Virtual Playbill

It is with great excitement and deep pride that we welcome the Jerusalem Ballet Company to Florida Atlantic University and to the United States for their inaugural residency in Boca Raton. This two-week artistic exchange marks the beginning of a remarkable partnership that bridges cultures and communities through the unifying power of dance.

The company’s performances of Houdini – The Other Side and Memento invite us into narratives of profound human courage and creativity. Through the life of Harry Houdini, we experience the relentless pursuit of freedom and expression; through the story of Memento’s Franceska Mann, we honor the strength and spirit that defy oppression. These works remind us that dance transcends words, and it moves us to imagine, to remember, and to connect.

As we celebrate this historic residency, we also look ahead to our future summer study abroad program at the Jerusalem Ballet’s Summer Workshop, where FAU students will have the extraordinary opportunity to train and collaborate internationally. This partnership represents the beginning of a vibrant exchange that will continue to shape our dancers, our university, and our global engagement in the arts.

I extend my sincere gratitude to President Adam Hasner, Dean Michael Horswell, Florida-Israel Institute, my colleagues in the College of Arts and Letters and across campus, and to our generous donors and patrons whose support makes this vision possible.

Welcome, Jerusalem Ballet, to the Florida Atlantic community. May this be the first of many inspired collaborations that celebrate the enduring power of dance.

With appreciation and joy,

Aidan Nettles
Assistant Professor of Dance
Florida Atlantic University

Prologue

Harry Houdini, the legendary escape artist, is seen alongside those closest to him—his father, mother, wife, and friend. Known for breaking any lock or chain, he created a mythic persona as the man who could escape any confinement. But were there chains in his life that he could never break?

Youth

Born Erik Weisz, the son of a rabbi from Budapest, his early life was shaped by his family and Jewish traditions. The family emigrates to America, reflecting the eternal exile of the Jewish people. His mother dreams of liberation as they cross the sea. Erik inherits the weight of tradition from his father, who imparts values of altruism before his death. In mourning, Erik removes his kippah, turning away from the path laid out for him.

Rise to Fame

Taking the stage name Harry Houdini, he begins his career as a magician. He meets Bess, a dancer who becomes his wife. A close friend joins as his assistant and future inventor of illusions. Houdini masters daring feats, including the infamous Chinese water torture cell. After a near-fatal accident, his loved ones save him, and Bess urges him to stop risking his life. Houdini promises to cease dangerous stunts and embarks on tours with his wife, while his mother remains alone. Her death deeply affects him, and he is unable to say goodbye.

Spiritual Struggle

Haunted by his mother's passing, Houdini ventures into high society and spiritualism. A séance is held to contact her spirit, but Houdini discovers a deceitful plot aimed at exploiting his grief. He becomes a determined skeptic, exposing frauds who prey on the vulnerable. His fight against mysticism culminates in a final, dramatic confrontation with death.

Epilogue

The myth Harry Houdini crafted around himself endures beyond his lifetime, transforming him into a legend whose story continues to captivate generations.