Synopsis
The actor portraying Itka in this play speaks the actual words of the survivor to tell her story of loss and survival. Itka Zygmuntowicz, was the eldest of three siblings, born on April 15, 1926, in Ciechanow, Poland, to Eljo and Simo Frajman. She had a brother, Srulek, and a sister, Zysl. Two years after the German invasion of Poland, Itka and her family were deported to the Nowe Miasto ghetto, and in 1942, they were deported to Auschwitz-Birkenau. Upon arrival at the extermination camp, Itka was separated from her family and never saw her parents or siblings again. At the camp, she was assigned to sort the clothing from arriving transports and prepare it for shipment to Germany. As an act of resistance, Itka purposely damaged the clothing whenever she could.
With the Soviet forces rapidly approaching, on January 18, 1945, Itka and other prisoners were forced on a death march to the Ravensbruck concentration camp in Germany. She was then transferred to the Malchow concentration camp where she was liberated on Passover, April 26, 1945, by the Swedish Red Cross who sent her to a hospital in Lund, Sweden to recover. Itka was later moved to a refugee center and from there, together with friends Bina and Regina, she went to work in a children’s hospital in a small Swedish village. Later, Itka moved to the city of Boras, where she found work in a dress shop. Shortly thereafter, she and her friends were reunited.
On June 24, 1946, Itka attended a party where she met her future husband, Rachmil Zygmuntowicz. The romance blossomed quickly, and they were engaged and married within three weeks in a double wedding ceremony with her best friend, Bina, and her fiancée, Mendel.
Itka and Rachmil immigrated to the United States on February 15, 1953, and settled in Pennsylvania with their two sons, Erland and Jerry. Their sons Samuel and Michael were born in Philadelphia. Itka often spoke about her Holocaust experience at churches, synagogues, and schools, sharing her message of respect for all people. She was also involved in Jewish community activities and charity work in Philadelphia. She died in November 2020.
Content Warning: Description of trauma, violence, and death.
About the Performer
Janea Hundley graduated from Rowan University College of Performing Arts with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theatre with a concentration in Acting and Musical Theatre in May 2023. Janea is absolutely honored to be able to tell Itka’s story and to keep on sharing it with the rest of the world. Her recent roles include Machinal (Young Woman) and Equus (Hesther Salomon). Janea has never met Itka in real life but she almost feels like she has by watching her story. Janea states ”Even the way the script is written, from Itka's words, you can understand the strength and humor she has. It’s in the way she speaks that makes her personality so clear to me.” Janea has had the opportunity to speak with and meet her sons which has helped the process tremendously. She would like to thank Itka’s family for letting her portray such a lovely and courageous soul. “Remember that even in the most horrible circumstances, the importance of humanness or menschlichkeit will persevere.”