Echoes of Vilna at the Glass Pavilion

There are moments when theater becomes more than performance. It becomes witness.

On Sunday, August 9 at 2 p.m., the Toledo Jewish community and allies will gather for one of those rare moments as Echoes of Vilna comes to the Glass Pavilion at the Toledo Museum of Art.

Presented as a staged reading with a remarkable all-star cast drawn in part from the Jewish community itself, Echoes of Vilna is not simply a Holocaust drama. It is a sacred journey into courage, memory, family, identity, and the enduring resilience of the human spirit.

Recently honored by inclusion in the archives of Yad Vashem in Jerusalem, the play has already moved audiences at the Illinois Holocaust Museum and the Interlochen Academy for the Arts. Now, this extraordinary work arrives in Toledo for what promises to be a deeply emotional and unforgettable afternoon.

The production features acclaimed director Irina Zaurov and playwright Ken Newbury, alongside a distinguished cast including Hazzan Ivor Lichterman, Paul Causman, Colin Thaler, Russ Thaler, Fagie Benstein, Julia Grossman, Yaffa Segal, Jill Reinstein, and many more.  This is one of the largest Jewish casts outside of a Purim spiel in memory.

At the heart of the story is the real diary of Yitskhok Rudashevski, a brilliant Jewish teenager trapped inside the Vilna Ghetto during the Holocaust and the historical account of his cousin, Sore Voloshin. Through poetry, humor, music, family bonds, resistance, and hope, the play reminds audiences that Jewish history is not solely a story of tragedy—it is a story of spiritual endurance.

One reviewer described the work as:

“A haunting and emotionally powerful experience that evokes the intimacy and humanity of Anne Frank while giving voice to the Jewish soul of Vilna.”

Audience members should expect far more than historical retelling. Echoes of Vilna invites each person present into an act of remembrance and action.  In a world increasingly fractured by hatred, division, and silence, this production asks a timeless question:

What does it mean to remember—and what responsibility comes with memory?

This is not merely theater. It is testimony. It is resilience. It is a story that must be told.

Seating at the Glass Pavilion is limited, and early registration is strongly encouraged to avoid missing this opportunity. Attendees are required to pre-register for seats early online at https://jftoledo.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/list/ticket or with Mary Bilyeu at 419-724-0405 or mary@jewishtoledo.org. Contact Mary with any questions.

This presentation is made possible with a grant from the Toledo Jewish Community Foundation.