In the Grove of Forgetting

April 16 - May 4, 2025

By Robert Ford | Directed by Damon Kiely

Summer, 1938. Ilona, a concert pianist known for her sharp wit as much as her musical passion, refuses to be ruled by fear, even as fellow Jewish artists and academics flee Hungary. Surely Budapest is safe from the growing Nazi fervor—isn’t it? Filled with intrigue, music, and wry humor, this world premiere is a taut emotional thriller, as a woman caught in one of history’s darkest moments fights to find a way forward.

TICKETS

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Enjoy up to 20% off at The Commons Bar/Café.

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO:

 

  • In the Grove of Forgetting contains a small amount of profanity, includes material relating to the Holocaust and to suicide that may be difficult for some patrons, and includes historical references to Palestine and Israel that may be controversial for some patrons. This production also includes the use of fog and a short sequence of flashing lights. For more information contact the Box Office at 479.777.7477 or tix@theatre2.org.

  • ⏰ Please plan to arrive early. If you arrive after the start of the show, the house manager will seat you during an appropriate break in the performance and in a location that will be the least disruptive to performers and fellow patrons. Doors open 30 minutes prior to the performance and will close after a brief hold at the top of the show. 

    🚙 Visit https://www.theatre2.org/directions to view a map of Entertainment District parking options. Make your parking experience faster and easier! Download the Park Mobile app now and create an account before you get to the theatre. Arrive early so you have plenty of time to park!

    🕜 The show is 2 hours and 10 minutes long plus a 15-minute intermission. 

    🍷 Make sure to try our limited-time show-themed drinks and dessert from @commonsbarcafe! We have a cocktail and a mocktail: the Apricot Arpeggio and the Szip, Szap, Szörp! And don’t miss the Hungarian Rhapsody, a spiced white cake with walnuts, apricots, and Italian buttercream that’s sure to make you sing. Swipe to sneak a peek! 

    🥂 Another reason to be an early bird–the great food and drinks at The Commons! Please note that food and espresso orders must be placed at least 30 minutes prior to your showtime. Bartenders will stop taking cocktail orders 5 minutes before showtime.

DRAMATURGY:

  • Act 1

    Prologue. 1955. Budapest. The concert stage of the Franz Liszt Academy of Music.

    Scene 1. 1938. Budapest. Ilona Raab's piano studio at the Liszt Academy.

    Scene 2. Later that day. Budapest. A park atop Gellert Hill.

    Scene 3. That night. Budapest. The Kispipa Café.

    Scene 4. A few days later. Budapest train station.

    Scene 5. 1942. Budapest. Ilona Raab's home.

    Scene 6. Later that day. Kispipa Café.

    Scene 7. March, 1944. Budapest. The basement of the Liszt Academy.

    Scene 8. July, 1944. Auschwitz-Birkenau.

    Act 2

    Scene 1. 1955. Budapest. The concert stage of the Liszt Academy.

    Scene 2. July, 1944. Auschwitz. A music room.

    Scene 3. 1947. London. A West End dressing room.

    Scene 4. September, 1944. Auschwitz. A music room.

    Scene 5. 1947. A practice room somewhere in London.

    Scene 6. 1948. A music studio somewhere in London.

    Scene 7. 1948-1955. A series of concert halls in Europe.

    Scene 8. 1955. A sidewalk in Frankfurt, West Germany.

    Scene 9. 1955. Budapest. Kispipa Café.

    Scene 10. December, 1944. Auschwitz. A music room.

    Scene 11. 1955. Budapest. The concert stage of the Liszt Academy.

    Scene 12. 1966. Glasgow, Scotland. A living room.

  • CLICK THE LINKS BELOW TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE PEOPLE AND HISTORY THAT INSPIRED IN THE GROVE OF FORGETTING

    MAP OF THE HOLOCAUST

    TIMELINE OF THE HOLOCAUST

    THE WOMEN’S ORCHESTRA OF AUSCHWITZ (The women who inspired the character of Ilona Raab)

    THE REAL PEOPLE OF IN THE GROVE OF FORGETTING

    THE U.S. HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL MUSEUM

EVENTS:

  • Sunday, May 4, 2025 at 12:30 PM

    Join us on May 4 at 12:30 pm for a talkback discussion of In the Grove of Forgetting. Come to the T2 Community Room for an informal conversation with author Bob Ford about the play. Share your responses and hear about his process in writing the piece. The Commons Cafe will be open, so feel free to grab a coffee or lunch on the way.

  • Sunday, May 4. 2025 at 5:30 PM

    Join TheatreSquared and the Symphony of Northwest Arkansas (SONA) for a moving live chamber concert inspired by "In the Grove of Forgetting."

    This intimate performance offers a rare opportunity to experience the powerful music woven throughout the play performed—live and up close. You’ll hear selections by Brahms, Bartók, and more—composers whose works are the musical heartbeat of "In the Grove of Forgetting"—a story set in 1938 Budapest, where a brilliant pianist fights to hold on to beauty, humor, and hope in a time of rising darkness.

    Whether you’re a classical music lover or just curious about the role music plays in storytelling, this event will deepen your connection to the play in unforgettable ways.

    Admission is $15. Learn more at https://tix.theatre2.org/31827/31828

DIGITAL PROGRAM:

SEASON LINEUP