Terezin, a Musical That Finds Humanity in Holocaust's Horror, Workshopped in Seattle June 2-4
By Kenneth Jones
02 Jun 2006
Village Theatre, the suburban Seattle company devoted to developing new musicals, will present a workshop presentation of Terezin, a musical about a Holocaust concentration camp populated with artists and intellectuals. The public presentations, following rehearsals, are June 2-4.
The musical had a recent reading in Manhattan. The book is by Peter Ullian, music is by Joel Derfner and lyrics are by Len Schiff. Jeremy Dobrish directs, with musical direction by Tim Symons.
"Based on the true story of the Czech ghetto Theresienstadt, founded by the Nazis in 1943 and designated for the intellectual and artistic elite Jews of Europe, Terezin follows the fortunes of a handful of prisoners as they try to understand the truth of their captivity," according to Village Theatre. "When the Nazis 'beautify' Theresienstadt in an attempt to deceive the Red Cross and sway public perception, the prisoners struggle to expose the truth through art and music—and in so doing, discover the humanity they all share. An unforgettable story of suffering, survival, and the strength of the human spirit, Terezin finds hope amid the heartbreak, humanity and courageous humor amid the horror."
Performances will be at First Stage Theatre, 120 Front Street North in Issaquah, WA.
According to Village Theatre, Virginia Christe commissioned Terezin after doing some research about her grandparents and their experience in Terezin. Her grandparents were deported there on the last transport in 1943 and later shipped to Auschwitz, where they died.
During Christie's research, "she found letters and art from prisoners that conveyed, contrary to the dire circumstances, that they actually did not relinquish hope and give up on life — laughter and happiness bloomed admist the horror."
The musical follows the memories of a former inmate (Hannah) and takes us back to meet a number of the artists deported to Terezin in 1943, and their subsequent experiences in Terezin.
For more information, call (425) 392-2202
or visit www.villagetheatre.org.
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Village Theatre's nationally-recognized Village Originals program is dedicated to every aspect of new musical development: workshops, readings, seminars and full productions. To date, over 55 new musicals have been developed, many of which have gone on to stages throughout the world, including The Ark, After the Fair, Play It By Heart, Making Tracks, The Wedding Banquet and Eleanor.
According to production notes, "Workshops are the next step after a reading in the development of a new musical. They are fully staged pieces, where musical numbers are off-book and actors move through a full rehearsal process. There are no costumes, set or props, and include minimal lights and music. Workshops are for shows ready to move beyond readings, giving them the opportunity to further develop and gain more in-depth audience feedback before becoming a staged production."
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