A Message from Arnold Mittelman After a career in not-for-profit and commercial theater spanning more than 40 years I was honored in 2007 to found the National Jewish Theater / Foundation and in 2010 to assume leadership of its Holocaust Theater International...
King of the Jews
Author(s): Leslie Epstein
When a runaway boy seeks refuge in their cafe, ten unassuming Jews in Nazi-occupied Poland find themselves selected to form a Jewish ghetto council in charge of policing their own people. Led by the morally ambiguous Doctor Trumpelman, the council revels in their newfound power until they are faced with the impossible task of handing over the names of 100 of their fellow Jews. Unable to choose and unable to disobey, the council members grapple with the assignment of sentencing their own people to death.
Format: Drama
Cast Size: 10M/2F
Running Time: 100–120 minutes
Snapshot
Original or Prominent Production:
Boston Playwrights’ Theatre (workshop production), Boston MA, February–March 2007; Olney Theatre Center, Olney MD, March–April 2009; Here Arts Center, New York, October 2023.
Boston Playwrights’ Theatre (workshop production), Boston MA, February–March 2007; Olney Theatre Center, Olney MD, March–April 2009; Here Arts Center, New York, October 2023.
Original Source Material: Adapted from Epstein’s novel, King of the Jews.
Nationality of Author: U.S.
Original Language: English
Publisher:
Production Rights Holder:
Experience(s) Chronicled: The Ghettos
HTC Insights
Views, reference and research of interest.
Lifetime Achievement Award
The National Jewish Theater Foundation presented its 2024 Lifetime Achievement Award to Alfred Uhry. The presentation took place as part of the Lincoln Center Library event on January 27th 2025 in commemoration of International Holocaust Remembrance Day on the 80th Anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz
Lifetime Achievement Award
On September 30, 2024, French playwright, Mr. Jean Claude Grumberg received the Lifetime Achievement Award. It was presented by NJTF HTII President, Arnold Mittelman with Dominique Trimbur, PhD-Manager for the History of Anti-Semitism and the Holocaust, Teaching of the Holocaust of Fondation Pour La Memoir de la Shoah Project.