.png)
Thursday, September 26, 2024
6:00- 8:00pm
Location: Herberger Theatre Center
Price: Free
Join us for a special free event featuring a preview of No Going Back and presentation from Holocaust expert, Dr. Lauren Bairnsfather.
Begin the evening exploring Childsplay's 48th season of school programming, connecting with fellow educators, and gifts and prizes. The highlight of the evening is a staged reading No Going Back, a powerful new play that explores the events around the M.S. St. Louis just before the outbreak of World War II. Following the reading, hear from Dr. Lauren Bairnsfather, the CEO of The Anne Frank Center USA, who will share her expertise in Holocaust education.
After the main event, connect with collegues and special guests over drinks and dessert.
This free event for middle and high schooleducators includes:
Reserve up to 2 tickets for this exclusive event featuring a reading of No Going Back and presentation from Dr. Lauren Bairnsfather from the Anne Frank Center USA in New York.
Dr. Lauren Bairnsfather is the Chief Executive Office of Anne Frank Center USA, Inc. She served as Executive Director of the Holocaust Center of Pittsburgh from 2015 to 2023 and was a leader in the effort to rebuild the Tree of Life site. She has brought innovation to Holocaust education, defining its potentional to address present day antisemitism, racism and identity-based violence. Dr. Bairnsfather began her career in the Photo Archives of the US Holocaust Memorial Museum, earning an MA at the University of Chicago and a PhD at the University of Texas, where she was a Harrington Doctoral Fellow. Bairnsfather serves on the boards of the Association of Holocaust Organizations and the Council of American Jewish Museums.
Majka is a girl whose life is forever changed by an ocean voyage. Majka is taken out of school to sail with her parents as they work aboard the M.S. St. Louis, a German ocean liner on a special trip in 1939. The passengers onboard are 900 Jewish refugees seeking escape from life under Nazi rule. Majka has been raised in this world, but all she's been taught is now challenged by a growing friendship with a young Jewish passenger, Liesl. Majka must decide which side she is on. Meanwhile, the ship is being denied entry into any port, raising the prospect of the refugees having to go back to the horrors of Nazi Germany. Set during this historic tragic voyage, the play explores themes of friendship, prejudice, anti-Semitism, heroism, and culpability.
No Going Back is performed directly in your classroom with limited props and costumes. This 45-minute one-woman show is followed by a 30-minute Q&A session where students can engage with performer Debra K. Stevens. Additionally, the program includes workshops designed to deepen the learning experience, helping students process the themes and apply them to their own lives through interactive activities.
No Going Back opens doors for vital conversations about history, personal responsibility, and the importance of being an upstander. This unique program aligns with Arizona's genocide and Holocaust curriculum standards, providing students with a powerful, personal connection to historical events and encouraging them to consider their roles in impacting their communities. [Learn More >]
No Going Back is for grades 5 and up.
"A lot of them [students] don't get to view plays, this is always a treat to introduce them to a new artistic experience."
"It was all well done! My students loved the experience of live theater!"
For any questions or further details, contact Marie Tucker at Ceducation@childsplayaz.org or call 480-921-5759.
