Synopsis
The Story of Ethel and Julius Rosenberg is a play written in 1976 by Nina Serrano, Paul Richards and Judith Binder. The Rosenbergs were an American Jewish leftist couple caught up in the famous “Atomic spies case” of the 1950’s. They were accused by the government of stealing atomic secrets and giving them to the former Soviet Union. Even though, as we all know today, there were no atomic secrets, the Rosenbergs died in the electric chair for the crime of conspiracy to commit espionage, leaving behind two small boys in 1953. The play tells the Rosenberg’s story in their own words, taken almost entirely from the transcript of their trial and from their letters. It was performed on stages, on television and radio in the late 1970’s. Nina Serrano played Ethel Rosenberg. Paul Richards played David Greenglass and Judith Binder directed. Now, decades later, Estuary Press has published the play including the original 1976 script and the 2016 Revised Script by Jacob Justice, of Bryan, Texas. A second 21st Century production is also taking place in Toronto, Canada in November, 2018, produced at the Studio Theater in the Toronto Center for the Arts. The book contains two introductions by Nina Serrano, "How the Story of Ethel and Julius Rosenberg Came to Be", and "21st Century Revival of the Story of Ethel and Julius Rosenberg."How It All Began by Nina SerranoI was contacted by the young history professor Paul Richards in 1976, who heard I had worked on the Rosenberg letters. He was interested in developing a multimedia presentation about the Rosenbergs. He’d gone to graduate school with one of the Rosenberg’s son’s, Michael Meerpol. I involved my friend and writing partner Judith Binder in the project and the three of us went to work. Paul, with this intense academic training, studied the trial transcript of over a thousand pages, selecting key moments on for our note cards. Judith and I reviewed Julius and Ethel’s prison letters and made similar note cards. We laid all the cards on the floor and decided to create a script using only the words from the trial and the letters. Upon evaluating our collected notes, the three of us voted to stay true to Ethel and Julius’ testimony and letters, that they were innocent and were framed in an unfair trial.At the time I served as the artistic director of Community Theatre Arts Workshop, a multi-cultural non-profit organization which produced the play. We first produced “The Story of Ethel and Julius Rosenberg” at La Pena Cultural Center in Berkeley and then toured it to local college theaters. The last performance was a TV version for KQED-tv’s Open Studio. Paul acted David Greenglass and me, Ethel Rosenberg. Judith directed. John Parkinson, an innovative theatre artist, played Julius. Beryl Landau created the memorable artwork for the brochure and poster. Since then I married co-author Paul Richards. We live and tend to our garden in Vallejo, California.We invite school theater departments, community and professional theater companies to consider producing the play. The original music composed by Philip Serrano is available from Estuary Press. Set and costumes photos from the original and the 2016 Texas production are also available from Estuary Press. “The shame, if we die, will dishonor this generation, and pervade history until future Americans recapture the heritage of truth, justice and equality before the law.” Ethel and Julius Rosenberg“In short we did not get a fair trial and we were framed.” Julius Rosenberg
About the Author
Nina Serrano is a Latina poet, writer, film maker, radio host, cultural activist and educator in the San Francisco Bay Area. She has published three volumes of poetry and a novel; produced and directed films; written and acted in plays and on television. Until retiring at age 77, she worked in arts administration and as a teaching artists in the schools. She served as a member of the Alameda County Arts Council. Born: September 1, 1934, New York City Spouse: Saul Landau (m. 1953 - 1976), Paul Richards (m. 1987 - present) Awards: Venice Film Festival for Directing (Que Hacer), Krakow Film Festival Best Film (Despues del terremoto/After the Earthquake) Pen Award for Literary Excellence (Heart Strong). Children: Greg Landau and Valerie Landau Radio (KPFA-FM): Reflecciones de la Raza, La Raza Chronicles, Open Book Poet to Poet. Books: Heart Songs, Heart's Journey, Heart Strong, Nicaragua Way.
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