Why is The Butterfly Project relevant?

"The Butterfly Project is important far beyond the realm of raising awareness about the children of Terezin. It reminds us of an event many people long to forget ever occurred. The Butterfly Project is a story about strength, hope, and what it takes to keep going, despite all the odds in the world being against you. It brings a sense of beauty to a reality more harsh then humankind should have ever endured. Being an active member of the youth movement Habonim Dror, a movement that helped to form the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, I find it particularly important to share the story of these kids. It is a beautiful play that reminds people, both young and old, just how strong humankind is even in the darkest of hours." 

-Aliyah N., Age 18, Child IV


(Pictured: Aliyah N. as Jack's Mother in Wolf PAC's Jack and the Bean Stalk)

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DoGooder Awards

Watch this video and help Wolf PAC win the DoGooder Awards...

The DoGooder Awards are created to promote the work of local non-profit organizations.  Non-profits with winning videos will be given over $250,000 in services needed to maintain their operations.  

Every view and every comment will help Wolf PAC and The Butterfly Project win the viewers choice award.  Share the link below with all of your friends and families...

The DoGooder Awards- The Butterfly Project

Question of the week:

How would you use $250,000 to "do good" in your community?

How do you rise above HATE?

Here are more thoughts from the cast of The Butterfly Project: 

"We have been learning about Mahatma Gandhi in school. 

Gandhi rose above hate and discrimination by gathering his fellow victims and advocating for equality through non-violence and non-cooperation. Like Gandhi, I believe having a community for support is very important.  It is difficult, but most rewarding to have your beliefs heard without causing violence to those anger you most. Like Gandhi said, you can rise above hate by working to "convert the wrongdoer". 

Leslie G., Age 14, Older Raja/Child IV

"One of my favorite quotes on rising above hate is by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and it reads:  

“If we could read the secret history of our enemies, we should find in each man's life sorrow and suffering enough to disarm all hostility”. 

 In interviews, the Nazi officers discuss that the way they could inflict such pain was by thinking of the "non-desirables" as things, devoid of any emotions and incapable of being empathetic. 

Celeste Raspanti's story squashes that lie, as she portrays raw humanity, a graphic and moving portrait of the day-to-day accounts in Terezin . As a reader and an audience member, I experienced first the people, their strengths and weaknesses not unlike my own, then when they experienced unspeakable discrimination, I was outraged, because I felt connected to them, saw their incredible worth and their histories.

Now, as a performer, I am struck by how strong the sense of community was in Terezin. Instead of fending for themselves, or hating each other because of their own misery, the people joined together, and fought as a family to survive. This aspect of the play (and history) makes me realize that humans are not built to hate. It is not natural for us. 

I think Ms. Raspanti's play not only brings to life a powerful moment in history, but also gives voice to themes such as forgiveness, survival, and community. These characteristics are the ones that triumph hate. Her story has given me hope that we are not alone in this life, and that hatred never wins.”

Brandi B., Age 22, Irena

How has HATE affected your life?  Answer below by commenting. 

To donate to The Butterfly Project click here. 

How do you rise above HATE?

This week, the cast performed at Beth Am Israel, a congregation in Penn Valley. Thanks to our partners at the Holocaust Awareness Museum and Education Center, we shared the evening with Michael Herskovitz, survivor of Auschwitz.  Michael told his incredible and difficult story to all of us following the performance of I Never Saw Another Butterfly.  He answered questions from the audience with grace.  When one audience member asked, "Do you hate the Nazis?" he bravely explained that there is no use of holding hate in your heart.  This revelation caused our actors to think about HATE. 

"I believe that rising above hate requires so much more than bracing yourself against the pain it can cause. Rising above hate is occupying yourself with something much greater than your enemy, and proving that the hate has no effect on you and cannot stop you from achieving great things. I believe that it is not good enough to ignore hate; rather, it is imperative that action is taken so that, when it is observed by the antagonist, he has no option but to realize how insignificant or foolish his belligerence is. Rising above hate is the act of winning back over those your enemy has turned against you, and using only the simple truth to do so."

-Haley W, Age 16, Older Raja

Share your thoughts:

Have you ever come across hate in your life?  How did you stand against it?

The Butterfly Project can not soar without your support.  Click HERE to donate.

Building a Time Machine

Since launching The Butterfly Project on Holocaust Remembrance Day April 19^th, 2012, our company has performed for our families and friends, seniors living in a retirement community, and middle and high school students.   Our company of 37 young actors and two adult actresses will tour to forty schools, places of worship and community centers this season, sharing the story of the children of Terezin, a concentration camp of the Holocaust.  Following each performance, we invite the audience to stay for a talk back with the actors. 

In rehearsals, we worked diligently to prepare our performers for this difficult production.  Our process began with several long conversations explaining the history and circumstances of the Holocaust and Terezin.  From there we explored our own emotional point of view through guided group theatrical exercises and introspective journaling.  The result is a complex piece of theatre relatable to our actors’ peers yet sophisticated and sincere enough to engage adult audiences. 

The post-show talk backs prove this.  Each audience reflects its unique perspective and relationship to the Holocaust and our production.  We hear from people who remember living through World War II and the Holocaust.  We are asked questions from young students who might not know much about the period at all. This cross-cultural, multi-generational conversation between actor and audience reveals the magnitude of impact our company has on our community.

During a post-show conversation at a local retirement community, an audience member asked the cast how their participation in the production changed their relationship with their grandparents.  One young lady (who is wise beyond her years, I might add) shared a beautiful sentiment.  She told us her grandmother, who had lived through this moment in time, passed away when she was much younger.  The young actress was not old enough then to appreciate her grandmother’s stories and now yearns to know more about her.  Each time she leaves her world for our Terezin, she imagines living through her grandmother’s youth.   In this way, she feels forever connected to the woman she only began to know.

This piece of theater functions as our own time machine.  Through performance we relive moments from the past.  In conversation, we connect our past to our present.  By process, we enhance the collective memory of our young actors and instill values that will guide their future.

-Tim Popp, Co-Director The Butterfly Project

Click here to support this unique theatrical experience

I am PROUD....

PRIDE.  

It is one of the central themes of the production.  Despite everything, the children of Terezin remained proud of their identity.  We asked the actors of The Butterfly Project what makes them proud to be a part of this ensemble.  Here are some of their responses...

“I am proud to me in The Butterfly Project because it teaches everyone about the Holocaust, how horrifying it was, and how it should never happen again.  I like learning about it from a child's point of view, because I know how they would feel.   I also love acting and I am really enjoying my experience with The Butterfly Project.” – Zora G., Age, 11, Child II.

“I am proud to be in The Butterfly Project because it is important that everyone knows that the Holocaust happened.  I can help inform the world of this tragedy.” –Ruthie C., Age 11, Child II

“I am proud to be in The Butterfly Project because I feel like I am spreading a message that every person in the world should hear.” –Dotan Y., Age 13, Honza

“I am proud to be in The Butterfly Project because of the powerful story we are sharing with people young and old across the Greater Philadelphia Area.” –Aliyah N., Age 17, Child IV

“I am proud to be in The Butterfly Project because I can help bring this magnificent show to kids and adults who don't know as much as others about the Holocaust.” –Sammi T., Age 12, Child V

“I am proud to be in The Butterfly Project because it is a gift to be able to share a story that many are beginning to forget. The courage and determination of the characters will hopefully inspire the audience as much as it inspired me!” –Jessica C., Age 16, Child IV

Click here to support The Butterfly Project.  Help us bring this message to our community.

What is HOPE?

The play I Never Saw Another Butterfly features poetry written by the children of Terezin.  Our young actors, following the example of these courageous children, are creating poetry of their own, expressing the lessons we learn together throughout the rehearsals and performances.   

Hope is waiting for flowers in December

Hope is trying not to remember

Hope is seeing the rainbow after the rain

Hope is moving on and forgetting the pain

-Monica A., Age 16, Young Raja

To donate to The Butterfly Project, please CLICK HERE.

Help us soar.