Only Miracles

Only Miracles is a 90-minute interactive, theatrical, and educational experience written and directed by Dodd Loomis as his final MFA thesis showing. It is sectioned out into three parts, to offer a truly dynamic and unique observation of the historical lived experiences of its subjects.

The first section is a 45-minute immersive theatrical event rooted in the principles of documentary theater.
The dominant source material for this section is a pair of interviews—of Holocaust survivors Ed and Helen Lefkowitz—conducted by the Shoah Visual History Foundation on March 23, 1995.
Transcriptions of these interviews, coupled with other historic documentation, serve as the backbone of the text for the project.

The second section is a 10-minute, multimedia museum experience.
The source material for this section derives from the same 1995 interviews, as well as historic audio and video content including maps, ground plans, calendars, ticket stubs, and photographs chronicling the Lefkowitz’s arduous 7,000-mile journey of survival.

The third section is an optional, reflective space for guests to commune with other participants and digest the experience.

This innovative show is produced by the Tulane University School of Liberal Arts’ Department of Theatre and Dance, the Stuart and Suzanne Grant Center for the American Jewish Experience, and Touro Synagogue.

ABOUT THE ARTISTS: 

Dodd Loomis is a playwright, director, and producer whose work has toured over 35 countries, across 5 continents. Two of his previous plays were also rooted in the principles of Documentary Theatre and toured the globe for over 7 years. Loomis is currently the production manager for TUTD and a professor in the Department of Digital Media Practices. Only Miracles is the final showing for his MFA in Interdisciplinary Studies of the Performing Arts. Dodd is a proud member of Touro Synagogue.
Only Miracles features performances by Carl Briggs, Ally Heller, Audrey Jarnagin, Valeria Lievano, Caroline Sloter, and Zachary Sturza. Sound design and composition by Dylan Hunter, whose recent credits include Mr. Burns, A Post-Electric Play with TUTD and Roleplay with Goat in the Road Productions. The lighting design is by Emmy Award winner Rachel Levy. Projections are by James Lanius, whose recent credits include Haint Blu with Urban Bush Women and The Great Leap with OKC Rep. Live music is performed by violist Sam Baron and pianist Adam Matasar.