The Playwright
“My mission in writing this play was to introduce these lesser known narratives of courage, determination, and triumph of human will to as wide an audience as possible to help keep the memory of the Holocaust alive. My hope was that the presentation of these remarkable journeys as theater would promote a human connection and play a role in driving out the hate we too often witness in society. My prayer was that ‘Through the Darkness’ would not only honor those who survived and those who perished, but also the millions who were never to be born as the result of the genocide that has come to be known as the Holocaust.”
Alan Breindel | Get in touch
I am an attorney by education and have spent my professional career working in real estate finance and investments. Through the Darkness is my first play, born out of a need to retell the stories of these courageous and resilient people who made life and death decisions to pursue freedom.
A project such as this is built on a foundation of support from a vast network of people. I want to express my profound thanks to the amazing actors who have given a voice to these stories, and to Leslie Burby who directed this play with intelligence, compassion, and relentless effort.
Thank you, as well, to Thomas Cote and Jed Dickinson, whose dramaturgy helped shape this play; Emily Zacharias, who introduced me to The Workshop Theater and whose boundless passion and encouragement propelled me forward; and all the other members of The Workshop Theater without whom these stories would not have had a stage. My sincerest thanks to Josh Billig, a talented young writer whose early collaboration helped me envision that this play could someday see the light of day. I would also like to thank my family and friends who supported me by listening, attending readings, and introducing me to remarkable people whose lives form the fabric of Through the Darkness. There are no words to adequately express the depth of gratitude I owe my brother, Howard and his firm DeSantis Breindel, my sister, Audrey, my daughter, Stefanie, my son, Jordan, my daughter-in-law, Odessa, and my remarkable wife, Eileen. Their contributions and generosity of spirit are evident at every turn of this play. Lastly, I’d like to thank my parents, Beatrice and Milton, who would have taken such pride in having seen this play come to life on the stage. They instilled in me at an early age that “Never Again” was the responsibility of every Jew. I ask you to join me in honoring the victims of the Holocaust and people all over the globe who have been the victims of genocide.