Andrew Benator in the leading role, Jan Karski, during the Atlanta performance of “Remember This: The Lesson of Jan Karski” produced by the Lab.
The Lab’s theatrical production of Remember This: The Lesson of Jan Karski, captured the attention of audiences and journalists on stage at Theatrical Outfit in downtown Atlanta last month. Actor Andrew Benator, whose family has its roots in Atlanta’s Sephardic community, introduced Atlanta audiences to a fresh new perspective on the portrayal of the remarkable life and moral heroism of Jan Karski during World War II.
By Clark Young, Co-Creator of Remember This: The Lesson of Jan Karsk
The Lab’s theatrical production of Remember This: The Lesson of Jan Karski, captured the attention of audiences and journalists on stage at Theatrical Outfit in downtown Atlanta last month. Actor Andrew Benator, whose family has its roots in Atlanta’s Sephardic community, introduced Atlanta audiences to a fresh new perspective on the portrayal of the remarkable life and moral heroism of Jan Karski during World War II.
Remember This: The Lesson of Jan Karski, originally conceived as an ensemble production in 2014 as part of the Centennial Celebration of Jan Karski’s birth, was written by Clark Young and Derek Goldman and directed by Goldman. Over its ten years of development, the production has evolved into a powerful tour-de-force solo performance featuring Academy Award Nominated actor David Strathairn as Karski.
Now, as the project enters a new phase, Andrew Benator, the second actor to embody the role of Jan Karski in English, has brought a new dynamic to the character’s perspective, infusing the production with a new perspective.
Bob Bahr of The Atlanta Jewish Times aptly captured the essence of Benator’s Karski by highlighting that his performance “flawlessly, breath[ed] life into Karski’s journey of resilience and moral conviction.”
One of the playwrights behind this compelling narrative, Clark Young reflects on the significance of this new portrayal, recalling pivotal moments in the production’s history.
“As I watched Andrew Benator perform Remember This at Theatrical Outfit in Atlanta – only the second actor to perform the role of Jan Karski in English in our play’s ten years of development and subsequent stagings – I felt invigorated by
Karski’s message and the play’s future.” said Young “In some ways, because David was so integral to the conception of the play, I consider Andrew, in a traditional sense, to be the first actor to take on the role. Andrew is a triumphant actor. His characters are precise and evocative. He captures the singular humility of Karski and reveals the trauma and horror below the surface.”
“I hope more individuals step into Karski’s shoes — across race, gender, belief, and difference — so that his story is always told and, as importantly, the contemporary urgency of his message is always felt. Because I believe Karski’s story can be more than one story. It can become thousands…many thousands.”
