The Lake Michigan College Visual & Performing Arts Department will present five performances of its Fall theatrical production “I Never Saw Another Butterfly,” directed by LMC Instructor of Theatre Shalico Sain.
Performances are 7 p.m. Nov. 15, 16, 22, and 23 and 3 p.m. Nov. 24 in the LMC Mendel Center Hanson Theatre on the Benton Harbor Campus. Tickets are on sale now through the Mendel Center website.
Set during the Holocaust in the Terezín concentration camp, “I Never Saw Another Butterfly” by Celeste Raspanti is based on the poem written by Pavel Friedmann, written at Theresienstadt concentration camp on June 4, 1942, and found in the book “I Never Saw Another Butterfly” by Hana Volavkova. It tells the story of children who endured the misery of captivity through their pictures and poetry which were recovered after the war. Over 15,000 Jewish children passed through Terezín, and only about a hundred were still alive when the camp was liberated at the end of the war.
The play centers on the story of one of the survivors, Raja Englanderov. Raja recounts her story through flashbacks, highlighting the influence of Irena Synkova, a teacher who instills hope and courage in the children of Terezin. Under Irena’s guidance, the children express their experiences through writing and art. Through their eyes, we glimpse moments of joy in Terezín – laughter, flowers, and butterflies – amid the harsh reality. Despite the barbed wire fences, teachers and students show quiet resolve by continuing to learn, create, and dream. There were no butterflies at Terezin, of course, but for the children, butterflies became a symbol of defiance, making it possible for them to live on and play happily while waiting to be transported.
Sain selected this play as part of a thematic LMC Theatre season that shows how art and music can impact a person’s life. Sain visited Terezín twice with students in 1998-99 while teaching at The American School of Warsaw. She and her students had the privilege of meeting Raja Engländerová (Žadníková) and another survivor, Helga Weiss (Hošková-Weissová). Their stories left a lasting impact on Sain, who feels honored to tell their tale of hope and survival. Through this play, she hopes to remind people that we should forgive, but never forget the power of humans when fueled by hate.
Cast members are Katherine Sanders as Raja; Lauriebelle Radin as Irena Synkova; Garreth Smiley as Honza; Connor Lumley as Father; Lyn Jones as Mother; Kristen Robinson as Vera and Renka; Zechariah Childs as Pavel; Allie Elkins as Erika and Irca; Mel Weber as Rabbi; Kyle McAndrew, Reis Leaverton, Axel Winn, Cassidy Wang, Emery Radin, Marie Wilson as Children of Terezín; Zac Mansfield as Loudspeaker/German Guard; Shay Heard-Bettison, and Joanna Blue as Ensemble.
In addition to Sain as the director, the production team consists of John Taylor, set designer; Dolphy Clark lighting and projection designer; Michaela Love-Lantz costume designer; Erin Smith and Ella Harris assistant costume designers; Isabella Dail, sound design; Mikayla Mennito, stage manager; Kyle McAndrew, assistant stage manager; Kyra Utroske and Cindy Jakeway, scenic painters; Julia Calel-Jones, prop master; Kate Vondale, digital projection artist; Laura Simmons, production manager and choreographer.
“I Never Saw Another Butterfly” is produced by special arrangement with The Dramatic Publishing Company of Woodstock, Illinois.
Admission is $15 for adults, $5 for those under 18, and free for LMC faculty, staff, and students. Tickets are on sale now at www.TheMendelCenter.com/events. Questions about tickets for this VPA student performance should be directed to the VPA Office at 269-927-8876, mmccaffrey@lakemichigancollege.edu.
