Virginia Commonwealth University VCU Scholars Compass Theses and Dissertations Graduate School 2013 Laughing Together: Comedic Theatre as a Mechanism of Survival during the Holocaust Robin Knepp Virginia Commonwealth University Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/etd Part of the Theatre and Performance Studies Commons © The Author Downloaded from https://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/etd/3040 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at VCU Scholars Compass. It has been accepted for inclusion in Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of VCU Scholars Compass. For more information, please contact
[email protected]. © Robin J. Knepp 2013 All Rights Reserved Laughing Together: Comedic Theatre as a Mechanism of Survival during the Holocaust A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Fine Arts in Theatre Pedagogy at Virginia Commonwealth University. by Robin Jedlicka Knepp BA, Berry College, 2006 AD, The American Academy of Dramatic Arts, 2003 Director: Dr. Noreen Barnes Director of Graduate Studies, Department of Theatre Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond, Virginia April, 2013 Acknowledgement I would like to thank Dr. Noreen Barnes for her support and direction throughout this project. I also wish to thank David Schneider for his willingness to contribute candid commentary to my research. My sincere gratitude to the members of Troupp pas D’Argent, and particularly to the co-authors of Holoclownsto, Marcela and Natalíe Rodrigues, for their insight and astounding talents. In addition, I want to thank Dr. John Countryman and Dr. Aaron Anderson for their feedback and support during this process.