“VOICES” A Poetic Performance by the Traveling Stars Theater

To mark the 85th anniversary of the Babyn Yar tragedy, the Traveling Stars Theater has created a production based on Marianna Kiyanovska’s book The Voices of Babyn Yar.

Babyn Yar became known throughout Ukraine and around the world as the site of mass executions of civilians carried out by the German occupation authorities between 1941 and 1943.

The occupying forces executed patients from a psychiatric hospital, members of the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists, people labeled “saboteurs,” and Roma targeted because of their ethnicity. The largest group of victims, however, were Jews. Those who rescued or sheltered them faced the same fate. This was how the Reich pursued its so-called “solution to the Jewish question.” According to the Museum of Kyiv History, between 90,000 and 100,000 people were executed at Babyn Yar during the German occupation, including approximately 65,000 to 70,000 Jews.

We still do not know the exact number of victims. We still cannot identify everyone who was murdered at Babyn Yar. The tragedy of the Holocaust, like that of any genocide, lies not only in the physical destruction of human lives but also in the attempt to strip victims of their identities and erase their memory. Marianna Kiyanovska’s poetry restores their voices and names.

When speaking about World War II and the Holocaust, many people repeat the words “Never again.” Unfortunately, in the 21st century, war and the destruction of an entire people are not only matters of history—they are also part of our present reality.

Join us for the premiere to honor the memory of those who were murdered, to listen, to feel, and to revisit the lessons of history that humanity may still not have fully learned.

This is a one-act performance recommended for ages 12 and up.

The performance will be presented in Ukrainian with English subtitles.

All proceeds will be directed by the nonprofit organization Hromada toward charitable programs supporting Ukraine.

Before the performance, guests will also have an opportunity to participate in a charity auction.

Tickets are available through the link below. General admission is $40. Discounted tickets are $30 for guests ages 62 and older and for students under age 21. Tickets purchased at the door on the day of the performance are $50, and no discounts will apply.

Complimentary coffee, tea, and light refreshments will be available at our theater café.