The Path to Heaven

A regional premiere of the opera by Adam Gorb and Ben Kaye

In Berlin, a group of friends’ carefree lives are shattered when they catch the attention of the Nazi authorities. Sara’s family is branded with Jewish heritage, leading to her and her loved ones being deported to a concentration camp. Amidst the horrors, Sara is faced with a heart-wrenching choice: to sacrifice herself to save her sister, niece, and lover. “The Path to Heaven,” performed in conjunction with the Lawrence Jewish Community Congregation, explores the tragic twists of fate and the desperate measures taken for survival.

PERFORMANCE: August 11, 2024 at 2:30 p.m. LIVE STREAM TICKETS SOLD SEPARATELY

PRE-SHOW DISCUSSION: August 11, 2024 at 1:30 p.m. by Midwest Center for Holocaust Education (MCHE). MCHE is a nonprofit organization dedicated to teaching “the history of the Holocaust, [and] applying its lessons to counter indifference, intolerance, and genocide.” MCHE will be discussing the historical and social context surrounding the Nazi’s rise to power and the complacency of the average person. The pre-show discussion is not included in the livestream.

DIRECTED BY: Hugo Vera

ACCOMPANIED BY: Carmen Ching

LOCATION: Lawrence Jewish Community Congregation; 917 Highland Dr., Lawrence, KS 66044

CAST:

Sara: Emily Lynn

Hanna: Mariah Berryman

Magda: Lisa Gerstenkorn

Esther: Nicole Burkhart

Dieter: TJ Simon

Hans: Samuel Kennedy

Cobbler: Samuel Kennedy

Dr. Rudi: Kelvin Li

Kapo: Ethan Miller

Prisoner: Hugo Vera