Liberty presents Holocaust drama

Staff report

LIBERTY

This weekend, Liberty High School will become the first high school in the country to stage “A Light in the Darkness: A Story of Hope During the Holocaust.”

The play tells the true story of Eva Schloss and her family as they fought to stay alive during the Holocaust.

The play, written by local playwright J.E. Ballantyne Jr., premiered in October at Victorian Players Theater in Youngstown. Schloss, who is the stepsister of Anne Frank, attended most of the performances of the run and spoke with audience members after each performance.

Sam Luptak Jr. is directing the Liberty High School production. Playing the lead roles are Alexandria Hanson, Shania Warren, Brian Root and Hunter Thomas.

Six other schools have tentatively scheduled performances of “A Light in the Darkness” in the next two years, according to Ballantyne, including Kent State at Trumbull. The other locations are in Zanesville, Seattle, Iowa, Arizona and London.

“Mauthausen to Auschwitz,” an exhibit of photos, memorabilia and a scale model of the Mauthausen concentration camp, will be on display at Liberty High School for the run of the play. The exhibit was initially created for the Holocaust play “Block 5,” which was also written by Ballantyne, when it was performed several years ago at the Victorian.

Performances at Liberty High School auditorium, 1 Leopard Way, will be at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 4 p.m. Sunday.

A question-and-answer session with the cast, director and playwright will follow Saturday’s performance.

Tickets are $7 at the door and $5 in advance. Call 330-759-2301.