Austen Riggs Center to Screen Filmed Performance of ‘Awake in the Dark’

STOCKBRIDGE — Austen Riggs Center invites the public to an in-person screening of a filmed stage performance of Awake in the Dark, a new theatrical work that delves into the complexities of heritage, memory, and the human psyche.

The screening will take place on Tuesday, July 15 from 5 to 7 p.m. in the large conference room at Austen Riggs Center, 25 Main St., Stockbridge. Seating is limited, and advance registration is required for all attendees. Click here to register.

Awake in the Dark is written by author and clinical psychologist Shira Nayman, with original music by composer Ben Moore, and features performances by Juliana Sass and Antoinette LaVecchia.

The story follows Christiane, a young woman compelled to travel to Heidelberg, Germany by a cryptic message from her dying mother. As she peels back the layers of her family’s history, she discovers long-buried truths about her German father, unfolding a story that interweaves personal reckoning with broader historical trauma. Themes of Jewish identity, maternal connection, and inherited memory echo throughout the narrative.

The performance features a musical backdrop by Jack Kessler (viola), Ben Moore (piano), and Todd Palmer (clarinet).

Following the screening, audience members will have the opportunity to engage in a thoughtful discussion with Nayman, Sass, and Dr. Ed Shapiro, CEO of Austen Riggs Center.