Trevecca Theatre to stage “And Then They Came for Me” for limited run

Lauren Steibrook

News and Engagement Editor

Trevecca’s Theatre Department is performing, And Then They Came for Me: Remembering the World of Anne Frank, for one weekend only. 

And Then They Came for Me,is a multimedia production that blends live performance with filmed interviews from Holocaust survivors. 

The show will be performed in Benson Auditorium, with evening performances scheduled for Jan. 22–25. The production runs approximately 90 minutes and contains heavy themes related to the Holocaust.

And Then They Came for Me, written by playwright James Still, tells the true stories of Ed Silverberg and Eva Schloss, friends of Anne Frank who survived the Holocaust. Silverberg was Anne Frank’s first boyfriend, mentioned in her diary, while Schloss later became Anne Frank’s stepsister when her mother married Otto Frank after the war.

Unlike traditional narrative theatre, the production weaves videotaped interviews with the survivors alongside live actors who reenact pivotal moments from their lives during World War II. 

“The subtitle is remembering the world of Anne Frank, and it really has to do with the lives of two people who survived the Holocaust and were friends with Anne Frank at one point, and what they experienced, how they were humiliated, and what their experiences bring to the table in our discussions every day.” said Jeff Frame, professor of dramatic arts and communication studies and director of the production,  

Frame said the play was chosen to align with the Theatre Department’s broader seasonal focus.

“Our whole season wanted to talk about ways in which we can move beyond ourselves into the world, to find ways to do the things we speak,” said Frame.  “like putting shoes on your feet, to go somewhere, and to not just say this is what I believe in, but also to say this is what I’m going to do about it.” 

Frame said the play invites audiences to reflect on how prejudice escalates and how silence can become complicity.

“How can we help others who are disenfranchised in some way or marginalized or in danger, the kinds of things we need to think about in terms of awareness?” said Frame. “When a person or a group of people wants to hurt somebody else, how? How do we recognize that and maybe step in in ways that are appropriate?” 

The production stands out as one of the most technically and emotionally complex shows Trevecca Theatre has staged. Frame said he could not recall another Trevecca production that incorporates filmed historical interviews as part of the performance.

“I think it’s the way in which James Still wrote this story, because I think it’s difficult to take documentary footage, archival footage, and mix it into live action, but this show, he’s done a really good job of that,” said Frame. 

 While music is often a key emotional driver in Trevecca productions, Frame said the emotional weight of And Then They Came for Me comes primarily from the survivors’ stories themselves.

“When you realize these are real people telling us, ‘Don’t let this happen again,’ it becomes very real,” Frame said. “What they experienced wasn’t just humiliating — it was terrible. And regardless of where we are in human history, we should take what they have to say to heart.”

Frame said the cast was selected carefully, noting that the material requires sensitivity and emotional maturity.

“I’m really happy with our cast, because we have actors that are sensitive to the content, who are, for the most part, trained in some way,” said Frame. “Most of them know how to express these characters in these snippets, these short scenes that show defining moments in the lives of these characters. And I’m thankful for that, because without that, and without the sensitive writing of the playwright, I don’t think this kind of project could be pulled off.” 

Despite its heavy subject matter, Frame said the play also includes moments of tenderness and lightness, particularly in scenes depicting Anne Frank’s relationships with those around her.

“There are sweet and even gently comic moments,” Frame said. “But most of it is heavy, and that’s why we have to take care of ourselves as a cast. We have to find ways to laugh outside of rehearsal just to preserve our own wellness.”

In addition to public performances, Trevecca Theatre has scheduled special daytime performances for more than 300 middle school students from local schools, introducing younger audiences to Holocaust history through live theatre.

Tickets are available online at trevecca.edu/theatre or at the door. General admission pricing applies; Trevecca students are eligible for discounted tickets at the door with proof of student ID. 

Weather-related updates will be shared through Trevecca Theatre’s Instagram, @treveccatheater.