SVC Players to present “I Never Saw Another Butterfly” Oct. 23-25

LATROBE, PA – The Saint Vincent College Players will present performances of Celeste Raspanti’s stage drama “I Never Saw Another Butterfly” from Oct. 23-25 in the Performing Arts Center, located within the Robert S. Carey Student Center on the Saint Vincent campus.

Performances are scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 23, and Saturday, Oct. 24, along with a Sunday matinée at 2 p.m.

Tickets cost $15 for adults and $10 for children ages 12 and younger. All tickets are general admission and can be purchased at the box office prior to the show.

Saint Vincent students, faculty, staff and Benedictines will be admitted free with valid ID.

The SVC Players’ presentation is produced by special arrangement with the Dramatic Publishing Company of Woodstock, Illinois.

Raspanti’s one-act play is based on the poetry, artwork and experiences of the Jewish children of Prague imprisoned in the Terezín concentration camp during World War II.

“I selected this play knowing that it was time to direct a powerful and educational piece again, but also because it will showcase many of the talented students I am blessed to teach and direct,” said Greggory Brandt, director of theater operations, producing artistic director for Saint Vincent Summer Theatre and chair of the Department of Music and Performing Arts at the College.

While more than 15,000 Jewish children passed through the Terezín concentration camp, roughly 100 were still alive when the camp was liberated at the end of World War II. One of the survivors, Raja Englanderova, helps give the other children hope through butterflies and poems. The butterflies become a symbol of defiance and optimism, making it possible for the children to live on while waiting to be transported.

The cast includes:

• Madeline Duda, a sophomore communication major from Latrobe, as Raja Englanderova
• Kyle Kemerer, a freshman political science major from Pleasant Unity, as Father
• Ava Bishop, a freshman health science major from Apollo, as Mother
• Ashlin Evon, a freshman nursing major from Duncansville, as Vera and Child V
• Benedict John Paul Mizer, a sophomore digital art and media major from Erie, as Pavel
• Racquel Broda, a freshman philosophy major from Vandergrift, as Erika, Renka and Child IV
• Taylor Dugan, an exchange student from Belfast, Ireland, as Irena Synkova
• Madeleine Devlin, a freshman digital art and media major from Youngstown, Ohio, as Irca
• Nathan Shashura, a junior music major from Youngstown, as Honza
• Luke Bodner, a sophomore communication major from New Alexandria, as Rabbi
• Lucas Shaner, a freshman student at Greensburg Central Catholic (GCC) Junior-Senior High School, as Child I
• Betsabe Chapman, a senior student at GCC, as Child II
• Emery Szumetz, an eighth-grade student at GCC, as Child III
• Andrew Downs, C’26, from Loyalhanna, as Loudspeaker

In addition to Brandt as director and set designer, the production team includes Beth Shari as costume designer; Jesse Madden as technical director; Chad Castillo as set builder; Chris McCallister as lighting designer; Joe Clark as sound designer; William Toret, a junior studying social studies middle grade education from Murrysville, as stage manager/props; Joshua Hardy, a freshman data science major from Callery, as assistant stage manager; and Andrew Pakstis, a senior digital art and media major from Central City, as PowerPoint slides operator. Theater students are manning the box office, and a group of Saint Vincent College students are serving as ushers.

“Godspell,” the SVC Players’ musical production, is scheduled for Feb. 18-21, 2027.