Tickets are now on sale for the world premiere of “Hidden”, a musical theater piece based on the life of Ruth Kapp Hartz, a Jenkintown resident who as a young Jewish girl was hidden in Southern France during World War II.
About the show:
Forced to change her name to Renée in order to conceal being Jewish, Ruth and her family rely on the kindness of strangers in a small French village. From a secret apartment to a basement hideout and then to a Catholic orphanage in a convent, Renée must hide her true identity and learn to survive through a series of harrowing events. Dealing with themes of identity, allies, antisemitism, fascism, resilience and resistance, this musical will resonate with audiences today.
The musical debuted in May 2023 and was created by David & Jenny Heitler-Klevans of Cheltenham Township, who are also launching an art exhibit titled “Revealing the Hidden: A Curated Exploration of Identity and Resilience” from September 6 to September 22 in The Leona P. Kramer Gallery at Gratz College in Melrose Park.
The exhibit is set to accompany the world premiere of “Hidden” and will feature 16 local artists.
Musical “Hidden” Performance Dates:
- September 6 & 7: 8:00 PM
- September 20: 8:00 PM
- September 21 & 22: 2:00 PM
Tickets to the musical can be found here. For more on “Hidden”, you can visit the show’s Facebook page.
About Ruth Kapp Hartz
Ruth Kapp Hartz survived the Holocaust thanks to brave individuals in southern France who sheltered her and her family. After the war her family moved to Paris. She attended the Sorbonne University with a degree in Biochemistry. In 1958 she emigrated to the United States and married Harry Hartz. She became a French language and culture teacher at Springside High School in the Chestnut Hill section of Philadelphia, where she taught for 22 years. In 1999 she published her memoir “Your Name is Renée” co-written by a former student of hers, Stacy Cretzmeyer. She is actively involved with Holocaust organizations and regularly visits schools to tell her story.
About David and Jenny Heitler-Klevans
David and Jenny are an award-winning husband-wife duo whose group, TWO OF A KIND, delights audiences of all ages with their music, good humor and audience participation. David and Jenny Heitler- Klevans love bringing people together and building community through music. Writing and performing together for 34 years, they have received numerous awards for their recordings and songwriting, have performed throughout the country and internationally at performing arts centers, theaters, festivals, museums, schools and libraries. “HIDDEN” is their second musical and they are thrilled to see it come to life.
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