No Entry

Author(s): Marc Paykuss
No Entry is an historically based fictional drama that takes place in a displaced camp in Germany after WWII. The Polish Jewish residents have created their own society, where they can begin to establish new lives for themselves. However the question remains, with no world nation willing to take them in, how long will they have to wait until they are truly free?
Format: Full-length drama
Cast Size: 10–14
Character breakdown:
LENA — Early 30s, DP Camp committee member
EVA — Early 40s, well-bred German antiques dealer
CESCIA — Early 20s, DP, emotionally distant widow
KARL — Mid 20s, DP, upper-class German Jew
BRUNO — Mid 20s, DP and Black Marketeer
BASIA — Early 20s, DP, an affable soul
TOLA — Early 20s, DP, Basia’s best friend
MYER — Early 20s, DP and avowed Bundist
ITZHAK — Early 20s, DP and fervent Zionist
ELZBIETA — Mid 30s, DP, crippled and sardonic
MOSZEK — Late 20s–early 30s, DP Camp committee member
AVRAM — Late 20s–early 30s, DP Camp committee member
JOZEF — Late 20s–early 30s, DP
INGRID — Mid 30s, German Cabaret singer, played by the actor playing Elzbieta
FRIEDA — Early 20s, DP, a beautician-in-training played by the actor playing Tola
MARIE — 20s, German maid, played by the actor playing Basia
REBBE — 30s, Chassid with long beard, played by the actor playing Jozef
Notes:
DP is an abbreviation for displaced person.
Gender is flexible for all.
Ethnicity is flexible for all.
Notes:

Finalist for the Woodward/Newman Drama Award, 2024.

Snapshot

Original or Prominent Production:
TRU Voices New Play Reading Series, New York, 20202.
Original Source Material: Personal Histories, SHOAH Foundation, Documentary Footage.
Nationality of Author: U.S.
Original Language: English
Production Rights Holder:

Marc Paykuss—visit playwright’s website.

Browse the Plays

Play Index

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

HTC Insights

Views, reference and research of interest.

A Personal Welcome to the Holocaust Theater Catalog

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...

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.