On Thursday, April 24th at 7:00 PM, the Jewish Federation of St. Joseph Valley will present its annual Yom HaShoah program at the South Bend Civic Theatre. The program will include a short candle-lighting ceremony in memory of those who perished during the Holocaust, along with Gulfshore Playhouse Education’s touring production of Remember: The Story of Abe Price. This is a free, but ticketed event. Doors opens at 6:30 PM, program starts at 7:00 PM.

This event is made possible thanks to the generosity of the Okon Family Fund for Holocaust Education, the Kurt & Tessye Simon Fund for Holocaust Remembrance, the Schurz Foundation, and South Bend Civic Theatre.

Who is Abe Price?

At just 16 years old, Abraham Piasecki’s life was uprooted by the Nazi invasion of Poland. From living in the ghetto of Kielce to imprisonment at Auschwitz-Birkenau, Remember brings to life the harrowing true story of a Holocaust survivor who escaped Nazi captivity five times. After the war, Price moved with his wife, Sala, to the United States. Later in life, they moved to Naples, where Price became an advocate, educator, and author. He died on February 25, 2014.

This immersive, challenging, and ultimately captivating story of resilience brings us into one man’s memories and asks us to never forget. Directed by Playhouse Director of Education Steven Calakos, Remember was designed to be performed in classrooms and cultural facilities across Southwest Florida and the country. Written to meet Florida Holocaust education standards, the play provides students with an opportunity to learn and reflect on the Holocaust and its relevance in their own lives. Now, community members are invited to witness this unique, true story during this special tour.

Private performances are scheduled for April 23, 2025, at 2 PM at Adams High School and April 24, 2025, at 2 PM at Penn High School. Remember features Vic Caroli as Abe Price, with an ensemble cast composed of Jim Corsica, Joshua Neth, Gavin Ott, and Sue Schaffel, who take on a host of other characters.

Vic Caroli portrays Abe Price on stage. (Credit: Gulfshore Playhouse)

“As it grows more and more difficult to provide first-hand testimonials of Holocaust survivors for students, plays like Remember keep these stories alive. Remember tells a difficult story and contextualizes the Holocaust for students in an urgent, engaging, and memorable way. Abe Price was passionate about telling his story, and our hope is that this play honors his memory and his desire to ensure what happened to him and so many others is never forgotten,” said director Steven Calakos.

The following passage is from Sid Price, the son of Abe, sharing his thoughts:

“My brother Herb and I are very excited to be bringing the play Remember: The Story of Abe Price to South Bend.

My father survived the Holocaust and escaped from five different camps. He lived in South Bend from 1952-1983 before moving to Naples, Florida. He spoke about the Holocaust to students at high schools, middle schools, and colleges. He wrote books about the Holocaust and made a YouTube video, which led to the founding of the Naples Holocaust Museum in 1998.

Four years ago, the Naples Playhouse wanted to create a play about the Holocaust and asked the Museum for stories about survivors. They reviewed a dozen stories and chose my father’s. The play has been presented at many locations in Florida and Ohio. His story is very dramatic and impactful, serving as a great way to educate the next generation.

My father passed away at the age of 91 in 2014. My brother Harry is in California and can’t attend, but he sends his regards to all his friends here. Herb and I will answer questions after the three shows in South Bend.”