I Never Saw Another Butterfly

Wednesday, April 14 7PM
McCutcheon High School Auditorium
Free and open to the public

The students, under the direction of Stella Schafer and assisted by Lori Caldwell-Hopkins, will present the one-act play, I Never Saw Another Butterfly. There is no charge for this performance.

From 1942-1944, over 15,000 children were prisoners at the Terezin Ghetto and Concentration Camp. Hitler built this “city for the Jews” to fool the world about his real intent, extermination. Hitler said Jews were segregated at Terezin to keep them safe from the ravages of war. Red Cross officials once made a visit to Terezin and were duped by a dressed-up town and prisoners who were terrorized into pretending that life at Terezin was good. The Red Cross reported to the world that the Jews at Terezin were being treated well; thus, Hitler’s ruse worked.

Fifteen thousand children and many musicians, writers, and artists were interred at Terezin. Jewish artists, who were caught and severely punished, stole paper and art supplies to document life at Terezin. Though Terezin was not a death camp, of the 15,000 children who spent time there, only 100 survived. However, the drawings and writings that had been collected did.

Celeste Raspanti authored a full-length play entitled I Never Saw Another Butterfly and the one-act version which the McCutcheon students will be performing. The play is the true story of a little girl, Raja Englanderova, who survived Terezin. It is the story of her life there and ends with a collage of voices from the past.

School Group Performances

Teachers who wish to bring a school group should contact Sarah Powley at spowley@tsc.k12.in.us to reserve seats. The performance takes about an hour and is suitable for upper elementary through high school students. School group performances are on Wednesday, April 14, 2010, at 10AM and again at 1PM.