Thomas wakefield, a fifth grader at columbia valley gardens, said willesden lane was the best book hes ever read, partially because what it taught him about world war ii. The pianist of willesden lane bach partita youtube. In this poignant show, virtuoso mona golabek performs some of the worlds most beautiful piano music as she shares her mothers riveting story of. A teachers resource to the children of willesden lane. What can i hold on to in my life to help me be resilient in times of change. Grammy nominee mona golabek will be performing her play, the pianist of willesden lane, at fontbonnes renovated csj center. The pianist of willesden lane portland center stage at the. The childrens edition is a 2018 sydney taylor book award notable book for older readers. Sep 12, 2018 performed by juras daughter, grammynominated pianist mona golabek, the pianist of willesden lane combines enthralling story telling with breathtaking live performances of bach, beethoven, chopin, rachmaninoff, and more. More than one million students have participated in willesden reads events since golabek first launched the program in 2014. Teaching the holocaust is more important than ever. The pianist of willesden lane runs through february 16, 2020, at theatreworks silicon valley, mountain view center for the performing arts, 500 castro street, mountain view ca.
We welcome hershey felder back as the director of the pianist of willesden lane, remarks artistic director tony taccone. Based on the book the children of willesden lane by mona golabek and lee cohen adapted and directed by hershey felder. Apr 16, 2020 the 45minute program will feature mona golabek, grammynominated concert pianist and author of the children of willesden lane. Mona and hershey have found a unique way of telling the story. Concert pianist mona golabek describes how lisa juras legacy lives on in her children and grandchildren. Pianist of willesden lane illustrates power of music. She has appeared with many leading orchestras and made numerous recordings. Use this guide to teach the memoir the children of willesden lane and its powerful. I recommend this book and cd to teachers and to anyone else who wants to read a good story. We saw it at berkeley rep and it was a wonderful experience. A 14yearold jewish girl finds herself on the kindertransport on the way to england, separated from her two sisters and parents, who are left behind in an increasingly volatile, nazioccupied vienna.
Addition ally, to reinforce the musical selections in the book, the foundation funded the production of the companion cd performed by grammynominated mona. Jan 21, 2020 the pianist of willesden lane by hershey felder, based on the book by mona golabek and lee cohen, presented by theatreworks silicon valley through. Pianist of willesden lane back for south bay run j. Each season includes books that will inspire great conversations. Concert pianist mona golabek introduces moonlight sonata first movement and plays it in its entirety. Telling her mothers war story on stage with a piano the. A companion cd highlights the music that played such an important role in lisa. The children of willesden lane3 c ontents message from the milken family foundationby lowell milken and jane foley 4 foreword by margot stern strom 6 introduction to the children of willesden lane 8 about the book and the author 8 companion cd to the children of willesden lane 8 teachers resource 9 historical context 11 prereading activities 14. This is indeed a book that only a concert pianist and a poet could have written, for the subject demands a rare sensitivity. Golabek cowrote a book entitled the children of willesden lane that chronicles her mothers experience with the kindertransport which was published in 2002. The book itself is shorter than its 272 pages might imply, for the typography is large and easy to read. San josesilicon valley the pianist of willesden lane 1.
The true story of lisa jura, a young jewish pianist in wartorn vienna as told. The children of willesden lane is a gcp clubcar selection. With three daughters and only one passage to safety, a mother must choose. Adapted by robbins as a chapter book from emil shers 2017 young readers edition, the text reads like a novel and is punctuated by abundant unsourced and likely fictionalized dialogue, both internal and external. Set in vienna in 1938 and london during the blitzkrieg, the pianist of willesden lane tells the true and inspiring story of lisa jura, a young jewish pianist whose dream of making her concert debut at the storied musikverein concert hall is dashed by. This book isnt well written, but it is compelling and a great story. A riveting tale of hope and the lifeaffirming power of music, the pianist of willesden lane will now play through january 5 for an additional 28 performances. Based on the 2002 book the children of willesden lane by golabek and lee cohen, the acclaimed performance piece tells the story of golabeks holocaustrefugee mother, lisa jura, whose love of music was a. The arrival of hold on to your music for ages 48 and lisa of willesden lane for ages 610 rounds out a collection of previously released the children of willesden lane books tailored to different age groups. This elegant, heartfelt solo showis an arresting, deeply affecting triumph. Nov 28, 2003 the family decides to send lisa to london so that she may pursue her dreams of a career as a concert pianist. Audiobook downloadable unabridged trade paperback audiobook cd unabridged. The pianist of willesden lane, at hartford stage through april 26th, combines music and memoir, as mona golabek honors, with love, her mother lisa jura.
Buy a discounted paperback of the children of willesden lane online from australias leading online. Looking forward to seeing the play the pianist of willesden lane at hartford stage, ct in spring 2015. I teach the novel the children of willesden lane to my ninth grade students. As lisa jura herself might remark, the children of willesden lane is reminiscent of a chopin concerto. Jan 08, 2020 the onewoman show the pianist of willesden lane, starring mona golabek on the piano, is returning to the bay area this month. Bbc films teams with empire of the sun producer for children of. Based on the true story of her mother, mona golabek describes the inspirational story of lisa jura golabeks escape from nazicontrolled. Fourteenyearold lisa jura was a musical prodigy who hoped to become a concert pianist. A teachers resource to the children of willesden lane facing. Sep 17, 2018 the pianist of willesden lane, adapted and directed by hershey felder. There is a play to go along with it called the pianist of willesden lane which i highly recommend. A memoir of music, love, and survival audio cd unabridged, march 15, 2016 customers who. The show is adapted and directed by awardwinning musician hershey felder and based on the book the children of willesden lane by golabek and lee cohen.
The pianist of willesden lane mccallum theatre palm. With your support, le petit theatres production of the pianist of willesden lane will challenge audiences to examine the past through lisa juras remarkable story and analyze its connections to the present, in the hopes of informing a more equitable and just future. Mona golabek is a grammynominated recording artist, internationally celebrated concert pianist, and star of the onewoman show the pianist of willesden lane. Buy the paperback book the children of willesden lane. Beyond the kindertransport a memoir of music, love and survival by lee cohen and mona golabek 2003, trade paperback at the best online prices at ebay. This is the story of a journey during world war ii that jura made from vienna to londonand survival through the efforts of others. In 20, felder directed concert pianist mona golabek in the pianist of willesden lane, in his adaptation of her book the children of willesden lane, telling the story of golabeks mother as an adolescent in the kindertransport during world war ii. Mona golabeks book for the theater, and subsequently helped to shape the. And with the support of usc shoah foundationthe institute for visual history and education, mona is preparing for willesden reads events in cities across the country, spanning all grade. Pianist of willesden lane illustrates power of music arts. A theater adaptation of the book, the pianist of willesden lane, was adapted and directed by hershey felder. Mona golabek is not only noted for her artistry as a musician but also for her humanitarian work in disseminating the story of child refugees from nazi germa.
Oct 25, 20 the pianist of willesden lane was adapted for the stage by hershey felder, based on a book written by mona golabek and lee cohen. Based on the book the children of willesden lane by mona golabek and lee cohen the segal centre presents a hershey. Two new books published today capture the extraordinary story of lisa jura, an austrian jewish refugee who survived the holocaust and then pursued her dream to become a concert pianist. Lane resource collection for musical selections to accompany the book. In berkeley reps pianist of willesden lane the works of grieg, beethoven, and bach echo across wartorn europe. Concert pianist mona golabek brings mothers story to.
The pianist of willesden lane will play the royal george theatre, 1641 n. A true story of hope and survival during world war ii young. Based on the book the children of willesden lane by mona golabek and lee cohen adapted and directed by hershey felder september 12 30, 2018. Hold on to your music and lisa of willesden lane are authored by juras daughter mona golabek, herself a virtuoso concert pianist and radio host. The children of willesden lane by mona golabek grand central. A memoir of music, love, and survival ebook written by mona golabek, lee cohen. This cd is a great supplemental item to use, so the students can actually hear what lisa is playing. Listen to the music that inspired the children of willesden lane. This audio track can be used with activities and discussions found in a teachers resource to the children of willesden lane. Holding fast to dreams of concert success, a young jewish pianist escapes vienna via the kindertransport, arriving in england at the outset of world war ii. Golabek will explore key parts of her book and perform piano classics, guiding students to consider the question. This audio track is part of a collection that accompanies the children of willesden lane, and can be taught with activities and discussions found in a teachers resource to the children of willesden lane on page 25. The family decides to send lisa to london so that she may pursue her dreams of a career as a concert pianist. Check out this sneak peak of mona golabek in the world premiere the pianist of willesden lane at the geffen playhouse, adapted and directed by hershey felder.
Mona golabek is an american concert pianist, author, and radio host. This true story was recounted by pianist golabeklisas daughterand cohen in the children of willesden lane 2003. The production, directed by hershey felder, has been acclaimed by critics and audiences across america, with soldout runs in new york and london. The children of willesden lane by franklin watts, lee cohen.
The children of willesden lane facing history and ourselves. A profile from the chicago tribune on mona golabek mona golabek is a pianist, cowriter of the book on which the play is based, and solo performer of her own mothers story. The pianist of willesden lane is the acclaimed onewoman theatrical show based on the book, the children of willesden lane. This production is made possible by the support of generous donors like you. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read the children of willesden lane. In january, mona will launch two new books, hold on to your music and lisa of willesden lane, to reach more young people than ever before. Berkeley reps production of the pianist of willesden lane was based on the book the children of willesden lane, featured mona golabek, and was directed. Ten years later, hershey felder adapted it into a onewoman show, the pianist of willesden lane. The pianist of willesden lane portland center stage at the armory. Set in vienna in 1938 and in london during the blitzkrieg, the pianist of willesden lane tells the true story of lisa jura, a young jewish musician whose dreams are interrupted by the nazi regime. It is in this orphanage that lisas story truly comes to life. Based on the book the children of willesden lane by mona golabek and lee cohen. The children of willesden lane, a true story of hope and survival.
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