Pages

Friday, March 22, 2013

INTERNATIONALLY ACCLAIMED PIECE COMES TO LUNA STAGE

ETTY
By Susan Stein, adapted from the diaries and letters of Etty Hillesum
Directed by Austin Pendleton

WHEN: Sunday, April 7, 3 PM & 7 PM; both performances followed by talkback with creator/performer Susan Stein
WHERE:
Luna Stage, 555 Valley Road, West Orange
TICKETS: $25
Purchase tickets at www.lunastage.org or by calling 973.395.5551

In commemoration of Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day, Luna Stage is proud to present Etty, writer and performer Susan Stein's critically-acclaimed one-woman show adapted from the diaries and letters of Etty Hillesum. 

Using only Etty Hillesum's words, Susan Stein's inspiring adaptation brings us to 1943 when Etty, a young Jewish woman, is about to be deported out of Holland. As she prepares for her three-day journey eastward, she digs deeper into her soul to understand “this piece of history” and “to root out” any hatred or bitterness, believing that humanity is the best and only solution for survival at a time when it remains easier for many to ignore news of human rights violations. Moving beyond its historical context, Etty ultimately addresses issues of human nature and its complexity with regards to issues of human rights and genocide. She asks us to consider our own responsibility today, in a world where the promise of “never again” has not yet been realized.

Nominated for Amnesty International’s 2009 Freedom of Expression Award, Etty has been performed throughout the United States and Europe. Howard Shapiro of The Philadelphia Inquirer says, "Stein's spot-on performance clearly honors both her subject and anyone who has died at hatred's hellish hands." Carolyn Huckabay of the Philadelphia City Paper calls Etty, "A work so gripping, it stays with you long after bows are taken."

The Creative Team

Susan Stein appeared in Arthur Miller's American Clock, directed by Austin Pendleton at HB Playwrights Foundation. She was seen at Luna Stage as the wife in Bathsheeba Doran's A Parent's Evening and in Pennsylvania as Rodney's Wife. Other roles include Louise in Lanford Wilson's The Great Nebulae of Orion, W1 in Beckett's Play, and Wanda in Christopher Durang's Wanda's Visit. Susan studied acting at NYU Graduate School and SUNY Purchase.
Austin Pendleton has an extensive career that spans over 40 years. He is an American film, television and stage actor, a playwright, and a theater director and teacher. His roles range from Gurgle in Finding Nemo to the public defender in My Cousin Vinny. He was seen as Friar Lawrence at the Public Theater’s Shakespeare in the Park production of Romeo and Juliet in 2007; he played the Army Chaplain in their 2006 production of Mother Courage with Meryl Streep. Most recently he directed Chekov’s Ivanov, currently on Broadway, starring Ethan Hawke. He is an ensemble member of the Steppenwolf Theatre Company.

 

About Luna Stage

Luna Stage was founded in 1992 by Jane Mandel, Artistic Director, and became an Equity Theater in 1995. For 18 years, the company made its home in Montclair, New Jersey, first in a small space on Walnut Street and then moving into a larger facility on Bloomfield Avenue. In the fall of 2010, Luna Stage moved to West Orange and opened its inaugural season at our new home at 555 Valley Road, right in the heart of the Valley Arts District.

Luna Stage has always believed strongly in the power of the arts to bring vitality and enrichment to communities. The company is very proud and excited to be part of a dynamic movement of revitalization and community engagement.

Luna Stage is located at 555 Valley Road, West Orange, NJ 07052. 973-395-5551. The theatre is handicapped accessible and assisted listening devices are available.