[NEohioPAL] Popular Holocaust Play Released

[John Ballantyne]

                       Powerful Holocaust Play Available
                               to Schools and Theaters

     “A Light In the Darkness: A Story of Hope During the Holocaust,” which played at the Victorian Players, in Youngstown,  this past October was one of the most successful shows in the history of that theater, selling out six of ten performances.  J&B Production Arts Services has announced that the Acting Edition of that script is complete and the play is being released for licensing to schools and theaters across the country.  Even though the official release date is designated as February 6, 2012, numerous inquiries about the script have already been received.

     Liberty High School, in Youngstown,  has already submitted an application for obtaining the rights to perform the play in the spring of this year.  That would make Liberty’s production the first high school production of the play.  Other inquiries have come from Cleveland and from an American school located in London.  J.E.Ballantyne, Jr., the author of “Darkness,” said that he has received quite a number of questions concerning the show and when it would be available for productions at other theaters.  “There has been quite a bit of interest in this script since it premiered here in Youngstown last fall.  We are even in the beginning stages of some possible plans for it in the Pittsburgh area,” he went on to say.

     The play is a multi-media play about Anne Frank’s step-sister, Eva Schloss, and what she and her family went through during World War II and while imprisoned in the Auschwitz concentration camp.  Schloss was here for two weeks for the premier and has been promoting the play heavily as she has traveled around the world.  Most recently she just returned from Moscow where she was involved in Holocaust remembrance events.

     Ballantyne says that the play is a story of hope and that it details the miracles that took place for Eva and her mother to survive.  “It is also a very valuable education piece for both students and adults.  We had numerous school students at the premier production who sat riveted to their seats during each performance.  But the best thing was that they hung around after the show to learn more from cast members and Eva.”  He added that with the multi-media aspect of the show, it makes it one of the most powerful shows dealing with the Holocaust that you are likely to see.  Eva, herself, provides the narration tying various scenes together throughout.

     In addition, the DVD of the original production will soon be available to the general public.  Although no release date has been set for that, an announcement will be made in the near future.  For more information about obtaining the production rights to “A Light In the Darkness,” contact J&B Production Arts Services at 330-799-6176, 330-402-9273 or by email at jandbproductionarts at juno.com or at jandbproductionarts at yahoo.com.  Regular mail inquiries may also be sent to J&B Production Arts Services, 7130 Locust Ave., Suite #12, Youngstown, Ohio 44512.

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