The children of willesden lane is a wonderful little book at times heartbreaking but, ultimately, inspirational. Set in vienna in 1938 and in london during the blitzkrieg, the musical drama tells the true. Grammy nominee mona golabek will be performing her play, the pianist of willesden lane, at fontbonnes renovated csj center. The pianist of willesden lane is directed and adapted by hershey felder based on the book the children of willesden lane, beyond the kindertransport. With three daughters and only one passage to safety, a mother must choose. A profile from the chicago tribune on mona golabek mona golabek is a pianist, cowriter of the book on which the play is based, and solo performer of her own mothers story. Lisa was studying piano, and had hoped to become a concert pianist. In the pianist of willesden lane, holding on to her mothers memories mona golabek in the onewoman show the pianist of willesden lane, in front of an image of her parents. Theatreworks the pianist of willesden lane is an exquisite journey of music and hope. Mona golabek is an american concert pianist, author, and radio host. Presented by theater j at the kennedy center, the pianist of willesden lane tells the true story of a brilliant young pianist, lisa jura golabeks mother before and during world. The book focuses on themes of courage, survival and the power of music and. Hershey is the adaptor, director and designer for the very successful play with music, the pianist of willesden lane. Concert pianist mona golabek describes how lisa juras legacy lives on in her children and grandchildren.
The show is adapted and directed by awardwinning musician hershey felder and based on the book the children of willesden lane by golabek and lee cohen. Mona golabek is a grammynominated recording artist, internationallycelebrated concert pianist, and star of the onewoman show the pianist of willesden lane. Review of the pianist of willesden lane at st james theatre. In 2014, felder directed concert pianist mona golabek in the pianist of willesden lane, an adaptation of the book the children of willesden lane, telling the story of golabeks mother as an adolescent in the kindertransport during world war ii. The onewoman show at le petit stars mona golabek, a concert pianist like her mother, and is based on her book the children of willesden lane about her mothers remarkable journey from. An expression of hope and the lifeaffirming power of music, the pianist of willesden lane tells the true story of a young jewish musician who was sent from naziruled vienna to the relative safety of london during the blitzkrieg. Beyond the kindertransport a memoir of music, love and survival by mona golabek and lee cohen 2003, paperback at the best online prices at ebay. With your support, le petit theatres production of the pianist of willesden lane will challenge audiences to examine the past through lisa juras remarkable story and analyze its connections to the present, in the hopes of informing a more equitable and just future. An image of the cover of the children of willesden lane by mona golabek and lee. Adapted and directed by hershey felder, from the book by mona golabek and lee cohen. Then it moves to england where lisa jura lived in a home for young refugees at 243 willesden lane.
A teachers resource to the children of w illesden lane. The pianist of willesden lane was adapted for the stage by hershey felder, based on a book written by mona golabek and lee cohen. Set in vienna in 1938 and london during the blitzkrieg, the pianist of willesden lane is directed by hershey felder. The pianist of willesden lane has all the elements of a good book. Telling her mothers war story on stage with a piano the. The performance the pianist of willesden lane is based on the book the children of willesden lane by mona golabek and lee cohen, and was adapted and directed by hershey felder. Based on the book the children of willesden lane by mona golabek and lee cohen adapted and directed by hershey felder september 12 30, 2018. She has appeared with many leading orchestras and made numerous recordings. Pdf the children of willesden lane download full pdf.
The children of willesden lane, beyond the kindertransport. The pianist of willesden lane based on the book the children of willesden lane by mona golabek and lee cohen adapted and directed by hershey felder december 6 22. In this inspirational show, grammy nominated pianist mona golabek interweaves the music of bach, beethoven, chopin and debussy as she shares her own mothers riveting story of survival. This true story is superbly told by hershey felder who took the book by mona golabek and lee cohen and turned it into a brilliant stage presentation of fantastically played music and combined narrative. Set in vienna in 1938 and in london during the blitz, the pianist of willesden lane tells the true story of lisa jura, a young jewish pianist who is dreaming about her concert debut at viennas sto buy the pianist of willesden lane tickets showing at the st james theatre, london. The story follows lisas coming of age during ww11 and her. Pianist of willesden lane is a mustsee of a daughters. The pianist of willesden lane, a jewish girls war story the new. The pianist of willesden lane saint charles, mo 63301. The children of willesden lane3 c ontents message from the milken family foundationby lowell milken and jane foley 4 foreword by margot stern strom 6 introduction to the children of willesden lane 8 about the book and the author 8 companion cd to the children of willesden lane 8 teachers resource 9 historical context 11. The children of willesden lane book and citywide reads. It tells the true story of lisa jura, who in 1938 was a promising 14yearold pianist living happily in vienna with her closeknit jewish family and dreaming of following the musical footsteps of mozart, beethoven, schubert, and. A memoir of music, love, and survival by mona golabek and lee cohen. Mona golabeks tribute to her mothers harrowing story.
Set in vienna in 1938 and london during the blitzkrieg, the pianist of willesden lane tells the true and inspiring story of lisa jura, a young jewish pianist whose dream of making her concert debut at the storied musikverein concert hall is dashed by. In this alternately heartwrenching and uplifting story, juras daughter, golabek, a pianist, and writer cohen trace the six years jura spent in london, where she found surrogate families in the 31 other young refugees at the willesden lane hostel, and in the workingclass british women at the east end garment factory that employed her. An exquisite musical memoir, the pianist of willesden lane is based on the true story of a young jewish musical prodigy, lisa jura, whose talent was her ticket to escape naziruled vienna for the relative safety of london during the blitzkrieg. Golabek cowrote a book entitled the children of willesden lane that chronicles her mothers experience with the kindertransport which was published in 2002. The pianist of willesden lane preserves memories of the.
Based on the true story of author mona golabeks mother, lisa jura golabek, the children of willesden lane begins when lisa, a 14yearold piano. The solo show, based on golabeks book, is adapted and directed by hershey felder. Lisa jura was fourteenyears old and living in preworld war ii vienna when her parents put her on a kindertransport train leaving for england. The pianist of willesden lane, at 59e59 theaters, is about a jewish girl who escapes vienna on the kindertransport and finds refuge in music while living without her family in london. Books about world war ii from classic favourites to more recent titles, these books for children and teenagers take a variety of different approaches to representing the events of world.
As mona golabek signs books immediately after each performance of her onewoman show, the pianist of willesden lane, at the royal george theatre, people ask her variations on a theme. Purchase the books at octavia books and enjoy a 20% discount. The pianist of willesden lane harold green jewish theatre. A riveting tale of hope and the lifeaffirming power of music, the pianist of willesden lane will now play through january 5 for an additional 28 performances. In this deeply affecting memoironceremoved, adapted and directed by hershey felder, and based on a book by ms.
Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that delivers new books every 1, 2, or 3 months new customers receive 15% off your. Join us for a lively discussion of the book that was the inspiration for the show. The pianist of willesden lane tickets st james theatre. Westport, ct westport country playhouse will present the acclaimed musical memoir, the pianist of willesden lane, from december 5 through december 22. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that. This audio track can be used with activities and discussions found in a teachers resource to the children of willesden lane. A story of music, hope and survival adapted and directed by hershey felder, performed by mona golabek runs july 12 to 22 at hartford stage, 50 church st. The family decides to send lisa to london so that she may pursue her dreams of a career as a concert pianist. The pianist of willesden lane theatreworks silicon valley. Starring mona golabek adapted and directed by hershey felder based on the book the children of willesden lane by mona.
The true story of lisa jura, a young jewish pianist in wartorn vienna as told. Rather a deeply philosophical question you might think, yet at st james theatre, victoria whilst watching the pianist of willesden lane, i found out that the answer was a resounding, yes it can. Le petit theatre concludes its season with critically. The children of willesden lane mona golabek and lee cohen. It brings history to life in a vivid and personal way, and reminds us that human decency and artistic inspiration can survive even the worst of times. Inspired by the life of lisa jura, the hold on to your music foundation seeks to expand awareness and understanding of the ethical implications of world events such as the holocaust, and the power of the arts, especially music, to embolden the human spirit in the face of adversity. Pianist of willesden lane gives encore at hartford stage. The pianist of willesden portland center stage at the. The pianist of willesden lane westport country playhouse. Based on the book the children of willesden lane, written by mona golabek and lee cohen, the pianist of willesden lane is one young girls story of survival and how the most beautiful music in the world saved her life. At 14, lisa was one of more than 9,500 mostly jewish children sent to the united kingdom on the kindertransport to escape nazi persecution.
A memoir of music, love and survival, by mona golabek and lee cohen. Parents need to know that the children of willesden lane is internationally acclaimed pianist mona golabeks biography of her viennese mother, lisa jura golabek. The pianist of willesden lane, a jewish girls war story. Mona golabek and the pianist of willesden lane the. This production is made possible by the support of generous donors like you. The pianist of willesden lane, directed and adapted by hershey felder, combines rich storytelling and magical rendering of classics by bach, beethoven and rachmaninoff. Based on the book the children of willesden lane, written by mona golabek and lee cohen, the pianist of willesden lane is one young girls story of survival and.
The pianist of willesden lane is the tale of lisas journey as a refugee alone in the u. Mona golabek is a grammynominated recording artist, internationally celebrated concert pianist, and star of the onewoman show the pianist of willesden lane. The event is part of our commemoration series to mark the 80th anniversary of the socalled anschluss, the annexation of austria to nazigermany, one of the most. Le petit theatre is partnering with octavia books this year for a book club. Separated from her beloved family, lisa bravely endures the trip and a disastrous posting outside london before finding her way to the willesden lane orphanage. If for some reason your calendar does not allow you to see the pianist of willesden lane during its run at hartford stage, it will be returning to connecticut in december at westport country. Pianist of willesden lane is one familys story of the. In the pianist of willesden lane, holding on to her.
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