Docudrama tells Holocaust survivor story: Hershey Felder's ‘The Assembly’ will be screened at Redwood City's Fox Theatre May 4, featuring footage of students traveling through survivor's story in Poland

In 2019, Felder committed to bring Libitzky to the San Diego School of Creative and Performing Arts to speak to young artists about her experiences during World War II. 

Libitzky was interned in the Lodz Ghetto, and then at Auschwitz, and miraculously survived. Libitzky began sharing her story to students all over the world to talk about the impact of hatred. 

Unfortunately, Libitzky died after contracting COVID-19, but her strength and will to live was succinctly captured by Felder.

“She was strong until the last minute,” Felder said. “Would she have lived longer? She is such a tough, strong woman, so I’d suspect so.” 

After Libitzky’s passing, Felder felt it was still — if not more — important to continue doing the good work to which she committed her life. In an effort to honor this, Felder found an old recorded interview Libitzky did, and used it to build a movie and follow her trajectory in Poland. An actor was hired to portray Libitzky in the flesh. 

In 2022, Felder took a group of students through a heart-wrenching experience, capturing their raw emotions and each student’s journey to understand that hate knows no bounds. 

“As the film unfolds, these students realize they wouldn’t have made it through either, and they aren’t Jewish,” Felder said. 

Whether the students were Black, transgender, gay or autistic, each soberly recognized the evilness individuals were victims of, Felder said. The director approached the project with a desire to tell Libitzky’s story in the Holocaust, but it evolved into displaying an experience that unfortunately is more universal than sometimes understood. 

“So many young people said they saw themselves in something they never could have seen themselves in,” Felder said. “I didn’t even know what I was getting at the time. It was remarkable.”

While Libitzky was portrayed by an actor, Felder’s goal was to authentically represent each of the students’ journeys. They were told to ignore the film cameras surrounding them, and not perform. Felder assured he wouldn’t include anything embarrassing, “but we need to show something honest.”

The strength of the students to be vulnerable was admirable, Felder said. 

“The story is so deep and so moving, there was no time to perform for anybody,” Felder said. “It’s not something they could even think about, because they were so overwhelmed.” 

When one of the students saw the pink triangle sewn into shirts that were used to identify gay men in concentration camps, he instantly became overwhelmed, realizing he would have been gassed as well, even though he isn’t Jewish. 

Telling the story of the Holocaust, and from survivors, has always remained a necessary and relevant endeavor, Felder said. And when the film initially premiered in 2023, the power of hatred was extremely relevant. 

What Felder didn’t expect was that years after the premier, the message has become even stronger. The impact can morph as time goes on and the political world changes, he said. 

“We weren’t dealing quite with what we’re dealing with right now,” Felder said. “We were dealing with right wing elements, but it wasn’t the general rule. Years ago, kids were talking about being concerned what could happen, and within a few years, here we are.” 

The story is heavy and emotional, but there’s an essence of hope to be taken away, if you can learn from the kids, Felder said. 

“Being with these kids, it gives me hope that things are going to be OK,” Felder said. “They’re so wonderful, so kind, so astute. We didn’t have what we have now, but looking at these kids, I was so moved by them and their perception of the world.”

Good art, and the art Felder always strives to make, presents a very specific perspective with a message that spans far and beyond its subject matter. The students were critical in delivering on the goal. 

“They have a beautiful sense of what’s important,” Felder said. “There’s a generosity and kindness among them and with each other and with the story we’re telling.” 

Felder is very familiar with presenting his work for the masses, with a lengthy catalog of encapsulating performances of iconic pianists and a slew of films he’s directed. With each, he has learned that he must let each piece of work represent itself, and not manipulate it to be something it’s not. 

Succinctly, Felder said the film is an honest movie of two weeks in Poland, based on a survivor’s story. 

“That’s it. Whatever anyone else takes away from it, I don’t know,” Felder said. “But I can tell, I do think people will be moved, whatever they take away.” 

The film is described as a “docudrama” with the content set in modern day, with real life students on their journey to Poland. Libitzky was conveyed by actor Eleanor Reissa who authentically told Libitzky’s story to the young students. 

“The Assembly” will be screened at 7:30 p.m. Monday, May 4, at the Fox Theatre. For tickets visit theatreworks.org or call (877) 662-8978. Special rates are also available for educational groups, who can email jarky@theatreworks.org for more information. 

The screening will follow with time for Felder to answer audience questions.