The Secrets We Keep
by Danielle Wirsansky
The Secrets We Keep is a new musical that immerses audiences in the mystical realm of rusalki, using folklore to explore sensitive historical themes and reveal hidden truths. The story follows Luba, a Jewish Polish woman tragically transformed into a rusalka— an undead, enchanting water spirit both alluring and eerie—during the Holocaust, as she seeks revenge and grapples with complex moral dilemmas such as revenge, justice, and redemption. Through the rusalki’s journey, the musical navigates themes of vengeance, humanity, and forgiveness, shedding light on silenced voices from the past and fostering empathy through the intertwining of folklore and historical narratives.
The Secrets We Keep confronts contemporary secrets surrounding the Holocaust, especially those perpetuated by the Polish government. The musical unravels the consequences of legislated silence about Poland’s involvement in anti-Semitic acts during World War II. The Polish law is commonly referred to as the “Polish Holocaust Law” or “Polish Anti-Defamation Law” and was passed in 2018 to restrict discussion of Poland’s involvement in the Holocaust. It specifically criminalizes accusations of Polish complicity in Nazi war crimes. Neighbors: The Destruction of the Jewish Community in Jedwabne, Poland by historian Jan T. Gross serves as a historical touchstone that deeply informs the narrative of The Secrets We Keep. Gross details the harrowing events of the Jedwabne pogrom, in which Polish villagers brutally murdered their Jewish neighbors during World War II.1 This historical event underscores the complex dynamics between Jewish and non-Jewish communities during the Holocaust and reveals the depths of human cruelty through the betrayal of trust.
Similarly, The Secrets We Keep delves into the intersecting experiences of Jewish and non-Jewish individuals and creates a poignant parallel to the themes explored in Gross’s seminal work. Meanwhile, Poland has refused to take accountability for the actions of their own citizens. The rusalki help us to critique the suppression of historical truths and the consequences of silence through imagery and song.
This project is not merely a musical, but a form of public history. Developed through the Elie Wiesel Social Action Fellowship, The Secrets We Keep is dedicated to Holocaust education and combating anti-Semitism. The musical serves as a catalyst for community engagement and learning. This approach, which combines history, folklore, music, and performance, allows the creative team to reach diverse audiences and foster critical discussions about the past.
I began intensive research for the musical in summer 2023, followed by a virtual reading that August. I collaborated with composer Frank Sanchez to cultivate the sound of the music, which we wanted to be modern, cinematic, and yet still reflective of the Slavic influences of the region where the story is set. A successful public workshop concert was held at Common Ground Books in October 2023, featuring a talkback session for audience feedback. Rehearsals began in December 2023, leading up to our production at Florida State University in Tallahassee in April 2024. Shannon Wolf and Jane Achenbach, the production’s Music Directors, also added significant contributions to the show’s musical compositions as the process progressed.
The development process involved research into Slavic folklore on the rusalka figure. This includes regions such as Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Poland, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, and other Slavic-speaking areas. Rusalki are particularly prevalent in Eastern European folklore and mythology.2 These mystical beings are believed to inhabit bodies of water such as rivers, lakes, and ponds and are typically portrayed as beautiful maidens with long, flowing hair, who possess the ability to both mesmerize and terrify those who encounter them.
The rusalki’s significance extends beyond mere folklore and resonates deeply within Slavic culture. They are often associated with nature, fertility, and the cycle of life and death. In traditional Slavic beliefs, the rusalki were thought to be the spirits of young women who had died untimely deaths, particularly those who perished by drowning. As such, they were both revered and feared. As such, various rituals and customs were developed to appease and protect against their influence.3 The story follows Luba, a young Jewish woman tragically killed in a pogrom in her village during the Holocaust. Luba is transformed into a rusalka, who, generations later, discovers an unexpected chance for revenge when she befriends a young woman who unknowingly carries the bloodline of her murderer. While not explicitly featured in Jewish folklore, the rusalka’s presence in The Secrets We Keep serves as a bridge between Slavic and Jewish traditions, thereby embodying the fluidity and interconnectedness of cultural narratives as well as government-determined divisions between peoples and their artificiality.
Drawing from historical accounts, I explored the nuances of the Holocaust, uncovering both documented events and overlooked narratives. The Secrets We Keep sheds light on the often-neglected experiences of LGBTQ+ individuals during this dark period, addressing their persecution, discrimination, and resilience. Grounded in thorough research, the musical confronts the historical erasure of queer victims and challenges prevailing narratives. Luba, though targeted and attacked for being Jewish, receives particularly harsh treatment because she is queer. Gad Beck, a Jewish resistance fighter who documented his experiences in An Underground Life: Memoirs of a Gay Jew in Nazi Berlin,4 and another chronicle Aimee and Jaguar: A Love Story, Berlin 1943, which tells the true story of the love affair between a German housewife and a Jewish woman who was part of the underground resistance in Berlin during World War II, both provide authentic insights into the diverse experiences of queer individuals during the Holocaust.5 By weaving together past and present, the musical amplifies the voices of queer victims, ensuring that their stories are not forgotten and granting them a platform for their experiences to be acknowledged and honored.
As the musical approaches its world premiere at the Lab Theatre at Florida State University from April 25th to 27th, each stage of development is guided by a commitment to historical accuracy, cultural sensitivity, and a profound dedication to deepening our understanding of the past. Collaborating with the Holocaust Education Resource Council and Congregation Shomrei Torah, we are organizing a lobby exhibit and post-show talkbacks to underscore the historical context of the production, demonstrating our engagement with communities and dedication to Holocaust education and combating of anti-Semitism.
The ultimate destination for The Secrets We Keep is a weeklong Off-Broadway residency at the esteemed American Theatre of Actors in New York City from May 23rd-26th, 2024. This opportunity will amplify the musical’s reach, allowing it to contribute to broader conversations about historical memory, the Holocaust, and the transformative power of storytelling in a global context.
As a scholar committed to public history, my aim is to leverage the emotional resonance of the rusalki mythos to create a space for dialogue and understanding. By embracing folklore as a conduit for historical narratives, I hope to contribute to broader conversations about memory, silence, and the role of the arts in public history. Through The Secrets We Keep, I strive to illuminate the shadows of history, one haunting melody at a time.
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Danielle Wirsansky is a passionate theater artist, director, and writer. With a background in dramatic literature and performance, she thrives on creating thought-provoking narratives to be used as public history. Danielle is a PhD Candidate at Florida State University and the Finance Director at White Mouse Theatre Productions.
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1. Jan T. Gross, Neighbors: The Destruction of the Jewish Community in Jedwabne, Poland (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2022), 7.
2. Linda J. Ivanits, Russian Folk Belief (Milton Park, Abingdon: Taylor & Francis, 2015), 76.
3. Ivanits, Russian Folk Belief, 80.
4. Gad Beck, An Underground Life: Memoirs of a Gay Jew in Nazi Berlin (Madison: University of Wisconsin Press, 1999), 148.
5. Erica Fischer, Aimee & Jaguar: A Love Story, Berlin 1943 (New York: HarperCollins, 2016), 12.