As the 75th anniversary of the United States’ entry into World War II approaches, L.A. Theatre Works launches its national tour of the acclaimed courtroom drama “Judgment at Nuremberg,” including a Nov. 12 performance at Dominican University’s Performing Arts Center in River Forest.
The national tour of “Judgment at Nuremberg” coincides with the Nuremberg Trials’ 70th anniversary and highlights the passions and ethical struggles associated with the trial of Nazi war criminals, brought to life in the words of playwright Abby Mann. The cast includes John Vickery, Ron Bottitta, Josh Clark, Jeff Gardner, Kip Gilman, Shannon Holt, Dylan Jones, and Matthew Floyd Miller.
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“‘Judgment at Nuremberg’ is both timeless and timely,” said Leslie Rodriguez, Managing Director of Dominican University Performing Arts Center. “The ethical questions it addresses are still debated today in the framework of current military actions.”
The performance itself will take place over Veteran’s Day weekend, just a few weeks ahead of the 75th anniversary of the bombing of Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7.
While the number of World War II veterans is steadily dwindling, along with the number of people who witnessed the war, Rodriguez believes that a live performance involving the art of storytelling, may keep history alive in a more visceral way than textbooks.
“L.A. Theatre Works offers distinctive and memorable style radio-theatre performances aired on NPR stations,” Rodriguez said. “Through live performance, you get a strong visual context, but the emphasis is really on the story, on the words themselves.”
“The story has to be told aurally,” said said Director Brian Kite, chair of the Department of Theater at UCLA’s School of Theater, Film and Television. “The actors have to create the entire experience and communicate who they are through their voices alone. In our version, we have added in costumes, lighting, projection and some staging, but seeing the world come to life without actually seeing it on stage, is both the challenge and the delight of this genre.”
L.A. Theatre Works is a nonprofit media arts organization whose mission is to present, preserve, and disseminate classic and contemporary plays.
L.A. Theatre Works presents ‘Judgment at Nuremberg’
When: 7:30 p.m. Nov. 12
Where: Dominican University Performing Arts Center Lund Auditorium, 7900 W. Division St., River Forest
Tickets: $24-$49
Contact: www.events.dom.edu