Ensemble Theatre Company of Santa Barbara (ETC) presents “The Pianist of Willesden Lane,” a musical journey adapted and directed by Hershey Felder, Feb. 1-18 at The New Vic, 33 W. Victoria St., Santa Barbara.

Mona Golabek, who has long brown hair and is wearing a black short-sleeved sweater, sits at the piano.
Pianist Mona Golabek wrote the book ‘The Children of Willesden Lane: Beyond the Kindertransport; A Memoir of Music, Love, and Survival,’ upon which her one-woman show is based. Credit: Courtesy photo

“The Pianist of Willesden Lane,” previews at 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 2 and opens at 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 3 and runs through Sunday, Feb 18 at 2 p.m.

The play is based on the book “The Children of Willesden Lane: Beyond the Kindertransport; A Memoir of Music, Love, and Survival” by Mona Golabek and Lee Cohen.

Set in Vienna in 1938 and in London during the Blitzkrieg, “The Pianist of Willesden Lane,” tells the true story of Lisa Jura, a young Jewish musician whose dreams are interrupted by the Nazi regime.

In the inspirational one-woman show, Mona Golabek — a world-renowned, Grammy-nominated pianist and the daughter of Lisa Jura — performs some of the world’s most stunning music as she shares her mother’s riveting true story of survival.

“The Pianist of Willesden Lane,” is infused with hope and the life-affirming power of music. Beloved selections from Bach, Beethoven, Chopin, and Rachmaninoff enhance the story, exemplifying the enduring power of music and resilience of the human spirit.
 
“A decade ago, shortly after the original production at the Geffen Playhouse closed, I had the pleasure of presenting ‘The Pianist of Willesden Lane,’ and, when developing the 2023-24 ETC season, I knew this remarkable story needed to be brought to Santa Barbara,” said Scott DeVine, ETC’s executive director.”

This play is not about the Holocaust,” he said. “It’s about hope and survival, and in today’s world, remains amazingly poignant and inspiring. I cannot think of a better location for this moving and intimate performance than the stage of The New Vic Theatre.”

Ticket prices range from $40-$86. All patrons 35 and under are always $35. Student tickets are $25. Single tickets are available through the ETC box office, 805-965-5400, or online at etcsb.org. Prices subject to change.

Mona Golabek, the star of the play, is the daughter of Lisa Jura, a child piano prodigy born in Vienna, Austria, who came to England as a refugee in 1938 as part of the Kindertransport rescue operation.

Inspired by her mother’s story and the last words her mother heard at the train station – “Hold on to your music … it will be your best friend,”  Mona Golabek became a concert pianist and has performed with major conductors and orchestras worldwide.

The Grammy nominee and prolific recording artist has been the subject of several documentaries including Concerto for Mona with conductor Zubin Mehta.

Her discography includes the best-selling “Carnival of the Animals” and Ravel’s “Mother Goose Suite,” both recorded with her sister Renee. They feature the voices of Meryl Streep, Audrey Hepburn, Ted Danson, and Lily Tomlin.

Her mother is the subject of Mona’s acclaimed book, “The Children of Willesden Lane,” co-authored by Lee Cohen.