[NEohioPAL] BLOCK 5

[John Ballantyne]

Some of you have already received this letter.  But for those who have not, please read on about an important production coming up in January.  Other info will be forthcoming but in the meantime, after you read the letter, you can also visit the website at www.block5revival.com.

J&B Production Arts Services and The Victorian Players will be teaming up in January of 2010 to produce a revival of one of the most hard hitting theatrical events to ever play the Youngstown area.    Originally produced by J&B Production Arts Services and B’nai B’rith Local #339, BLOCK 5 tells the unbelievable story of seven Jewish prisoners being held in Block #5 at the Mauthausen Concentration Camp in November and December of 1943.  

     Although a fictional account based on actual incidents, BLOCK 5 shows the true horror of the Holocaust and the strength and will to live of these seven men who are condemned to die before Christmas.  Befriended by a British officer, who is also imprisoned with them, these seven men refuse to cave in to Nazi edicts as they stand and fight for their lives.  The Youngstown Vindicator said of the original production; “To see this play is to be transformed,”  “.........psychological sabotage.”  While the Tribune Chronicle stated;  “ ...... one of the darkest, most emotional performances to grace a local stage in recent memory,”   “........ stark, violent and hard.”  It was also the winner of 10 Marquee Awards in 2004/2005, including Best Director, Best Lighting Design and Best Special Theatrical Event.

     After numerous requests over the past several years, this play will be re-staged as a Showcase event.  The show is available for production by both community and professional theatres.  The fourteen male roles are all very hard hitting roles.  Each actor has the opportunity to stretch his talent and offer up a portrayal that will not soon be forgotten by anyone who sees the show.

     We would like to invite you to attend a performance of this new production.  Opening on Friday, January 15, it will run for three weekends, closing on Sunday, January 31.  We will then stage an additional weekend of performances at the Main Street Theater in Columbiana.    Tickets can be reserved starting immediately.  To reserve at the Victorian Players in Youngstown, call 330-746-5455,  To reserve at the Main Street Theatre in Columbiana, call 330-482-9647.

     BLOCK 5 is an important event.  Not so much for the play itself, as for the lessons that it teaches and the realism that it portrays.  Eva Schloss, Anne Frank’s step-sister, saw the original production and said that it was so real that she felt like she was back in Birkenau all over again.  Both her father and brother died at Mauthausen, so it held even more meaning for her. 
In addition, this January marks the 65th Anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, the most notorious death machine in the Nazi chain of death camps.  We will commemorate this anniversary.

     We hope to see you at this production and we hope that you will consider producing your own production at your theatre in the future.  In the meantime. please feel free to check out our website, listed below, for further information on BLOCK 5.  As of right now, the website is still growing as we are adding new information weekly. 

Best regards,
J&B PRODUCTION ARTS SERVICES



J.E.Ballantyne, Jr.
Writer, Producer, Director - BLOCK 5



      
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