Sometimes Questions Are Better Than Answers

Artist-in-Residence Jeff Raz Asks Himself and UNL Students a Lot of Them

By David Ochsner, Scarlet Editor

Jeff Raz would be the first person to tell you there are no simple answers, but he would also tell you that is no reason for not asking questions, and lots of them.

Asking questions is what brought this sometime musician, circus performer, actor and playwright to leave San Francisco for a few weeks and spend some quality time with students at UNL. Raz is the latest to visit UNL as part of the College of Fine and Performing Arts Artists Diversity Residency Program, which brings artists from diverse backgrounds to address broad themes of academic interest.

Raz is the embodiment of diversity -- he has done everything from serving as ringmaster in the Pickle Family Circus to performing in the world's only horse-drawn theater. He has juggled on street corners and performed Shakespeare, including a reworking of Hamlet that included audience participation.

Raz's work lately, however, has a serious -- but by no means somber -- side to it. Inspired by a deeply personal experience, Raz wrote and produced a solo play, Father-land, that he performed it in Lincoln four times last fall for UNL Foundation students and again during a public performance two weeks ago.

The creative process of the play ties in with themes Raz uncovered in Nebraska, a destination that oddly lies on a path that first winds itself through Germany, and then through the misfortunes of a traveling circus.

Father-land was inspired during a pleasure trip Raz took to Germany in 1989. But the pleasure trip turned more into a mission following a unplanned visit to the infamous concentration camp at Dachau, where Raz viewed photographs of the camp taken by liberating forces, and imagined that some of the shots could have been taken by his father, who was a photographer with the American occupation forces.

"I'm really not a roots-seeker," said Raz. "It was my German friend who asked me if I wanted to visit Dachau as we were approaching Munich (on the train)."

Upon his return home, Raz wrote his first version of Father-land, but as fortune would have it (or in this case, lack of it), the play would be totally re-written following performances of the San Francisco-based Pickle Family Circus at UNL's Lied Center in 1993. Raz served as both a performer and ringmaster of the circus, which went broke before it reached its Lincoln venue.

"During the tour we received a call from San Francisco telling us the circus was broke and to come home," recalled Raz. "We didn't want to break our commitments, so we upped the concessions (and) made a deal that if anyone in the circus knew anyone in the places we would be performing, they would try to make arrangements for places to stay."

Lincoln was Raz's responsibility -- he knew he had an aunt in Lincoln, Hilda Raz, editor of UNL's acclaimed literary magazine, Prairie Schooner. Jeff said he hadn't seen much of her during the 30 years after his father took his own life, so he was a bit hesitant to ask such a big favor out of the blue.

"She was great. She found places for 14 of us to stay," said Raz. "Somehow I mentioned Father-land to her. I don't know how I brought it up, I'm into avoiding things -- it's difficult to say to someone you haven't seen in awhile 'Oh, by the way, I'm playing your brother on stage.'"

But after Hilda Raz saw a tape of her nephew's performance, she helped Jeff fill in the blanks about his father and his Jewish heritage, and also recommended him for a residency at UNL.

Following the visit, Raz completely rewrote his play, which tells of a young actor on his way to Europe to audition for the role of Shylock in Shakespeare's Merchant of Venice. Using minimal props and a few vaudeville techniques, Raz wove numerous characters into Father-land, including himself and the spirit of his father.

Visiting with his aunt, Raz said, helped him to "talk about the silences" in his family. Raz said every family has its silent history, and it is important to "break those silences."

That's a lot of what his residency is about at UNLÊÑÊmeeting with hundreds of students in a variety of disciplines in an effort to break silences, including the discussion of stereotypes.

For example, Raz discusses with students Shakespeare's characterization of Shylock (Raz also discovers, obviously to his dismay, that most students have never read The Merchant of Venice).

"Shakespeare never met any Jews, so the (Jewish) character of Shylock wasn't created from life," said Raz. "Where did he get the idea to make him a moneylender?"

Raz said Jews have been battling myths created about them since Biblical times, everything from being blamed for kidnapping children in the Middle Ages to the scapegoat status they received at the hands of the Nazis and other groups.

Raz said one main reason why Jews and groups like the Gypsies are set apart from other people is their struggle to maintain an identity without a homeland.

"The tenacity of (these) cultures to hang on and maintain an identity without a homeland to return to or fight for makes Jews and Gypsies hated," he said. "And then add in the myths and the people (who) use racial and religious differences to wedge people apart."

Raz said he hopes to start students "on a journey" to question their notions about other people.

"I tell them that when you create an 'us,' you also create a 'them.' If you don't live in their world then you need to understand them," said Raz.

He said it is important to remember the victims of persecution, but he added that it is also important to consider the suffering of a photographer taking pictures of a concentration camp. For such people and for future generations who are ever more removed from the actual suffering, Raz said it is critical not always to demand answers, but rather to continue asking questions. He said when inhumanity and suffering is on a scale that is "overwhelming," it is sometimes impossible to find an adequate answer.

"I once talked to a sixth-grade class studying the Holocaust, and this one little wiseacre kept asking me why the Nazis took the Jews away," he said. No matter what explaination Raz offered, the boy kept repeating "Why?"

"Finally, I said 'you know, you're right. I often come to the place where all I can ask is 'why?' The kid just got this look on his face that said that somebody finally admitted that it sometimes ends in a question."

Editor's note: Raz will return to UNL next month to serve as project organizer and director for the Celebration Project, a pan-cultural celebration. Raz will work with selected students from many disciplines, culminating in a public presentation March 30.

Virginie the maid (Nicole Zapko) explains what her employer is off doing and with whom, as the very astonished valet (Brian K. Jennings) looks on in disbelief, in The National Theatre of the Deaf's hilarious production of An Italian Straw Hat. Touted as a "tour de farce," this comedy of mistaken identities, impossible situations and close-calls has brought the Tony Award-winning troupe of deaf and hearing actors curtain calls and reviews that read like love letters. (Ivoryton Studio photo)

National Theatre of the Deaf Speaks Loud and Clear

Troupe to Appear at Lied, Conduct Workshops

The Tony Award-winning National Theatre of the Deaf will present the hilarious comedy, An Italian Straw Hat, in both sign language and spoken English at 8 p.m. Feb. 23 at the Lied Center for Performing Arts.

In their exuberant, highly physical style, National Theatre of the Deaf performers deliver their lines simultaneously in American Sign Language and spoken English. Non-speaking deaf performers are provided a voice through another member of the ensemble.

An Italian Straw Hat is a classic French farce that follows the antics of a young bridegroom who tries to make amends for the hat his horse consumes on the way to his wedding. Laced with mistaken identities, intricate plot twists and breakneck pacing, the play has been freshly adapted for the National Theatre of the Deaf.

While in Lincoln, members of the National Theatre of the Deaf will conduct a workshop for teachers of the hearing impaired. Hosted by Ameritas Life, the workshop is free and open to the public. Those who attend may either participate or observe and are not required to know sign language. The session will be at 7 p.m. Feb. 22 at Ameritas, Cotner Boulevard and O Street. There is limited seating; contact Gail McNair at 2-4712 to register.

Two pre-performance talks will be given prior to An Italian Straw Hat in the Lied Center's Steinhart Room. Katherine Voohees, director of Arts Are Basic! and coordinator of education/outreach for UNL's College of Fine and Performing Arts, will offer her insights 55 minutes before each performance and again at 30 minutes before curtain.

Tickets for the Lied Performance are $22, $18 and $14; half price for those 18 and under or UNL, Wesleyan and Doane students who present identification. The Lied Center box office is open for walk-in sales on weekdays from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and 90 minutes before the performance. Phone orders may be placed by dialing 2-4747.

Audun Ravnan to Perform in Radio Fundraiser

Pianist Audun Ravnan will make his last performance in Lincoln a fundraiser for the Nebraska Public Radio Network.

Ravnan will perform for the last time in Lincoln 8 p.m. Feb. 28 in Kimball Recital Hall. All proceeds from the concert will go to benefit the Public Radio Nebraska Foundation, the fundraising arm of the nonprofit Nebraska Public Radio Network.

A native of Bergen, Norway, Ravnan is a George Holmes Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Music and the past chairman of the piano department at UNL, and has been honored with its "Distinguished Teaching Award." In 1981 he became the first individual artist to receive The Governor's Arts Award, Nebraska's most prestigious honor in the arts, "for significant contributions to the cultural life of Nebraska." in 1990, he received The Mayor's Arts Award from the City of Lincoln. After 26 years of service to the University and the state of Nebraska, he retired from teaching in the spring of 1993.

Tickets for the performance are available from the Lied Center for Performing Arts box office, 2-4747, for $10. A limited number of tickets will be available at the door.

'Glass Menagerie' Performances Added

The University Theater production of The Glass Menagerie has added two 10:30 a.m. matinee performances especially for Lincoln Public Schools Feb. 19 and 21. Schools participating in this special program are Northeast High School and Lincoln High School on Monday and Southeast High School on Wednesday. Students will see the productions and will be given the opportunity for a talk-back session following each performance with the cast, directors, designers, and stage manager.

Nebraska Rep Auditions Set

The Nebraska Repertory Theatre will conduct auditions for its 29th summer season Feb. 24 in Howell Theatre. Audition appointments are available between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. For an audition reservation, information about the audition procedure or information about the 1996 Repertory Theatre season, contact Julie Hagemeier, managing director, at 2-1619 between 9:30 a.m. and noon and 1 and 4:30 p.m.

Repertory Theatre Winter Party Is Feb. 24

The Nebraska Repertory Theatre will host its annual Mid-Winter Party Feb. 24 at the Country Club of Lincoln. Social Hour begins at 6 p.m., followed by dinner at 7 p.m. and entertainment featuring Kevin Paul Hofeditz, Julie Beranek Enersen, Deanna Mumgaard, Robin McKercher and Greg Tallman at 8 p.m. Admission is $30 per person. Reservations are required. Call 2-1619 from 9:30 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Audition Technique Workshops Feb. 24-25

Crystal Carson, a Theatre Arts alumnus of UNL, will conduct two Audition Technique Workshops for Film and Television on Feb. 24 and 25. Carson teaches audition technique in Los Angeles, where she continues to pursue her acting career. Carson starred for three years as Julia Barrett on the popular daytime drama, General Hospital. She has also starred in various motion pictures, including Attack of the Killer Tomatoes III. She has appeared in such television programs as Ellen, Cheers, Night Court and Dallas, and most recently had a recurring role on the Fox sitcom, Misery Loves Company.

For questions regarding these Scarlet pages, contact:
dtaurins@unlinfo.unl.edu
(402) 472-8518, Fax: (402) 472-7825