Holocaust Remembrance at Slippery Rock University Features Survivor Testimony and Theatrical Performance

Slippery Rock University will host its annual Holocaust Remembrance Program from March 10–12, 2026, offering a series of events designed to honor the memory of those lost and educate the community about the importance of remembrance. The program includes a film screening, a live testimony from a Holocaust survivor, and a theatrical performance.

Program Schedule

• March 10: “Three Girls from Shanghai,” a film screening at 12:30 p.m. In the Smith Student Center Theater.
• March 11: “Witness to the Holocaust: Survivor Erika Taubner Gold,” featuring the live testimony of Erika Taubner Gold, preceded by a musical performance from 3:30-5:15 p.m. In the Performing Arts Center’s Miller Theater.
• March 12: “The Singer of Shanghai,” a theatrical performance at 12:30 p.m. In the Smith Student Center Theater.

Survivor Testimony: Erika Taubner Gold

Erika Taubner Gold, born in 1932 in Budapest, Hungary, will share her personal experiences surviving the Holocaust. She endured the German occupation of her homeland and will speak about the challenges and resilience required to survive as reported by the Beacon Journal. Gold has previously spoken about the trauma of witnessing her grandfather being taken away without intervention .

The Importance of Survivor Testimony

Eric Tuten, SRU assistant professor of history and director of SRU’s Holocaust Remembrance Program, emphasized the critical importance of hearing directly from survivors. “I think it’s significant that everybody takes advantage of listening to survivors because they are quickly fading,” Tuten said. He noted that many survivors remained silent about their experiences for decades, and their stories are invaluable .

“Three Girls from Shanghai” and “The Singer of Shanghai”

“Three Girls from Shanghai” is a film written by Kari-Anne Innes, an SRU assistant professor of theatre, and Kevin Ostoyich, a history professor at Valparaiso University, that follows the story of three women growing up in Shanghai during World War II. “The Singer of Shanghai,” the theatrical performance, is based on research collected by Kevin Ostoyich and written in 2019 by SRU students under the direction of Innes. It tells the story of the Abraham family’s escape from the Holocaust, reinforcing the program’s focus on remembrance through storytelling.

Event Details

All Holocaust Remembrance Programs are free and open to the public. The musical performance preceding Erika Taubner Gold’s testimony will feature Kathleen Melago, SRU professor of curriculum, instruction, educational leadership, and Nate Presutti, a senior music education major.