Mount Vernon, OH – Our hope for the future lies in our children. They must point us to vision and wisdom that is greater than our present reality. That is why MTVarts is partnering with Kenyon College Hillel and the Office of Community Partnerships to present the gripping drama by Michael Slade, “And A Child Shall Lead.” The title is taken from a verse in the Book of Isaiah with a message of hope and acknowledgment that the world still needs to be redeemed: “And a little child shall lead them.”
“I am so impressed with the work, care and detail that MTVarts has put into this production of ‘And a Child Shall Lead’. Holocaust education is important because it demonstrates the dangers of prejudice, discrimination and dehumanization. By looking at our history, we can better provide a space for deep reflection about contemporary issues that affect societies around the world,” shared Kenyon College Chaplain Marc W. Bragin.
Under the direction of Bruce Jacklin, Assistant Director Christopher Hartman and Production Manager Mary Elizabeth Harris, 12 young actors will take the stage of the Knox Memorial for four performances. The cast includes Mehmet Ali Schubel, Nora Gotschall, Simon Ryals, Jillian Snow, Sadie Ryals, Briggs Swallow, Zach Cramer, Mollie Jurkowitz, Faith Major, Jenna Jurkowitz, Izzy Cook and Lanah Andrews. Supporting the production are Kyleigh Woods, Allison Smith, Leah Miller, Jack Davis and Jaxon Reed.
Through the Knox County ESC Youth Enrichment Series, a free performance will be offered to secondary students studying the Holocaust. Three public performances will be offered Thursday, May 2, and Saturday, May 4, at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, May 5, at 2:00 p.m. Within the practice of Judaism, Shabbat begins on Friday evening and it is a time of rest and reflection of the past week. To recognize this, there will be no Friday evening performance.
The ghetto of Terezin (Theresienstadt), located outside Prague, was billed as the “Fuhrer’s gift to the Jews.” A place where artists, composers, intellectuals and Jews of renown could live safely. In reality, it was a created to cover up Nazi genocide and became a place of starvation, disease and constant dread of transport to death camps.
A total of 15,000 children under the age of 15 passed through Terezin between the years 1942-1944. Less than 100 survived. “And A Child Shall Lead” tells their story. In the face of unspeakable horrors, the children used their determination and creativity to build lives filled with hope and beauty — playing, studying, making art and writing an underground newspaper — all at the peril of being executed. Their actual poems and stories, discovered hidden after the war, are woven into a fast-paced drama helping us see through their eyes, what no child should ever see.
Tickets are $20 for main floor and $15 for balcony seats, and are available online at MTVarts.com, at the Mount Vernon Arts Consortium Office at 214 South Main St. in Mount Vernon, by calling (740) 462-4ART(278), or at the Memorial Box Office one hour prior to curtain. Run time is approximately 100 minutes and parental guidance is advised. Produced by special arrangement with Playscripts, Inc.(www.playscripts.com). Show information is available at MTVarts.com.
MTVarts is making theatre as a self-producing, non-profit community theatre company offering performance and education. Arts education matters and connecting live theatre to the classroom is a crucial part of MTVarts’ mission. The well-being of the community is best measured by the thriving of its children.
