Local playwright prepares Holocaust work

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

A new play about Eva Schloss, the step-sister of Anne Frank, will be produced by J&B Arts Services of Youngstown.

Titled “Images: Remembrances of the Holocaust — The Eva Schloss Story,” the play is written by local playwright J.E. Ballantyne Jr., and is tentatively scheduled to open in 2016.

Ballantyne also authored “A Light In the Darkness: A Story of Hope During the Holocaust,” which also was about Schloss and her family. The difference in the two shows is that “Images” will be a one-woman show about Schloss, from her early childhood up to the present time — a period of more than 80 years.

Slated to star in the premiere production of “Images” is Molly Galano as Eva Schloss.

“Images” also will incorporate video of actors portraying other people in Schloss’ life. Auditions will be scheduled soon for the video segments, with shooting expected to take place this summer.

Ballantyne said “Images” is intended to show all that Schloss has done in her life, from the Holocaust to her present effort to educate people about the dangers of history repeating itself.

Ballantyne is planning to take the show on tour after the premiere. “This production will be a tremendous educational tool for schools at all levels, particularly if they have a Holocaust-education program already in place,” he said.

A location for the world premiere has not yet been chosen, and interested theaters are asked to contact J&B Production Arts Services at 330-799-6176.

Schloss knew Anne Frank well as a young girl growing up in Amsterdam, Holland. Schloss and her mother spent nine months in Auschwitz-Birkenau during World War II.

Her mother narrowly escaped death at the hands of the Nazis on two occasions. Both experienced inhuman conditions and starvation during their time in the concentration camp.