The Berlin Diaries
Andrea Stolowitz
The Lucky Star
by Karen Hartman
Highlights
120 mins Present Day Unit Set/Multiple Settings Contemporary Costumes/Street Clothes
Synopsis
The discovery of a stash of letters stamped with swastikas opens clues to an untold family history spanning multiple generations in The Lucky Star – the gripping true story of resilience and truth-tracking determination spanning Baltimore and beyond.
Richard Hollander’s book Every Day Lasts a Year: A Jewish Family’s Correspondence from Poland is brought to the stage in this mesmerizing new adaptation that restores a family’s uncharted legacy, celebrated by revelation and remembrance.
Previously titled The Book of Joseph .
Press Reviews
"But this is, it turns out, unlike any Holocaust play you will have seen, mostly because it is so clearly concerned with what we do about all of this now."
— Chicago Tribune
"Resonates in the current moment with overpowering force."
— Variety
Characters
| Character |
|---|
| RICHARD (fifties) A storyteller delivering a book talk about his family. He works the audience, keeping things jovial and sentimental. |
| JOSEPH (35-41) Richard’s father and the subject of his story. A leading man. Nickname Joziu [YO-zhu]. |
| MANIA [MAH-nia] (late forties) Joseph’s eldest sister, has a sardonic side. Also plays |
| INTERPRETER and |
| IRIS (sixties). |
| KLARA [KLAH-ra] (early forties) The middle sister, religious. Doubles as |
| FELICJA [Fe-LEE-tzee-uh] (late twenties) posh. |
| DOLA (39) The youngest of Joseph’s older sisters; dramatic, romantic. Doubles as |
| VITA [VEE-tuh] (29) a warm American in love. |
| BERTA [BEAR-tuh] (seventies) Family matriarch. Doubles as |
| MISS BLAUSTEIN (sixties) a survivor. |
| GENKA [GEHN-kuh] (17) Klara’s eldest daughter, a moody teenager. Doubles as |
| ARNOLD (14). |
| LUSIA [LOU-shuh] (early teens) Genka’s cheerful sister. |
| SALO [SAH-lo] (60) Mania’s husband. Also plays |
| COURT OFFICER, STANLEY DIANA, ELDERLY ARNOLD (86). |
| CRAIG (mid-twenties) Richard’s son. A tender smartass.Casting Thoughts: Depending on the company, Berta may double as Elderly Arnold, and Salo may double as Miss Blaustein, shifting that character to Mr. Blaustein. Additionally, the role of Lusia can be omitted if necessary. Changes available from Concord Theatricals upon request. |
Videos
The Book of Joseph at Everyman Theatre
Publication
The Lucky Star is a play written by Karen Hartman and published by Samuel French .
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Performance Rights
Available for Licensing
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