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The critically-acclaimed theatrical play Remember This: The Lesson of Jan Karski has had many successful performances, continuing its showings around the world. Academy Award-nominated David Strathairn’s stunning portrayal of Karski always provokes deep reactions from the audience. The play has been performed in Washington, D.C., Chicago, and New York, among other venues.

From December 2-18, 2022, it was performed at the Berkeley Rep Theater in Berkeley, CA

In January and February 2023, the play, under the Polish title Zapamiętaj. Świadectwo Jana Karskiego, was presented by the Jan Karski Educational Foundation (U.S.) and Fundacja Edukacyjna Jana Karskiego (Poland) in four Polish cities (Click on each location to read the report.):  

Watch the trailer for the play:

Critics are raving about the play – David Strathairn’s mesmerizing portrayal of Karski, Derek Goldman’s deliberate direction, and most of all, its timely message.

"Strathairn delivers an incredible performance to resonate at every emotional, mental and physical level with a direct connection to the hearts, minds, soul and spirit of the audience... an incredible and rare opportunity...transformative theatre... never-to-be-forgotten." – Philip Potempa, Chicago Tribune

Read all of the reviews.

In addition to enthusiastic professional reviews, several audience members have commented very favorably about their experience.

“I was deeply moved to witness this brilliant production, anchored by David Strathairn’s astonishing performance, which captures the soul of Jan Karski...Karski’s legacy of moral courage should always be a challenge to our conscience. We must bear witness to our history, face the truth, and act upon it.” – Former U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi

“I was tremendously impressed with the way David inhabited Karski at last night’s performance. It was a simply magnificent experience to feel that I was once more in a room with the Professor. I am most grateful that I could attend.”— E. Thomas Wood, author, Karski: How One Man Tried to Stop the Holocaust.

“It’s worth seeing because so many people have no concept of what war was like. Remember This gives us a small glimpse.”— Helena Sigman, World War II refugee, 87 years old.

“One does not watch Remember This; one experiences it. There is no other way to take it in fully… I recommend that everyone who cares about the world and wonders what they can do to make it better – experience this play whenever and wherever you get a chance. Sit down low. Make eye contact. Stay for the discussion. And get the book.”— Thomas M. Sneeringer, Karski's former student.

Q&A or Talkback sessions followed some presentations to give the audience more insight into the performance and how the play came about. They included: actor David Strathairn; Derek Goldman, the co-writer and director of the play; and — at Georgetown University — several Georgetown students and Jacek Nowakowski, Senior Curator for Collections at United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. Mr. Nowakowski knew Karski personally and recalled him as a wise man. “Whatever he said had a purpose; whatever he did, he did with purpose,” he said.

The Remember This feature film is based on the play and also stars David Strathairn. However, many people have stated that seeing the play in person has been especially meaningful to them because of the immediacy of the performance. Follow our Facebook posts to keep up with the schedule of both the play and movie presentations.

This production of the play, co-written by Clark Young and Derek Goldman and directed by Derek Goldman, was created by The Laboratory for Global Performance and Politics at Georgetown University and is organized with the support of the Jan Karski Educational Foundation.

The Remember This:The Lesson of Jan Karski Team:

David Strathairn Jan Karski
Derek Goldman          Co-Author/Director
Clark Young                Co-Author
Zach Blane                  Lighting Design
Emma Jaster              Movement Direction
Misha Kachman        Scenic Design
Roc Lee                      Composition and Sound Design
Ivania Stack                Costume Design
Madeleine Kelley        Project Manager
Laura Smith                Stage Manager
For the Polish tour, the Foundation hired additional staff:           
Wiktor Kuźma  Lighting Manager
Piotr Delimata  Sound Manager
Joanna Michalik   Stage Manager
Krystyna Lewenfish  Media Manager

 

 

 

Photo by Teresa Castracane