Heading Into Tech Week...
There's an excitement in the air. Nerves are running high, and there doesn't seem to be enough time to fit everything into the day, much less breath. Yup, we're heading into Tech Week. My head is spinning and my heart is so proud I think I may literally burst. My eyes seem to leak - frequently - at rehearsals as I watch the finishing touches, the new discoveries, the Ah Ha moments building up to that night of wonder - opening night.
Are they ready? Yes - here's the better question - are YOU?
Part of building a community is to learn about the people who live in your community, to grow your empathetic skills, find out history and work for a community that supports without dividing, grows without marginalizing, and loves without reservation. One of the reasons we choose to do shows like this, is to help kids do all this and more.
With this show - we remember and honor the children of the Terezin concentration camp. Our performances coincide with the Days of Remembrance and we join with our Jewish neighbors here and all over the world as we say "Never Again". But how do you remember?
How do you remember when the survivors are gone? How do you understand the utter horror of the holocaust when the years turn into decades and the decades turn into centuries? You share the stories and you teach the children.
We have studied books, we have listened to survivors, we have researched the Terezin concentration camp, we have toured museums. It's been a long journey full of sobering history. This is a particularly challenging piece to do - you need to find the balance of fear and courage, horror and art - you need to teach how NOT to grow despondent in the face of such terrifying occurences; how to remember the joy, the humor, the creativity, and the passion of living in the face of unthinkable cruelty, and you have to look for the human kindnesses in the face of how inhuman we can all become. Most of all you need to impart the respect and understanding of the "other" until we can all see not "them" but "us"
And so, the cast, crew, and directors invite you to come on a journey with us. Come learn, grow, honor, and most of all remember. Come and see lives being changed - maybe it will be yours.
Peace to you all ~
Jill Pappenhagen
I was impressed with and moved by the performance last evening. I am the person with whom you spoke who mentioned a passing familiarity with 1023s. Did not know how to contact you but left a message on your GoFundMe page you might want to check out.
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