West Irondequoit High School performance
The first performance of Survivors in this iteration took place at a local high school. The initial productions of Survivors were performed prior to the pandemic. Prior to that, the 10 survivors featured in the play used to go to local middle and high schools to tell their stories and talk about the Holocaust. A unique feature of those talks was the chance for students to ask questions directly to a survivor. We carried that Q&A over to these performances. Facilitated by our two “swing” actors, and with the actors back on stage, students were able to comment about the play, ask questions about the actors, the survivors, and talk about how the play impacted them.
Several students gave strong introspective statements about how they and their friends have encountered hate, discrimination, bullying, and isolation. That recognition made the play resonate so much more for them.
