Etty is a touring one-woman
play based on the diaries and letters of Etty Hillesum,
adapted and performed by Susan Stein. Directed by Austin Pendleton.
Using only Etty Hillesum's words, Susan Stein's adaptation brings us to
1941 when Esther "Etty" Hillesum, a young Dutch Jewish woman, is living
in Amsterdam. Upon the recommendation of her therapist, Julius Spier,
she began a diary on 8 March 1941 to help her with her
depression. Hoping to become a writer, the diaries take on their own
literary life, presenting both Etty's growth as a writer and spiritual
transformation. As deportations begin, she prepares for the three day
journey eastward, she digs deeper into her soul to understand this piece of history
and root out any
hatred or bitterness, believing that humanity is the best and only
solution for survival. Etty's words, insights and beliefs reach out from
the Holocaust and allow us to see the power of hope and individual
thought in the most extreme circumstances. In her gentle yet forthright
way, Etty asks us not to leave her at Auschwitz but to let her have a
bit of a say
in what she hopes will be a new world.
ettyplay inc encompasses theatrical and educational experiences designed to challenge participants to reexamine assumptions about the Holocaust and explore issues of resistance, human rights, social justice and individual responsibility. We make available study guides to enrich an audience's experience of the play. Teaching artists work closely with educators to tailor to the needs of a given site a variety of writing and dramatic workshops. ettyplay teaching artists have also created a curriculum for teaching the Holocaust through the arts with a series of lessons that work independently or in conjunction with the play Etty.
The mission of ettyplay inc is to use the writings of Etty Hillesum to promote social justice, to challenge prejudice by examining the consequences of genocide and to enable participants to explore their own personal stories alongside Etty's, as they consider their role in the struggle for human rights.
Reviews and interviews
Lynn Cullen, host of Lynn Cullen Live at Pittsburgh City Paper,
interviewed Susan Stein during the February
7th edition of the Lynn Cullen Live show. They discussed Etty
Hillesum, Susan's play Etty and
Susan's upcoming performances at Off The Wall Productions.
Amanda Waltz February 6th Pittsburgh City Paper article examines Susan Stein's introduction to Etty Hillesum and her the evolution of her play, Etty.
Abby Remer wrote a review of Etty in The Martha's Vineyard Times during Susan's recent tour of the Northeast.
Frank Stasio, the host of The State of Things on North Carolina Public
Radio - WUNC, interviewed Susan about Etty Hillesum and her play
Etty on Thursday, March 14th,
2013. Susan also performed excerpts from her play. You can listen on
The State of Things "The
Hidden Diaries of a Young Jewish Woman" web page or stream the podcast
directly.
Supporters
Finding Etty gratefully acknowledges the following foundations, organizations and individuals who support our mission and activities throughout the year.
- The Sigal Family Foundation
- George G. & Elizabeth G. Smith Foundation, Inc.
- North Carolina Council for the Holocaust
- Off The Wall Productions
- Individuals in Memory of Nick Meglin
How To Book Etty
You can book Etty at your venue. We perform Etty and lead discussions and workshops at primary schools, higher education institutions, community organizations, religious organizations, festivals, and nonprofit theaters. ettyplay inc travels to prisons throughout the United States and United Kingdom.
Please contact us if you are interested in learning more.
Upcoming Events
| Date | Location | Description |
|---|---|---|
|
2019 Apr 15
2019 Apr 16 |
Marine Academy of Science and Technology (MAST), 305 MAST Way, Highlands, NJ, US - map. |
In partnership with chhange, Artist/Scholar in Residence Susan Stein will lead a two day residency, engaging students with primary source documents and narratives from the Japanese Internment camps during World War II to further their understanding of the consequences of racism and hatred. Open to the MAST community. Sponsored by chhange. |
| 2019 Apr 27 10 AM | Gersher Shalom Synagogue, 1449 Anderson Avenue, Fort Lee, NJ, US - map. |
Performance of Etty followed by post performance discussion as part of commemoration of Yom HaShoah (יום השואה), Holocaust Remembrance Day commemoration. Free and open to the public. Sponsored by the Gersher Shalom Synagogue. |
| 2019 May 01 07 PM | Cape Cod Synagogue, 145 Winter Street, Hyannis, MA, US - map. |
Performance of Etty followed by post performance discussion as part of commemoration of Yom HaShoah (יום השואה), Holocaust Remembrance Day commemoration. Free and open to the public. Sponsored by the Cape Cod Synagogue. |
| 2019 May 02 01:30 PM | 92nd Street Y, 1395 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY, US - map. |
Performance of Etty followed by post performance discussion as part of commemoration of Yom HaShoah (יום השואה), Holocaust Remembrance Day commemoration. Free and open to the public. Sponsored by the 92nd Street Y. |