Teachers’ Guide: Nonfiction Theater Project THIN EDGE OF THE WEDGE

Definition of thin edge of the wedge: A minor harmful change that starts a chain of more and more changes resulting in dangerous consequences.

What is the project?

A nonfiction Holocaust education play for middle and high school students:

• Firsthand testimonies of actual survivors and saviors presented in a dramatic, engaging format.
• Can be incorporated into a wide variety of age-appropriate curricula, such as the rise of National Socialism, Europe during World War II, memoir, etc.
• Students will learn about the Holocaust through the words of those who experienced it.
• The play seeks to raise awareness and sensitivity regarding the current rise in global antisemitism by looking back with knowledge and empathy towards the past.

How can you use THIN EDGE OF THE WEDGE in your classroom?

Some examples:

• Staged reading of the entire play.
• Study of one particular section relevant to broader classroom topic, e.g. Warsaw Ghetto.
• Use the discussion questions provided to spark further student involvement.
• Include the play in a list of other nonfiction Holocaust reading material, then compare eyewitness accounts to historical writing.

Fee: NONE

For a copy of the play in English or German email pzmiller@gmail.com

Here are pdfs of the individual roles.

PHYLLIS — American Jew – age 70

JUDITH — Lithuanian Jew – age 8 in 1939

POLISH COUNTESS — non-Jew savior – approx. 50 in 1942 (also speaks 30 years later in 1975)

RADIO ANNOUNCER – middle-aged

ELFRIEDE MORGENSTERN — German Jew – age 9 in 1938

RUTH KLUGER — Middle European Jew – age 29 in 1939

IRENA SENDLER — Polish non-Jew – age 32 in 1942

SOL — Czech Jew – age 14 in 1938

JACK PRICE — Polish Jew – 13 in 1942

ROME JEWISH FEMALE CHILD – approx. 10 in 1943

FELICE — American Jew – approx. 25 in 1975 (mother 15 in 1945)