On Feb. 17, the Birmingham Holocaust Education Center and the Red Mountain Theatre Company will host two performances of the one-act play “A Stitch in Time” by Susan Westfall at the Alys Stephens Center’s Reynolds Kirschbaum Recital Hall.
The play, set in 1939 as the Nazi occupation of Prague, recounts the story of Holocaust victims Hedy Strnad, a Jewish dress designer, and her husband Paul. (see story for more information)
“The stories of the Holocaust are stories of loss,” said Deborah Layman, BHEC board president, in a released statement. “Hedy’s story represents the loss of a talented woman whose creative life was cut short. Her story is one of the millions of heartbreaking Holocaust stories which we tell and re-tell as a reminder of the consequences of hate.”
Directed by RMTC Executive Director Keith Cromwell, “A Stitch in Time“ will be performed at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. and features actors Jessica Clark and Nick Crawford.
“It is my continued pleasure to partner with other nonprofit organizations that provide great services to the community,” said Cromwell. “I am especially delighted when these collaborations use theatre to bring important stories and histories to life.”
The play is one of a series of programs presented by the BHEC in conjunction with the Stitching History From the Holocaust exhibit on display at the Abroms-Engel Institute for the Visual Arts through March 16. The exhibit will be open from noon to 6 p.m. on Feb. 17 for attendees of the play.
“Presenting “A Stitch in Time” in conjunction with the exhibit at AEIVA and working with the BHEC is a perfect opportunity for such a collaboration,” Richards said. “I hope the theatrical presentation brings to light what life was like before the tragedy of the Holocaust and causes us to consider all those who were lost and yet had so much to give.”
Before and following each performance, contemporary fashions inspired by Strnad’s sketches will be modeled in the ASC lobby. The designs were created by University of Alabama students and showcased in the Jan. 27 Inspirations from the Past fashion show at Gus Mayer.
Tickets for the play are $25 and are available at bhecinfo.org/stitching.
– Emily Williams
