Curtain Rises: Lukancic's Massive Production Focuses on Children of the Holocaust

When the curtain goes up on Lukancic Middle School’s production of “I Never Saw Another Butterfly” (Finding Hope Through Children’s Eyes) the weekend of Nov. 21, theatre goers will be treated to an amazing “multi-media story arc” focusing on the children of the Holocaust.

The massive production, which involves a significant number of the Lukancic student body, focuses on one moment in time at the Terezin, Czecholsovakia concentration camp. Based on a book by Celeste Raspanti, Terezin was used by Nazis to imprison culturally important people and their children. Despite horrible conditions in most areas of the camp (only 100 of the 15,000 children who went through the camp survived), Germany used better areas of the camp to fool invited media members into believing conditions were excellent.

The Lukancic production begins with a series of short readings, poetry, music and a video from an actual survivor from Terezin. And it ends with several more readings and a finale that, according to co-directors Jessica Wisniewski and Dave Zucker, has been “created by the kids.”

Cast members include:

The Flag: Reader 1 (Death)--Alexis Lee and Lisel--Edain Hewitt Kristallenacht (Poem Trio A): Reader 1 (Kristallanacht)--Abbey Brand, Reader 2 (O Night of Weeping Children)--Marcelle Bonny and Reader 3 (The Old House)--Ashley Zipperich Arrival (Hana’s Suitcase): Hana--Tiffany Moccaldi, George--Matthew Baumann, Soldier--Alec Mager, Reader--Sam Koeppl.

I Never Saw Another Butterfly: Irena--Nicole Faille, Raja--Paula Ornelas, Honza--Danny Dally, Voice--Justin Ligeski, Child I--Jaela Foster-Burns and Traegan Boness, Child II--Zach Smith and Christina Pronger, Child III--McKinley Underwood, Dyanna Medina, Child IV--Franki Miller and Madeline Oderio.

Mozart Question: Reader--Bryan Croce; Quartet (4)--Brianna Clifton; Anthony Dolgner; Nora Osmani; and Shawn Lewis.

Hope (Poem Trio B): Reader 1 (Garden)--Alex Sweetie, Reader 2 (Terezin)--Abi Orfino and Teigan Glenke, Reader 3 (Birdsong)--Gianna Journigan, Hailey Bischoff, and Arta Osmani.

Ideals (Anne Frank): Anne Frank--Harley Worcester and Reader 1--Maddie  Diliberto.

Ensemble: Sierra Crownhart, Lauren Moore, Peyton Camden, Jordan Ortiz, Joe Otchere, Yazmin Farfan, Caleah Romes, and Ivy Jones

The Crew includes: Assistant Stage Manager Jenna Mandrelle; Stage cues--Michael Gabarczyk, Alyssa Lopez, and Abi Orfino; running crew--Joshua Lizardo, Katlyn Moran, Sarah Hamilton, Karina Zoto, Yazmine Corona, Julia Josepher, and Sydney Belcher; Costumes--Loren Hibner, Caleah Romes, Imani Jordan, and Samantha Essex; props--Fabian Pantoja, Alexis Mackowiak, Natasha Simpson, Caitlin McGillen; and tech creation--Bryan Croce, Cale Becker, Nathan Helfert, Jack Splitgerber, Brenda Huerta, Melissa Barrios, Trevor Underwood, Corinne Doty, Holly Hunt, and Joscelyn Flores.

The curtain goes up at 6:30 p.m. on Nov. 21-23 in the Lukancic auditorium, 725 Normantown Road in Romeoville. Tickets will be available at the door.