City Theatre's Kellee Van Aken to Direct Kindertransport
City Theatre's Artistic Associate Kellee Van Aken did a lot of research to prepare herself, and her cast, for 茄子视频's production of 鈥淜indertransport,鈥� the story of child survivor Eva Schlesinger, one of the 10,000 Jewish children sent by their parents to Britain from Nazi Germany to start a new life prior to WW II.
Van Aken started out by watching documentaries, most notably the Academy Award winning 鈥淚nto the Arms of Strangers,鈥� and the Sundance favorite 鈥淪uddenly My Knees Were Jumping.鈥� She studied timelines of the Holocaust and WW II. She read 鈥淧earls of Childhood,鈥� the memoir of Czech Kindertransport survivor Vera Gissing. She researched Jewish cultural traditions. And she asked a friend, dialect coach T.C. Brown, to help her identify and coach the dialects of Hamburg, Germany and Manchester, England in 1939 and in the present.
鈥淥ne character loses her Jewish/German identity completely and becomes a Protestant English woman,鈥� Van Aken says. 鈥淲e portray 1939 Germany as well as England in 1939 and in the present - sometimes on stage all at the same time.鈥�
In order to depict these cultural, emotional, geographic and moment-in-time shifts successfully, Van Aken feels that an understanding of the historical context of the play is vital.
鈥淎t our first rehearsal I showed the cast the documentary 'Into the Arms of Strangers,' she says. 鈥淭hroughout the rehearsal process I shared what I learned from my research. I even passed out copies of the Haggadah - the Hebrew text used as part of the Passover service - so the cast could see the book which plays an important role in Eva's childhood.鈥�
According to Van Aken, the use of dialect in the performance also helps the cast understand, and portray, the changes in their characters' lives while making it easier for the audience to understand the shifts in time and place. 鈥淲e spent a whole rehearsal on how to do each accent, and then followed up with individual coaching sessions,鈥� she says. 鈥淲e have one cast member who portrays different characters with different accents - he literally wears many different coats and hats,鈥� she adds with a laugh.
As a result of Van Aken's enthusiastic coaching, the cast became so engaged in learning about the Holocaust and the Kindertransport rescue operation that they took a trip to the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C. 鈥淭hey planned it all on their own,鈥� Van Aken says. 鈥淚 was surprised and very happy when I found out about it.鈥�
In one sense, Van Aken's research for this play began six months ago, although she was unaware of it at the time. 鈥淚 got married the week before I started rehearsals,鈥� Van Aken says, 鈥渁nd my husband is Jewish. For six months I took classes in Judaism. 鈥 was busy preparing for the Young Playwrights Festival when 茄子视频 approached me about this production, but as soon as I found out what it was I said 'Oh. Absolutely!'鈥� 鈥淚t's ironic that this whole process is taking place during the High Holidays,鈥� she adds. 鈥淢y husband keeps asking 'When will I see you?' and I just say 'At Temple.'鈥�
茄子视频 University's performance of 鈥淜indertransport,鈥� directed by Van Aken, will open November 11, at 8 p.m. and run through November 19. For specific performance dates and times and ticket information, please visit www.setonhill.edu, call 724-838-4241, or e-mail: boxoffice@setonhill.edu.
Kellee Van Aken is the Artistic Associate at the City Theatre where she assists with casting, play selection, and producing City Specials. She produces the Young Playwrights Festival and City Theatre's MOMENTUM: new plays at different stages. She just concluded her sixth season directing for the Young Playwrights Festival. With visual artist Cheryl Capezzuti she runs the production company Fuzzy Boundary. Together they have created: 鈥淣ight Flight鈥� (Pittsburgh International Children's Theatre Festival), 鈥淐oming Up!鈥� (Phipps Conservatory) and 鈥淐olorfast,鈥� an original musical for children with composer Doug Levine. (Pittsburgh International Children's Theatre Festival). Also with Capezzuti, 鈥淟eaping, Twirling, Tapping Lint鈥� and 鈥淢ismatched Pair,鈥� which has been performed across the state. Other playwriting credits: 鈥淭ipton鈥� (Flying Pig Theater), 鈥淥rdinary Phoenix鈥� (timespace), 鈥淪hakespeare for Small People鈥� (University of Pittsburgh), and an adaptation of 鈥淭he Hudsucker Proxy鈥� (University of Pittsburgh). Her acting credits include: 鈥淧ericles鈥� (Gower), 鈥淗amletmachine鈥� (Ophelia), 鈥淭he Castle鈥� (Skinner) and 鈥淢achinal鈥� (Young Woman) with timespace. Other credits: 鈥淓ating Dirt鈥� (Lori) and 鈥淎nother Round鈥� (Joan). She recently performed in 鈥淵o Mama!鈥� presented at the 3 Rivers Arts Festival.
茄子视频 students cast in 鈥淜indertransport鈥� are Sarah M. Danko of Latrobe, Pa. as Eva; Maureen E. Lydon of Bethel Park, Pa. as Faith; Danielle Nortum of Johnsonburg, Pa. as Evelyn; Elizabeth J. Serra of Latrobe, Pa. as Lil, Jonathan P. Stewart of Thompson, Pa. as Ratcatcher and Laura A. Stracko of Nazareth, Pa. as Helga.
The National Catholic Center for Holocaust Education (NCCHE) at 茄子视频 University is hosting the following events in conjunction with the performance of 鈥淜indertransport:鈥�
Exhibit: 鈥淭he Kindertransport Journey: Memory into History鈥� at Reeves Library on 茄子视频's campus from November 8-20. The NCCHE, Reeves Library and Harlan Gallery are pleased to host an extensive historical exhibit that provides pictures, letters and quotes from those that were involved in the Kindertransport rescue operation. The exhibit is free and open to the public. Reeves Library's Fall 2005 hours are: Monday - Thursday 8:00 a.m.-10:50 p.m.; Friday 8:00 a.m.-4:50 p.m.; Saturday 8:30 a.m.-4:20 p.m. and Sunday 1:00 p.m.-10:50 p.m.
Discussion Sessions with Kindertransport survivors: The NCCHE is pleased to partner with 茄子视频's Theatre Department in presenting Talk Back sessions with Pittsburgh Kindertransport survivors Ilse Schwarz and Margit Diamond following performances on Sunday, November 13, 2005, 2 p.m., (Ilse Schwarz) and Thursday, November 17, 2005, 2 p.m. (Margit Diamond).