WHY
The NJTF HTII Remembrance Play Readings program honors the victims, survivors, and lessons of the Holocaust. May the unique power of theater in performance and education overcome the forces of bigotry, division, anti-Semitism, and Holocaust denial, and serve as an artistic moral compass for current and future generations.
WHEN
Remembrance Readings are public performances of Holocaust plays, scenes, monologues, and verbatim testimonies selected by participants from the online NJTF Holocaust Theater Catalog. They are held in commemoration of International Holocaust Remembrance Day (January 27) Yom HaShoah-Holocaust Remembrance Day (April 23 & 24), and Kristallnacht (November 9th & 10th). Organizations are also welcome to choose another date(s) that better serve their collective constituencies and participants.
HOW
Remembrance Readings of Holocaust plays do not require lengthy rehearsals and expensive production values. They can be done in concert or staged reading formats, in a variety of settings by diverse participants of all ages. They have involved theaters, Holocaust museums, theater artists, libraries, Holocaust educators, schools, universities, places of worship, youth and community centers, memorial museums, and the general public. Remembrance Readings have been done by very experienced actors to those with limited or no formal theater training.
We suggest these readings be followed by a panel discussion and Q&A. These conversations are meant to provide a deeper understanding of the play's content, context, themes, and contemporary relevance.
Recent Readings
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Thursday, April 24, 2025 at 07:00 PM
Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan in New York, NYRemember the Women Institute: Women, Theater, and the Holocaust
In commemoration of Yom HaShoah Remember the Women Institute presents our annual Women, Theater, and the Holocaust evening of dramatic readings of plays by and about women, performed by professional actors.
The evening includes the launch of the tenth anniversary sixth edition of Remember the
Women Institute’s Women, Theater, and the Holocaust Resource Handbook.
A talk-back with directors and playwrights and a reception will follow the readings.
This event is in partnership with Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan, National Yiddish
Theatre Folksbiene, National Jewish Theater Foundation, and Jewish Theatre Circle,
and is part of National Jewish Theater Foundation’s Remembrance Play Readings.
THE READINGS:
As Happy as God in France (Excerpt), written by Julia Pascal
Dr. Meghan Brodie, Director
The performers are Theater students from Ursinus College: Sophia Bush, Evan
Chartock, Gianna Daiuto, Mel Petro, and Annie Zulick
How To Live (Excerpt), written by Mindy Pfeffer
Illana Stein, Director
Performers: James Hallett and Mindy Pfeffer
Powerless, written by Dana Leslie Goldstein
Robert Bruce McIntosh, Director
Performers: Sarah Guilbault, Jacob Harran, and Leslie Kincaid
The Courier: Based on a True Story, written by Cynthia L. Cooper
Melanie Sutherland, Director
Performers: Ivy Austin and Jimmy Georgiades
Remember the Women Institute, founded 28 years ago, is dedicated to including
women’s stories in Holocaust history.
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Tuesday, April 22, 2025 at 07:30 PM
Miami New Drama/Colony Theater in Miami Beach in Miami, FLMiami New Drama/Colony Theater in Miami Beach
"The Righteous (Tzadik)", by Jeff Cohen at the Miami New Drama/Colony Theater in Miami Beach.
The even is a co-production by the Miller Center/Feldenkreis Program, YILove Jewish/Yiddishkayt Initiative, and the Miami New Drama Theater.
The play deals with an essential issue:In a World filled with turmoil and amorality, What does it mean to be Righteous?
What would you do if you learned that your country planned to exterminate an entire race of people? That is the horrible question faced by Eduard Schulte, a captain of German industry and member of Hitler’s inner circle. “The Righteous” is the true story of the man who sounded the alarm of Hitler’s plan to murder all the Jews in Europe. Schulte’s warning reached the desk of FDR in December, 1942. Roosevelt refused to act.For more details please see the attachment. The event is free but registration is required at: www.YILoveJewish.org/events -
Wednesday, April 09, 2025 at 06:00 PM
Free Theatre of BrevardThe Free Theatre of Brevard
The Free Theatre of Brevard continues a theater tradition of producing thoughtful plays to engage and enrich the community, fostering dialogue both within the audience and between the audience and the cast, crew, and members of our expert panels.
The Theater has a 3-play season with dates starting in November through April. In the spring the play will honor the Jewish community with performances that memorialize the victims and survivors of the Holocaust.
Details coming soon.
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Monday, January 27, 2025 at 06:00 PM
The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts
Holocaust Remembrance Day: Broadway Musicals and Antisemitism
Monday, January 27, 2025
6pm-7:30pm
This year, we commemorate International Holocaust Remembrance Day on the 80th Anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, looking at how Broadway musicals have dealt with antisemitism. In partnership with the National Jewish Theater Foundation's Holocaust Theater International Initiative, we are joined by NJTF President, producer, director, and educator Arnold Mittelman who will interview people behind the musicals, Rothschilds & Sons, Cabaret, and Parade.
Sherman Yellen and Jeffrey B. Moss, the author and director of Rothschilds & Sons, as well as Alfred Uhry, author of Parade, join Mittelman for this event. It also includes a look at some clips from the Theatre on Film and Tape Archive.
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Monday, January 27, 2025 at 04:00 PM
Round Lake High School Theater in Round Lake , ILGhostlight Readers Theatre
January 27th, 2025 at 4PM & 7PM ( 2 readings)
Ghostlight Readers Theatre
The Third Wave by Joseph Robinette and Ron Jones -
Thursday, January 23, 2025 at 07:30 PM
Campus Black Box Theatre in Milledgeville, GAGeorgia College & State University Department of Theatre and Dance
Vessels by Kim Yaged
Panel discussion post reading led by Dr. Karen Herman -
Saturday, January 18, 2025 at 07:00 PM
Aronoff Center for the Arts in Cincinnati, OHThe Nancy & David Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Center (HHC)
The Nancy & David Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Center (HHC)
is partnering with the Angelico Project
Irena’s Vow
Aronoff Center for the Arts in Cincinnati, Ohio
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Saturday, January 18, 2025 at 02:00 PM
Aronoff Center for the Arts in Cincinnati, OHThe Nancy & David Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Center (HHC)
The Nancy & David Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Center (HHC)
is partnering with the Angelico Project
Irena’s Vow
2pm
Aronoff Center for the Arts in Cincinnati, Ohio
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Friday, January 17, 2025 at 07:00 PM
Aronoff Center for the Arts in Cincinnati, OHThe Nancy & David Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Center (HHC)
The Nancy & David Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Center (HHC)
is partnering with the Angelico Project
Irena’s Vow
Aronoff Center for the Arts in Cincinnati, Ohio
There will be three performances: 7 PM on January 17 & 18 and 2 PM on January 18