The world premiere of a multi-media stage drama about the genocide that left millions of Ukrainians dead in the early 1930s happens in Tallahassee this week. The work, entitled "Teodora" in honor of the brave woman who survived to tell the tale, will be presented at Godby High School.
It all began nearly a quarter-of-a-century ago. Mimi Shaw of Tallahassee discovered dozens of incredible paintings and written accounts of a true horror story: Millions of people in the Ukraine dying at the hands of Soviet Russians and later German Nazis, or starving to death, beginning in the early 1930s. A catastrophe now called the Holodomor. Shaw later shared the find with local dramatic writer and musical composer Diane Whitney.
"I know that when Mimi found the book and the paintings and told me about it, she wanted me to play music when the paintings were being shown. So I became familiar with that. And then there was a book, and she wanted it reviewed. So I reviewed the book and I was overwhelmed with the strength of the woman Teodora and what she had been through. I couldn't imagine myself doing that."
Teodora Verbitskaya and her two daughters managed to escape the devastation. Whitney especially was captivated by the haunting images created years later by the daughter named Nadia.
"The children must have been as strong as mom, because she took them into dark places to sleep and they ate very little and yet they persevered. One of them went to college in Duseldorff and got a degree in art and these are the beautiful paintings that we see, that she got those paintings out of herself after what she went through, even as a little girl."
The Two Regimes Project was born, thus named because the Ukrainians suffered and died at the hands of both the Soviet Russians and German Nazis. The story inspired Whitney to write a complete dramatic production, including the music, for the on-stage presentation entitled "Teodora." Godby High School Theatre Teacher Randi Lundgren is the director. And she's had lots of help making it happen.
"I have 5 dancers who are part of my drama and yearbook class - all of them are in my classes - and they are dancing in the show. And then I have Ms. Milosevik is part of our educational team on this product. She's serving as assistant director for me."
Also helping will be a number of technical folks from Florida State University. Mimi Shaw, whose discovery got the whole thing started, says Teodora they'll provide the support to make Teodora an immensive, multi-media experience.
"We're able to project images of the art and from history onto the theatre walls and the proscenium. And the music of Diane Whitney, the choreography of Justin and Diane and Marcos Pizzaro. It's incredible and it can be completely replicated in any high school or college throughout the world. And it's what we can do as artists and educators to try and share in a unique and creative fashion throughout the world."
Kelly Bowen, who compiled and edited Teodora Verbitskaya's original accounts of the Holodomor, is hoping the Tallahassee debut of "Teodora" will provide an appropriate launch pad for Mimi Shaw's global vision.
"You only have two days to see this experience. If you're someone who enjoys something new, something with a few different twists in it, and an incredible audience experience; even a bit of a 3D experience going on. You'll definitely want to check out 'Teodora' Feb. 17 and 18. The play starts at 7 p.m. in the newly-rennovated Godby High School Theatre. And you've only got 2 days to take advantage of this."
