Audio

All songs by David & Jenny Heitler-Klevans


“Like My Own Daughter”

Sung by a Police Officer in Act I, Scene 10, who doesn’t want to take Renée as a hostage because she reminds him of his own daughter. Sung by Daniel Neer, with Justin Solonynka on piano, and Erik Sayles on bass. Recorded, mixed and mastered by Dave Schonauer at MorningStar Studios.


“God Above, Are You Testing Me?”

Sung by the Mother Superior in Act II, Scene 2, as she wrestles with conflicting feelings relating to hiding Jewish children at her orphanage. This new recording features Linda Glazerman Roeder, who played the Mother Superior in the staged concert readings in May. Justin Solonynka is on piano and organ, David Heitler-Klevans is on bass, and Grant MacAvoy is on drums. Recorded, mixed and mastered by Dave Schonauer at MorningStar Studios.


“We Will Be Free”

Sung by Papa, Renée and Maman in Act I, Scene 11. Papa begins the song to cheer Renée up and distract her from being scared, suggesting that they imagine what things will be like after the war is over. This new recording features 11 year old Sydney Zimney who played Renée, and Kate Nice who played Maman in the staged concert readings in May, as well as Daniel Neer. Justin Solonynka is on piano and melodica, Stan Slotter is on trumpet, Erik Sayles is on acoustic guitar and bass, and Grant MacAvoy is on drums. Recorded, mixed and mastered by Dave Schonauer at MorningStar Studios..


“I’m Not a Hero”

Sung by Monsieur Fedou, one of the people who rescued Ruth’s family, from Act I, Scene 9. Some of the phrases in the lyrics are direct quotes told to us by descendants in the Fedou family who we interviewed in 2019 in France. Sung by Daniel Neer, with additional vocals by Ari Heitler-Klevans, Jenny Heitler-Klevans, Jason Kramer, Kate Nice, and Finley Poskarbiewicz. Justin Solonynka is on piano, David Heitler-Klevans on acoustic guitar, with additional instrumentation played & recorded by James Coffey, Blue Vision Music. Recorded, mixed and mastered by Dave Schonauer at MorningStar Studios.


“It’s Happening Again”

Adult Ruth is triggered by current events and inspired to tell her story of being a hidden Jewish child during World War II, in the Act I Prologue. This new recording features Linda Glazerman Roeder, who played Ruth in the staged concert readings in May. Justin Solonynka is on piano, David Heitler-Klevans is on acoustic guitar and bass, and Grant MacAvoy is on drums. Recorded, mixed and mastered by Dave Schonauer at MorningStar Studios.


“Little Bird”

Sung by Renée in Scene 11 in Act I, expressing her frustration with having to stay inside for her own safety. This new recording features 11 year old Sydney Zimney, who played Renée in the staged concert readings in May. Additional vocals by Ari Heitler-Klevans, Jenny Heitler-Klevans, Jason Kramer, Daniel Neer, Kate Nice, and Finley Poskarbiewicz. Justin Solonynka is on piano, with James Coffey providing the rest of the instrumentation. Recorded by James Coffey of Blue Vision Music, with additional recording, mixing and mastering by Dave Schonauer at MorningStar Studios.


“Your Name is Renée”

Maman and Renée sing this song Scene 2, Act I. The song is a “game” devised by Maman to teach her daughter Ruth to use a new name to disguise her Jewish identity, which Ruth resists initially. This new recording features 11 year old Sydney Zimney who played Renée, and Kate Nice who played Maman in the staged concert readings in May. Justin Solonynka is on piano. Recorded, mixed and mastered by Dave Schonauer at MorningStar Studios.


“Silence”

Renée sings this song in Scene 3 of Act II. The concept of silence has multiple meanings in this narrative, including the need to stay silent for safety’s sake, the silence imposed on the children at the Catholic orphanage, and the silence of adults who don’t explain things to Renée. This new recording features 11 year old Sydney Zimney, who played Renée in the staged concert readings in May. Additional vocals by Ari Heitler-Klevans, David Heitler-Klevans, Jenny Heitler-Klevans, Jason Kramer, Daniel Neer, Kate Nice, and Finley Poskarbiewicz. Justin Solonynka is on piano, Kevin Hanson is on electric guitar, Chico Huff is on bass, and Erik Johnson is on drums. Recorded, mixed and mastered by Dave Schonauer at MorningStar Studios.


“Hidden (II)”

Maman sings this song to Renée in Scene 7 of Act I, reminding her to hold onto her Jewish identity even though she has to hide it for her own safety. This new recording features Kate Nice, who played Maman in the staged concert readings in May. Justin Solonynka is on piano, and Erik Sayles is on electric guitar. Recorded, mixed and mastered by Dave Schonauer at MorningStar Studios.


“9 O’Clock and All’s Well”

The Town Crier sings this song in Scene 8 of Act I, revealing that they are extorting money from Jews in exchange for their silence about their whereabouts, and giving their rationalizations/reasons for this. This new recording features Finley Poskarbiewicz, who played the Town Crier in the staged concert readings in May. Justin Solonynka is on piano, Erik Sayles is on acoustic guitar, and Dave Schonauer added the chimes. Recorded, mixed and mastered by Dave Schonauer at MorningStar Studios.


“Why Am I Here?”

Renée and the nuns at the Catholic orphanage where she is being hidden sing this song in Scene 1 of Act II. Renée expresses her confusion and fear, interwoven with the nuns singing “Kyrie Eleison”. This new recording features 11 year old Sydney Zimney, who played Renée in the staged concert readings in May. The nuns are sung by Jenny Heitler-Klevans, Kate Nice, and Finley Poskarbiewicz. Justin Solonynka is on piano, and Dave Schonauer is on organ. Recorded, mixed and mastered by Dave Schonauer at MorningStar Studios.


“I Do It Out of Love”

Maman sings this in the final scene of Act I, after being convinced to make the heartbreaking decision to send her daughter away to an orphanage in order to keep her safe. This new recording features Kate Nice, who played Maman for our staged concert readings in May 2023, with additional ensemble vocals from Ari Heitler-Klevans, David Heitler-Klevans, Jenny Heitler-Klevans, Jason Kramer, Daniel Neer, and Finley Poskarbiewicz. Justin Solonynka is on piano, David is on acoustic guitar, and James Coffey provided most of the rest of the instrumentation.


“Never Again Means Never Again”

The final song of the musical, sung by the Ensemble with lots of solos. This recording features an all-star chorus including Julie Be, Debra D’Alessandro, Cathy Fink, Mary Lou Fulton, Joanne Hammil, Bill Harley, Hope Wesley Harrison, Billy Jonas, Paul Kaplan, Colleen Kattau, Terry Kitchen, Pat Lamanna, Mariah Leontopoulou-Cochran, David Roth, Justin Solonynka, Kymberly Stewart, Dave Tarlo, Elise Witt, and Roy Zimmerman. David played rhythm guitar and bass, and James Coffey provided the rest of the instrumentation. This is a new mix of the song, featuring a drums/percussion-only accompaniment to the penultimate Refrain. Mixed and mastered by James Coffey, Blue Vision Music.


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