution Award for JCC Jewish Film Festival; Picnic nominated for a Detroit Free Press Best Production/Directing award; Faculty Service Award, Wayne State, 2002; and Jewish Community Association National Merit Award for Jewish Film Festival, 1997.

http://jewishdetroit.org/2013/04/24/and-the-winner-is-federation-announces-annual-awards/