LA Theater Brings Holocaust Survivor Stories to Detroit

The Braid, a Los Angeles theater company run by Holocaust descendants, is bringing true survivor stories to the Zekelman Holocaust Center in Farmington Hills on January 25.

The performance features 13 story-plays drawn directly from survivor testimonies. Each tale reveals remarkable moments of courage: a neighbor who secretly led 1,200 people to safety, a couple separated in detention camps who reunited and married in America, and families reclaiming what the Nazis took from them.

Founder Ronda Spinak curates these stories with deep personal connection. Every actor in the company is also a descendant of Holocaust survivors, bringing authenticity and emotional depth to each performance.

"All the stories are true," Spinak explains. "It's just humans telling human stories."

The format is intimate and accessible. Four actors perform on stools, sometimes solo and sometimes as multiple characters, with songs woven between the narratives. The style originated in people's living rooms before growing into a touring production.

One featured story follows a family's road trip from Detroit to Santa Monica along Route 66. As miles pass, conversations between generations reveal beautiful truths about survival and memory.

The company has performed about 80 shows annually over 18 seasons. They've shared stories from Jewish communities worldwide, including Latin, Soviet, and Persian populations, always focusing on real experiences rather than political messages.

Why This Inspires

Spinak has discovered something powerful through these performances: survival creates a legacy of strength that passes through generations. "If you survive, you're pretty strong and your children and grandchildren are pretty strong in general," she says.

The show arriving in Michigan, titled "Remembrance of Things Present," celebrates that strength. Stories include "No One Wakes Up in the Morning and Says I'm Gonna Be a Hero Today," "The Muslim Jewish Kid," and "Chasing Holocaust Ghosts Down Route 66."

The Braid recommends the material for ages 12 and up. Spinak hopes Jewish audiences feel pride in their heritage, while others gain connection to the resilience these stories reveal.

The timing matters deeply. As International Holocaust Memorial Day approaches on January 27, these performances remind us that survivor stories aren't just about the past. They're about the enduring human capacity to overcome darkness and build something beautiful from pain.

Spinak sums it up perfectly: "It's a time to feel and hear inspiring stories and experience community that connects us to one another."