Drama club will stage fall production

PENN YAN--The Penn Yan Academy Drama Club will stage its fall production, Celeste Raspanti's "I Never Saw Another Butterfly," Nov. 4 to 6.
"I Never Saw Another Butterfly" is a memory play that follows the fictionalized story of Raja Englanderova (Emmaleigh Stempien), who shares her experiences during the Holocaust in the Terezin (Theresienstadt) Concentration Camp in Czechoslovakia. After being separated from her family and taken to Terezin, Raja is cared for by Irena Synkova (Vanessa Martinez), a teacher who encourages the children in the camp to continue learning and making art, despite their difficult situation. Throughout the play, audiences will see flashes of Raja's own story as well as stories of the other children of Terezin. Characters are brought to life by many talented actors including Claire Sandström, Leah Prather, Garrett Hilton, John Shaw, Gale/Ezra Paddock, Sophia Smith, Emma Eichenhofer, Addyson Webber, Oliver Perez, Cadence Hinkal, Ella Kinsey, Owen Droney and Logan Miller.
"I Never Saw Another Butterfly" is based on a book of the same name, an anthology of artwork and poetry created by the Children of Terezin and collected by the real-life Raja Englanderova at the end of the war. The children's words are featured prominently in the script, and their artwork will help set the scene through the use of stage projections.
Stories of the Holocaust are difficult to tell, but remain so important. As years pass and the number of survivors dwindle, telling these stories highlights not only the atrocities committed, but also the hope that persisted and the small acts of resistance and altruism that occurred. To prepare for this production, actors attended a number of workshops with retired PYMS English teacher and Holocaust Educator Margaret White. Mrs. White worked with students to help them understand Terezin and its unique position among the camps in Europe, to examine the concept of hate and how it grows, to comprehend the systemic removal of rights from Jews in Europe, and to see the story and their characters authentically as real people who experienced the horrors and hardships of this era in history. She shared the story of friend and local Holocaust survivor Henry Silberstern, who visited PYMS for many years to speak to students before his passing in 2016. Through these discussions, students developed a strong desire to tell this story "right" - to honor those who survived, those who died, and those who lifted others up in the darkest of times.
"I Never Saw Another Butterfly," directed by PYA choir and theatre teacher Jessica Kinsey, will be presented Nov. 4 to 6 in the Penn Yan Academy auditorium. Four performances will be held: 7 p.m. on Friday, 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Saturday, and 2 p.m. on Sunday. The show will be presented in a "black box" format, with audience seating located on stage with the actors. Due to this format, seating will be limited to around 80 audience members for each performance. Purchasing presale tickets is recommended, though not required. Tickets can be purchased in advance at www.showtix4u.com/events/butterfly for $10 for children 10 and under, $11 for students/seniors, and $12 general admission or at the door for a dollar more. Livestream tickets will also be available for each performance for $15. The PYA Drama Club also offers a season pass for $30, which includes admission to all three 2022-23 performances (I Never Saw Another Butterfly, Amélie, and the 24-hour play festival) for the ticketholder in addition to up to four discounted tickets ($7) per pass for each production. Contact pyadrama@gmail.com for more information. Support local theatre, and experience a powerful story this weekend on the PYA stage.