Silence on the stage

A time of paranoia, hysteria and propaganda, World War II in America was a time when many Japanese-Americans were sent to internment camps. Tomorrow night, one such survivor will tell her story.

“Within the Silence” is a historical play created by Living Voices, an educational theater company based in Seattle. Combing a performer with archival film footage, Living Voices brings to life stories from American history.

“In some ways, we look to our audiences and find out what stories they’d like to hear,” said Rachael McClinton, artistic director for Living Voices.

Living Voices has done a range of topics, including the life of Anne Frank, Ellis Island, and the Civil Rights Movement, McClinton said.

They also like to collaborate with other organizations for certain topics, such as working with the Klondike National Park to make a production about the gold rush. The show is also done in collaboration with The Wing Luke Asian Museum in Seattle, she said.

“Within the Silence” tells the story of Emiko Yamada, a Nisei (child of a Japanese immigrant) living with her family in Seattle. When the Pearl Harbor attack happens, she and her family are forced to move to Camp Harmony in Puyallup and then later to Minidoka, an internment camp in Idaho.

“She goes through a couple different stages,” said Lily Gladstone, who plays Emiko. “A lot of the (internment camp) members didn’t speak up very much after it happened.”

Gladstone has worked with Living Voices since 2009, describing the organization’s productions as more personal than a textbook. The pieces they put on are good for kids and teenagers, giving them a sense of empathy for the humans who went through these experiences.

“(Lily) is a supremely talented actor (and) strong teacher. For our performances we need teachers and actors,” McClinton said. “She is very successful at what she does.”

Gladstone said it was an interesting process adapting to the role of Emiko. Previously, she did work with a piece that talked about Native American boarding schools. Gladstone herself was born and raised on the Black Sheep reservation.

At first, Gladstone said she was reluctant to accept the role in “Within the Silence” because she did not have a similar heritage. But it was a story she was interested in.

“I was nervous because my first booking was Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month in Seattle,” Gladstone said. “I learned the history as quickly as I could and applied it to my knowledge.”

Gladstone said at the show she met with the man who booked the show. This man’s grandmother was one of the Japanese-Americans interned. Although Gladstone said it felt nerve-wracking, she received many compliments about how well she represented the story.

“(We’re) creating this beautiful and historical piece,” Gladstone said. “Altogether it can really resonate in the communities affected by this history and have lived through it or been affected by it.”

Gladstone described Roosevelt’s Order 9066 as one of the largest breaches in an American citizen’s constitutional rights in U.S. history. In fact, it was even documented as the largest violation.

Gladstone said one part of the conversation in “Within the Silence” that can’t by shied away from is the race factor.

“People were talking about it, but their voices were so small,” she said. “Everyone was swept up by the hysteria of war.”

McClinton said she enjoys not only the performing but also learning all these things as she prepares the programs. The only difficult part is finding the archival sources needed for the shows. But she described the challenge as like an archival treasure hunt.

“(I can) immerse myself in a rich part of American history,” McClinton said. “A lot of the actors share my passion of sharing that history.”

“Within the Silence” performs at 7:30 p.m. tomorrow in Jones Theatre at Daggy Hall, and will be free for WSU students. Tickets cost $10 for adults, $8 for seniors, and $5 for non-WSU students and youth.