A Play for Our Times at Luna Stage — JerseyArts.com Feature Stories

Nov 7

Nov 7 A Play for Our Times at Luna Stage

Hannah Arendt is a philosopher for our times, and the unlikely title character in a new play “Mrs. Stern Wanders the Prussian State Library.” Jenny Lyn Bader's gripping play is inspired by the true story of how Arendt, a 26 year-old married Jewish woman at the beginning of her career as a philosopher, was arrested with her mother in Nazi Germany in 1933. Arendt, who’s married name is Stern, is best known for her writings on fascism, totalitarianism, and the nature of power and evil.

"Mrs. Stern Wanders the Prussian State Library" is now at Luna Stage in West Orange, New Jersey, where the run has been extended through November 17. Bader, who is on the advisory board of the Hannah Arendt Center for Politics and the Humanities, talks to producer Susan Wallner about both her play and Arendt's legacy.

Susan Wallner

Susan Wallner is a principal of PCK Media, an independent production company. She is the co-series producer of the public television program "State of the Arts," a job that has introduced her to a wealth of talent and artistic diversity over the years. Susan's documentaries and performance specials have aired nationally. Most recently, her profile of the writer, aviator and celebrity, "Anne Morrow Lindbergh: You’ll Have the Sky," won the 2017 Mid-Atlantic Emmy for Best Feature Writing (it was Susan's 15th regional Emmy win). Narrated by Judith Light and Lily Rabe, it aired throughout the country on PBS and PBS World, and is available on DVD. Currently, Susan is working on a documentary about the self-taught city planner, builder, and artist, Kea Tawana.