A new play about the Holocaust written by an Oxford resident will be performed by the Rochester College Theatre Department April 10-13.
‘I hope it makes people think,? said Kelly Brock, author of ‘Who Returned My Soul?,? a play featuring the true stories of 10 survivors of the Nazis? mass extermination of six million European Jews during World War II.
‘It’s really a series of monologues,? said Brock, 25, noting the play is done in a ‘readers theatre format,? which means the actors will be using scripts on stage.
An actor portraying a fictional historian will give the audience facts and background about the Holocaust that will serve as the context and lead-in for each survivor’s tale.
‘The main thing is everybody has a message,? said Brock, who’s an adjunct faculty member and technical director with the theatre department at Rochester College. ‘They each have one thing they want the audience to walk away with, whether it’s God is here and God loves us or we have to be on our guard to make sure this never happens again.?
Brock, who came to Michigan from Arizona in 2001 and is married to 1999 Oxford High graduate Ronald Brock, originally created this play for some Virginia high school students to perform as part of the Shenandoah Valley Holocaust Education Week.
‘Ever since I was young I’ve always been intrigued by the Jewish culture ? how different it is from mine,? she said. ‘In school, I was always fascinated with World War II and the Holocaust. I was in ninth grade the first time I heard a survivor speak. It definitely touched me.?
The play also served as her master’s essay. In May, Brock will receive her Master of Arts in Theatre from Wayne State University.
All of the survivors featured in Brock’s play are volunteers at the Holocaust Memorial in Miami Beach. She flew down there last August and interviewed all 10 of them over a two-day period.
‘It was surreal,? she said. ‘Their stories and lives are so rich. I really wish I’d had more time with each of them.?
Spending an average of two hours talking with each survivor gave Brock a more complete picture of them as multidimensional individuals, not just survivors of Nazi genocide.
Visiting their homes, looking at old photos, breaking bread with them ? it all gave Brock a unique perspective that isn’t found in history books.
‘There is so much more to these people’s lives than what happened to them during the war,? she said.
That’s why her play touches on their experiences before and after WWII.
Brock admitted at first she ‘felt intimidated? by the idea of writing a play about the Holocaust because she’s not Jewish and she worried it might be offensive to some in that community.
‘I really never thought that I would be writing this kind of play or doing a project like this,? she said.
But those fears quickly subsided once she started meeting with the survivors.
‘They were just so excited that somebody wanted to write their story,? Brock said. ‘It’s not about me, it’s about telling their story.?
Brock noted that Avi Mizrachi, executive director of the Holocaust Memorial in Miami Beach, is always telling people, ‘Once you hear a survivor’s story you become a witness.?
‘I guess that’s really what I want is for people to hear these stories and to become witnesses to these events,? she said.
Brock also hopes her play will help promote tolerance.
‘I consider Americans to be fairly tolerant people, but I think we can all use a bit more tolerance,? she said.
Performances of ‘Who Returned My Soul?? are scheduled for 8 p.m. Thursday, April 10 through Saturday, April 12 and at 2 p.m. Sunday, April 13.
Tickets are $10 for adults, $8 for senior citizens and Rochester College alumni and $5 for students.
Brock said the play is ‘definitely appropriate? for children age 13 and older.
Parents wishing to bring younger children should use their judgement.
‘There’s going to be some pictures. Some of the stories are more graphic than others,? she noted.
To pre-order tickets call (248) 218-2051. Tickets will also be available at the door.