REMEMBERING TEREZIN: “I Never Saw Another Butterfly” and “The Terezin Promise”
By Shannon Mallrich, director
Triad High School’s Fine Arts Department presents its fall play, Remembering Terezin: “I Never Saw Another Butterfly” and “The Terezin Promise,” two one-act plays by Celeste Raspanti. It will be performed in the school’s cafetorium on Thursday, November 6, and Friday, November 7, at 7 p.m.
Eighty years ago, in 1945, the Terezin concentration camp was liberated. Originally a holiday resort for Czech royalty, Terezin was a concentration camp located 30 miles north of Prague in the Czech Republic.
This fall's production brings to the stage two short plays, both inspired by real events that took place at Terezin. The first play, “I Never Saw Another Butterfly,” is a beautiful and moving story based on the poetry created in a concentration camp by the Jewish children of Prague. It features the beginning of the story of Irena, a teacher who gathered the children of the camp to paint, draw, and write poetry as a way to navigate the horrors of the war. The second play, “The Terezin Promise,” brings the audience face-to-face with what Irena's students were willing to do to save their artwork - artwork that was evidence of the lives they lived in the camp.
The cast of “I Never Saw Another Butterfly” includes senior Brooklyn Pace as Raja Englanderova, junior Bela Zarzecki as Irena Synkova, and junior Judah Young as Honza Kozek. The youth of Terezin are portrayed by seniors Peyton Anderson, Kaylee Deatherage, and Kara Littlefield, as well as freshman Myles Wehking. Senior Alex Sullivan provides the voiceover.
The cast of “The Terezin Promise” includes junior Rosa Cigliana as Raja, sophomore Grace Wood as Irena, freshman Leah Masinelli as Eva, junior Paige Obernuefemann as Helga, senior Xavier Carter as Hanus Friedl, senior Alex Sullivan as Petr, and senior Alex Hohmann as Rudi. Senior Jack Wilbur plays soldier Nicholas Moeller. Children of Terezin are played by senior Molli Klein, sophomore Elliana Eichenseer, freshman Josie Wyatt (Anna), and freshman Sophia Rulo. Sullivan and Hohmann play the guards as well.
Assistant directors are seniors Taylor Szegedy and Claire Maxwell, junior Darcy Maguire, and sophomore Eichenseer. Student directors are sophomore Annie Kennett (who also serves as Curtain Master) and freshman Kendall Kitchen. Stage Managers are seniors Makenzie Evans and Klein.
Sound technicians are senior Jackson Reiter and freshman Renn Rakers, with assistance from Mr. Kyle Metze. The lighting technicians are seniors Maddalyn Camerer and Elise Heinle, with assistance from sophomore Riley Collins and freshmen Dameon Clark and Charlotte Ryterski, with assistance from Mr Austin Kastl. Sophomore Madalyn Klingelhoefer is the props master. Lily Wright designed the poster for the performance.
Mrs. Robin Zarzecki assisted with set design and construction, and marketing. Mrs. Shannon Mallrich directs.
Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students when purchased online at https://our.show/rememberingterezin. They are $12 for adults and $7 for students at the door.
The play is produced by special arrangement with THE DRAMATIC PUBLISHING COMPANY of Woodstock, Illinois.