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Andrea Anthony
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Looking forward to the discussion I'm looking forward to the discussion too. Whether you've seen the play yet or not, we'll have a lot to talk about. I'm thrilled that Eric will be joining us as well. |
Amy Trottier
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... I'm curious to find out where Andrea studied theatre and how she decided to become an actor. |
Pam
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... Hello Andrea! Thank you for joining us today! I am curious about what it was like to work through the process of production when you are representing real people and events? Do you change how you approach your character? Are you portraying the character realistically or do you allow things like pacing, the theme of the season, etc. to play more of a factor? |
Andrea Anthony
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where I went to school Hi Amy, I've been involeved with theatre since the age of 12. I had a teacher introduce me to Shakespeare and I've been hooked ever since. I graduated from U of M Flint with a BFA in Theatre Performance. |
Andrea Anthony
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Real People Pam, When it came to playing a real person in this situation I did a lot of research through Yad Vashem. For me personally as an actor I read the script many times and looked at what other characters said about mine. I thought about what I had in common with Golda. The answer for me was the basic human need to survive. |
Ben
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Staying focused How did you stay engaged in the action of the play while your were out of sight of the audience in the "underground bunker" but still on stage? |
Andrea Anthony
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... I've tried to play Golda honestly as a real woman who wants noting more than to save her children. |
Amy Trottier
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... I'm wondering if Eric had any role in the research for the play, since one of the characters was based on his Grandmother. |
Pam Howe
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... I haven't had a chance yet to see the production. Can you tell me a little more about the character Golda? I am also not familiar with Yad Vashem, what is it? This hasn't been the first time that FYT has told a story about the Holocaust, correct? |
Andrea Anthony
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... Good Question! The bunker took some getting use to in many ways. The other actors and I while we are under the stage remain quiet and activly listen to the scenes that are happening above us. |
Pam Howe
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... The bunker scenes must be difficult! To have to convey so much emotion - fear, worry, anger, confusion - as actions take place above you but to not be able to react vocally. |
Stephanie Ramirez
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Yad Vashem info Here's the link to Yad Vashem's website for more info.: http://www.yadvashem.org/ |
Andrea Anthony
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... Yad Vashem is a memorial to non Jewish people who saved Jews during the Nazi Holocaust. It was built in 1953 in Israel. The character I play in the show (Golda) is a young mother who has just escaped from the local Jewish Ghetto. She has an eight year old daughter and an infant son. She then asks Marisha to hide her and her children. As far as I'm aware this is not the first time we here at FYT have done a show telling stories of the Holocaust. The Diary of Anne Frank was one that was done just wihtin the last three years. |
Stephanie Ramirez
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... Eric Silberman, the grandson of Mania, one of the survivors, contacted Andrea yesterday about our production. I wanted to pass along a comment from him, "I would first of all like to say thank you and thanks to the theatre for putting on this play, for teaching people Marisia's story and about the good in humanity." |
Pam Howe
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... Thank you for sharing the website, Stephanie. I will have to explore it more fully. I find it interesting that on their site, they call it "The Holocaust Martyrs and Heroes Authority." That event will ever be a stain on humanity, but I think the power that can be taken from that great evil is that we learn its lessons. Giving attention to both the sorrow of so many lost lives but the hope inspired by the bravery of a few. |
Pam Howe
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... I know that the season theme is "Out of Many One." How does this production tie into the overall theme? Are you part of the process when a theme is chosen for the year, Andrea? |
Amy Trottier
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... Which character is based on Eric's Grandmother? I have not seen the play yet, but I'd like to know before I see it. |
Stephanie Ramirez
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... Eric also was curious about the research done prior to putting on the production. Andrea, can you speak to that - giving us some of your highlights as dramaturg for the production? |
Andrea Anthony
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... Hi Nate, For this particular show I did a lot of research as the Dramaturge I started with many visual images of World War II. I then moved to time lines of the events in and around Poland. As an actor my research took a very different turn. I found many pictures of Jewish Ghettos and the living conditions there. I looked at the role of women in the Jewish home and some of the obligations that go along with that. The one image that struck me the most as an actor preparing for this character would have to be a mother holding her children in a mass of other Jewish refuges. |
Andrea Anthony
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... Amy, Eric's grandmother is Mania, a 14 year old girl who joins Golda and her kids later in hiding. |
Amy Trottier
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... I visited Dachau when I was in Germany several years ago, it was so overwhelming that my traveling companion and I were affected for days afterward. How can you keep your emotions engaged enough to convey the character, and the enormity of the horrific situation, while still being able to leave the character at the stage door when you go home? |
Andrea Anthony
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... Pam, This production is an excellent example of how one person can make a difference in the world, by taking personal responsibility for the lives of others. I have always seen this story as one of hope and goodness at a time when there where so many evil things being done against humanity. Our theme this year is all about personal responsibly on many levels and aspects in life. No I'm not apart of choosing the season theme. That task falls on our Artistic Director. |
Andrea Anthony
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... Amy, Great question. There have been times for me throughout this process, in the research element and in performing the play where my emotions about what happened to these people and many others at this time has been over whelming. What helps me is to focus on the positive. Through this production I feel as though I get the opportunity to inspire the young and anyone who sees it. It helps to know that there where good people doing all they could to help others around them. I personally when I do get home after the show just take time to unwind and relax on my couch.  |
Amy Trottier
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... Thank you so much for the discussion Andrea (and Pam, Stephanie, Nate and Ben!. I can't wait to see the play this weekend! |
Andrea Anthony
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... What surprised me most about this charter and the play itself is the wonderful responses I and the rest of the company have been receiving after the shows. Many patrons have said how moving it was and it also made them think about the issues that are addressed in the show. |
Stephanie Ramirez
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Thank you Thanks for joining the discussion. For more background information check out our ANGEL IN THE NIGHT Educator's Guide at http://www.thefim.org/learning-through-theatre See you at the theatre! |
Eric
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... Sorry I'm a little late! Yes, my grandmother is Mania, who at the time of the Holocaust was 14 years old. |
Eric
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... Here's a picture of the actual people portrayed in the play (sorry it's sideways) after the war, minus Marisia. Back row, from left, x, x, Mania, Middle row, Frieda, x, Golda, Front row, Martin.  |
Eric
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... I can talk a little bit more about my grandmother and Marisia. I've known Marisia for my whole life--she's always been a part of our family, visiting whenever there was a family occasion: weddings, Bar-Mitzvahs, etc. Her and my grandmother are like sisters. They talk on the phone weekly and still update each other on everything happening in their lives. Mania, my grandmother, has told me her story of survival through Marisia many times, and one time my family was actually able to interview both Marisia and my grandmother at the same time. My family is also still close with Frieda and Martin. I don't recall ever meeting Golda, since she passed away when I was young. But as I have heard about her, and as I know from my grandmother, Martin, and Frieda, they are all extremely strong and optimistic people. Somehow they came out of the bunker knowing what they had to do to move on from the horrors of the Holocaust and raise happy, healthy, and successful families. |
Eric
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quotes from Mania and Marisia “We were waiting in the night until Maricia came and brought us something. When everyone else was burning us, she saved us. This what she went thru with us, it’s unbelievable.” -Mania “I didn’t know Maricia before the war, because we were in different classes of person. But in the end, she was better than the next door neighbors.” -Mania "I was scared to death, like everyone else. But I made up my mind right then and there: If I can help, I will... My mother always taught me that God made everyone the same; He does not care if they are Jews or not, because everyone has the right to live." -Marisia (also featured on a wall in the Yad Vashem museum) |
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