“Hidden is a musical by David & Jenny Heitler-Klevans based on the true story of Ruth Kapp Hartz, who as a young Jewish girl was hidden in Southern France during World War II. Forced to change her name to Renée Caper in order to blend in, Ruth and her family rely on the kindness of strangers in a small French village. From a secret apartment to a basement hideout 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, anti-Semitism, fascism, resilience and resistance, this musical will resonate with audiences today.”
As I walked into the auditorium at Gratz College in Elkins Park, PA, I noticed a uniformed and armed police officer who stood sentry. I thanked him for his presence, and he responded that he was glad to be there to protect us. In the past several years, synagogues and events that have a Jewish theme have hired guards to ward off anti-Semitic vandalism and violence. That is one of the reasons that Hidden: A Musical is timely and necessary in a world culture in which hatred has taken on a life of its own.
As I sat in the darkened theater, I was mesmerized by the actors who took on challenging roles beyond the typical light fare that musicals usually offer. The songs composed by David and Jenny Heitler-Klevans, were at turns poignant and heartbreaking, compelling and determined.
The first portion of this article is a conversation with Ruth herself, the second is with Sydney Zimney who played Ruth as a child and the third is with Linda Glazerman Roeder who portrayed the adult Ruth and was the narrator for the story as it unfolded. Linda told the tale, either by sitting in a chair set off to the side of the stage or by moving gracefully across.
All three of these women are profiles in courage, resilience and love.
Ruth Kapp Hartz:
How old were you when your family first when into hiding?
My earliest memory is when I was 4 years old and had to change my name to Renee.
What did it feel like to change your outer identity to Renee’ while maintaining your
core identity of Ruth?
Hard for a young child. But fear was instilled in me.
How did you emerge as a unified person once it was safe to do so?
Only 40 years later when I came to the US. Because of the continued antisemitism in France after WWII, I kept my name Renee. (Before 1980 Old testament names were considered Jewish in France). In the US the name Ruth is very common and I felt comfortable with it.
Are you familiar with the concept of ACE (Adverse Childhood Experiences) that
impact how the person develops? What helped you heal?
I am aware but time and family love helped.
What was it like to witness a pivotal part of your life played out on stage?
It was actually very rewarding and emotional. This is what I wrote on the first page of the Program “To see my hidden childhood come to life in such a beautiful and meaningful way fills me with gratitude, joy, awe, and hope. At a time when anti-Semitism in this country is at an all-time high, I hope that Hidden will touch many hearts and become an effective way to educate and combat prejudice. It also recognizes the Power of Good people and the profound effect it can have on individual lives.”
How was it to see a young person play the young version of you?
She is an amazing young actress who can act, sing and dance. To have such an accomplished young actress play me is very emotional. She really nailed the role. We bonded and now feel so close. What a gift in my old age.
How did you muster the resilience to survive those years of being on the run, uncertain if you or your family would survive?
That is a difficult question. I was told to have courage and not give in. I had the rescuers as superb models, and they gave me hope. I came of age during the war, and I thought that was the way of the world.
How do you perceive that the show reflects current world events?
The Musicians/Composers weave in current events The first song of the show is “It’s happening Again” and the last song is “Never Again” Try to get the lyrics. It is contemporary.
What are your greatest intentions for Hidden: A Musical
To learn from the past and to become active in presenting my story to young people especially.
What is the reception you are receiving from audiences when you do Holocaust education?
I am very well received no matter where I go, even the Inner City of Philadelphia. I am always respected and complimented.
What would you say to those who claim it never happened?
To look at the records. The Germans/Nazis used the early IBM machines to record their victims. But denying the Holocaust is a lie of course and some people just pretend to believe the deniers. It is a new form of anti-Semitism. I recommend the book by Deborah Lipstadt: Denying the Holocaust, the Assault on Truth. There is also a film about it titled DENIAL. I had the pleasure to speak to her students at Emory University. What an honor for me. She is now the Ambassador on Antisemitism in the Biden Administration
Is there anything else you want to share?
Many of my thoughts are in my memoir “Your Name Is Renee” and in the Program of the show Hidden. I just hope that the Musical Hidden will continue to be performed and reach as many audiences as possible. Every song triggers a set of emotions that people can internalize and expand on. The topic is timeless and is more important than ever in the world we live in right now.
Sydney Zimney:
I know you began acting at an early age. What drew you to the stage at 3?
I loved pretending to be other people and then I saw a stage performance and thought “Hey that would be fun,” and I am still doing it today.
How old are you now?
13
Did you have a favorite role?
My favorite role is portraying Renee in the Musical Hidden. It really helped me connect to my Jewish identity and it was so much fun to play.
I am amazed at actors who can memorize lines. What’s your secret?
I focus on one scene that I need to work on and mostly take it line by line. I say the line in my head over and over again until I think I’ve got it. Then, I close the book and say the line out loud. If I get it right, then I move on to the next one. But of course, with this many lines, I expanded it to scenes instead of individual lines.
How did you learn about Hidden?
In 6th grade, my school play had just ended, and I was upset because it was such a fun performance. My Mom told me “ Something else would show up.” The next morning, she came into my room and said, “Hey your choral director is doing a new show, and they had just lost their lead and did I want to audition.” Half-awake I said “sure.” At lunch that day I hurriedly learned a song and a few lines and made an audition video. When I got home from school, I was sure I wasn’t going to get it, then my Mom read me the email that I had gotten the part, and I was like “What?!” Now I have been given the honor of playing that role again, only as a full production.
Did you know much about the Holocaust before auditioning?
I knew bits and pieces, but never the full story. This was definitely an eye-opener.
Ruth’s story is one that evokes deep and intense emotions. How did you process them as you played someone who has survived trauma and lived to talk about it?
When I started to walk a mile in her shoes, it made me think about how I would deal with something like this, and I wondered how Ruth got through it. I admire her in every way, especially her bravery at such a young age!
Did you feel that you uncovered aspects of yourself that perhaps were hidden as you took on the role of a child who couldn’t be her true self? Sometimes adolescence can feel like that anyway.
Of course I can’t say I know exactly what she went through, but I can say I know what it’s like to feel “hidden,” sometimes feeling like the weird kid can cause you to hide true parts of yourself.
How did you handle the pressure as you played a central character since you were likely in nearly every scene?
I was in nearly every scene but thank goodness they didn’t want me to play side roles as well! Luckily all the rehearsals were during the Summer, and I could manage my time very well. But Hidden definitely took up most of my schedule. It was really fun to do, and the cast members are lovely!
How do you bridge the two worlds of performing and ‘normal’ teenage activities?
My normal teenage activities and acting are one and the same! I do it as much as I possibly can and have a mostly theater social life!
Do you see acting and singing as a career path for you?
Definitely, I have always known when I grew up, this is what I want to do!
What do you hope people will take away from the show?
There are so many messages, it’s impossible to choose just one. But Ruth is one of the last direct survivors to be here to tell her story, we have to keep telling it and keep the memory of what happened alive, so it doesn’t happen again.
Is there anything else you want to share?
Ruth is so kind and considerate, even after everything that happened to her, I am honored to call her a friend.
Linda Glazerman Roeder:
I know that you have been immersed in music since childhood. How is music an extension of your being?
I came from a musical family, and I started taking voice lessons when I was about 10 years old. Shortly before she died, my grandmother heard me sing, and she told my mother to get me singing lessons.
My father was a singer and an actor (though not professionally), and his influence got me into musical theatre, which I have pursued since my teen years. My brother plays the piano, and some of my earliest and happiest memories are of standing at the piano singing with my brother playing.
Since retiring from teaching (35 years in Cheltenham as an English teacher), and since reconnecting with Roy*, I’ve immersed myself even more in music, making records and performing as a duo (Lindarella Raye is my stage name, and we perform as Lindarella and Roy) I find music to be incredibly healing. It can be relaxing, motivating, calming, energizing. I have always needed music to concentrate, to relax, to be a background for my life.
Roy was my childhood classmate and friend who will become my husband next month. We met at age 12, but never dated. We reconnected in 2016 when he moved back to Philly after 40 years in L.A. and now, we’re getting married … This could be a whole different story!]
What led you to audition for the role of adult Ruth Kapp Hartz in the new production of Hidden: A Musical?
I believe it was bashert! (Yiddish for ‘meant to be’) My fiancé saw a notice for auditions for the staged reading last spring. I had worked with Robin Rosenberg (who directed the reading ), and I was very happy to join that cast. A few months ago, we started a new theatre company —seven of us who had worked on a production of Fiddler on the Roof last spring created by M7-Productions🎭.
I convinced the board to mount a production of Hidden as our first show. I knew that Jenny and David had worked very hard to enrich and enhance the original show (since the May ‘23 staged reading), working with a dramaturg. I had participated in a new (private)reading of the revised show, and I knew how wonderful it was.
Since I had played Ruth in the original staged reading and reprised her in the revised reading, our director saw me as the natural choice for this production.
We found it exciting to be the first group to share Hidden on stage, to honor Ruth and share David and Jenny’s musical.
I know that actors take on challenging roles, but I wonder if there was special preparation you needed to do in order to share Ruth’s story?
I’ve read and re-read Ruth’s memoir (a telling of her story but not the basis for the musical) to further understand the emotional connections between Ruth and the others in her early life.
It also helped me to better understand some of the history and chronology surrounding Hidden. In the musical, Ruth narrates her story, and the audience is seeing her childhood unfold , but she is also sharing historical details to add perspective and continuity. I’ve participated in a few interviews with Ruth and have learned even more history from her telling of it from the point of view of her story.
I’ve spent some time with Ruth, not just related to the musical, but also on social occasions and at charity functions. (We both belong to Hadassah and NCJW —National Council of Jewish Women.)
I do not speak French, but Ruth has helped me with pronunciation and intonation. Her accent is a combination, a unique voice that is hard to mimic, so I hope I’ve come up with something somewhat believable. We’ve become close through this experience.
Knowing Ruth has enhanced my life—not just the role! She is such a warm and sweet woman, who has needed such strength and resilience, but it is her warmth that shines through. That’s inspiring.
How did this experience change your life?
The experience has brought me hope and strength in this time of horrible anti-Semitism and fear and divisiveness. Hidden has a very strong message—that even in the midst of horrible things, and in the midst of the news of all the evil that is happening in the world (and in our own backyards), there are still good people, who do courageous and heroic acts to help others.
What emotions arose for you?
Hidden is an emotional roller coaster. There is fear, hope, grief, joy, despair, gratitude, and much love. Our cast ranges from age 5 to 70+ with all decades represented! We’ve all experienced these complex emotions together, and we have become a family.
What message would you like the audience to receive and what would you like them to do with it?
Aside from what I answered above—about good people in our world— I want the themes of courage and unity and determination to be our message. It’s a frightening time, and doing a Jewish-themed show was a decision based on our desire to stand up and be proud and supportive, not …hidden.
Our final song, NEVER AGAIN says it all.
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This Post is republished on Medium.
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Photo credit: iStock
