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Venue: Torn Page, Chelsea, 435 W 22nd St @ 9th Ave.
In English language
Duration: 70 minutes + a post show discussion
8 performances only. Seating extremely limited.
Donation based Tickets can be booked here.
Based on the true story of legendary theatre artist George Tabori’s memoir of his Jewish mother, who miraculously—and in a great act of personal courage—managed to escape deportation in 1944. Elsa, a 55-year-old unwavering Hungarian Jew had remained in Budapest to care for her asthmatic sister after her husband had been incarcerated and her sons had left the country. Finally Else is detained and sent to the rail yard to be deported to Auschwitz—until she confronts a Nazi official and manages to obtain her release. Tabori, a collaborator of Brecht and Hitchcock, is best known for Brecht on Brecht (1961) and The Cannibals (1969). In My Mother’s Courage Tabori subverted traditional narrative form while deconstructing conventional notions of heroism. Each performance will be followed by noodles, goulash and a discussion with guests and/or ensemble.
“The negotiations of truth is worked out with laconic wit, but above all serves to make the horror behind the story bearable. This production is wonderful – precise, tender, touching. Big applause.” Anja Witzke, Theatre Critic, Germany
Thomas Bockelmann and Laura Esterman. Photo credits: Tony Torn
With New York actor Laura Esterman (Mother) and German actor Thomas Bockelmann (Son). New York adaptation for two actors by Thomas Bockelmann, based on the translation by Jack Zipes. Performed in English. Bockelmann was the artistic director of the Staatstheater Kassel for 17 years and performed in Tabori’s My Mother’s Courage all over Germany for decades.
Eight Performances only. Seating extremely limited. Duration: 70 minutes + a post show discussion
Tues. May 10 7:00 pm
Wed. May 11 7:00 pm
Thur. May 12 7:00 pm
Fri. May 13 3:00 pm + 7 pm
Sat. May 14 3:00 pm + 7 pm
Sun. May 15 7:00 pm
In collaboration with Staatstheater Kassel (Germany), Torn Page (United States), and Synagogue Center Felsberg (Germany). A full production of the play is scheduled to open in 2022 at Torn Page in Chelsea, New York City. An early reading was part of National Jewish Theater Foundation NJTF Holocaust Theater International Initiative on Holocaust Remembrance Day.
Photo courtesy of StaatstheaterKassel; Sigrun Schneider-Kaethner & Thomas Bockelmann.
ABOUT THE MARTIN E. SEGAL THEATRE CENTER
Originally founded in 1979 as the Center for Advanced Studies in Theatre Arts (CASTA), The Martin E. Segal Theatre Center was renamed in March of 1999 to recognize Martin E. Segal, one of New York City’s outstanding leaders of the arts. The Segal Center curates over thirty events throughout the Spring and Fall academic seasons, all free and open to the public. Dedicated to bridging the gap between the professional and academic theatre communities, the Segal Center presents readings, performance, lectures, and artists and academics in conversation. In addition, the Segal Center presents three annual festivals (PRELUDE, PEN World Voices: International Pay Festival, and The Segal Center Film Festival on Theatre and Performance) and publishes and maintains three open access online journals (Arab Stages, European Stages, and The Journal of American Drama and Theatre). The Segal Center also publishes many volumes of plays in translation and is the leading publisher of plays from the Arab world. The Martin E. Segal Theatre Center (MESTC) is a vital component of the Theatre Program’s academic culture and creating in close collaboration a research nexus, focusing on dramaturgy, new media, and global theatre. The Segal Center provides an intimate platform where both artists and theatre professionals can actively participate with audiences to advance awareness and appreciation. www.TheSegalCenter.org
THE SEGAL TEAM
Executive Director: Frank Hentschker
Associate Producers: Andie Lerner & Tanvi Shah
THE GRADUATE CENTER, CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK, of which the Martin E. Segal Theatre Center is an integral part, is the doctorate-granting institution of The City University of New York (CUNY). An internationally recognized center for advanced studies and a national model for public doctoral education, the school offers more than thirty doctoral programs, as well as a number of master’s programs. Many of its faculty members are among the world’s leading scholars in their respective fields, and its alumni hold major positions in industry and government, as well as in academia. The Graduate Center is also home to twenty-eight interdisciplinary research centers and institutes focused on areas of compelling social, civic, cultural, and scientific concerns. Located in a landmark Fifth Avenue building, The Graduate Center has become a vital part of New York City’s intellectual and cultural life with its extensive array of public lectures, exhibitions, concerts, and theatrical events. www.gc.cuny.edu.
(Untitled)
Segal Center presents George Tabori’s ‘My Mother’s Courage’ in Chelsea at TORN PAGE NYC (May 10, 11, 12, 15 at 7 pm; May 13, 14 at 3 pm and 7 pm)
« Back to EventsMay 10 – 15, 2022
George Tabori’s 1979 play ‘My Mother’s Courage’
Venue: Torn Page, Chelsea, 435 W 22nd St @ 9th Ave.
In English language
Duration: 70 minutes + a post show discussion
8 performances only. Seating extremely limited.
Donation based
Tickets can be booked here.
Based on the true story of legendary theatre artist George Tabori’s memoir of his Jewish mother, who miraculously—and in a great act of personal courage—managed to escape deportation in 1944. Elsa, a 55-year-old unwavering Hungarian Jew had remained in Budapest to care for her asthmatic sister after her husband had been incarcerated and her sons had left the country. Finally Else is detained and sent to the rail yard to be deported to Auschwitz—until she confronts a Nazi official and manages to obtain her release. Tabori, a collaborator of Brecht and Hitchcock, is best known for Brecht on Brecht (1961) and The Cannibals (1969). In My Mother’s Courage Tabori subverted traditional narrative form while deconstructing conventional notions of heroism. Each performance will be followed by noodles, goulash and a discussion with guests and/or ensemble.
“The negotiations of truth is worked out with laconic wit, but above all serves to make the horror behind the story bearable. This production is wonderful – precise, tender, touching. Big applause.” Anja Witzke, Theatre Critic, Germany
Eight Performances only. Seating extremely limited.
Duration: 70 minutes + a post show discussion
Wed. May 11 7:00 pm
Thur. May 12 7:00 pm
Fri. May 13 3:00 pm + 7 pm
Sat. May 14 3:00 pm + 7 pm
Sun. May 15 7:00 pm
Book your seat now.
Photo courtesy of Staatstheater Kassel; Sigrun Schneider-Kaethner & Thomas Bockelmann.
THE SEGAL TEAM
THE GRADUATE CENTER, CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK, of which the Martin E. Segal Theatre Center is an integral part, is the doctorate-granting institution of The City University of New York (CUNY). An internationally recognized center for advanced studies and a national model for public doctoral education, the school offers more than thirty doctoral programs, as well as a number of master’s programs. Many of its faculty members are among the world’s leading scholars in their respective fields, and its alumni hold major positions in industry and government, as well as in academia. The Graduate Center is also home to twenty-eight interdisciplinary research centers and institutes focused on areas of compelling social, civic, cultural, and scientific concerns. Located in a landmark Fifth Avenue building, The Graduate Center has become a vital part of New York City’s intellectual and cultural life with its extensive array of public lectures, exhibitions, concerts, and theatrical events. www.gc.cuny.edu.