(Billy Tighe and his wife, Kristine Reese, pose with Holocaust survivors and family)
Holocaust survivors attending Café Europa on February 24th were treated to a special performance from big-hearted Broadway star Billy Tighe.
A Tradition of Connection
Café Europa is a tradition that has taken place across the Jewish diaspora since World War II and serves the purpose of reuniting Holocaust survivors with one another. JF&CS has joyfully hosted the Metro Atlanta Café Europa for years with a team of staff and generous volunteers. The monthly event includes socializing, lunch, and engaging entertainment.
“We used to alternate between speakers and musical entertainers, but as our survivor population has gotten older, and because we also have language barriers for some people, we’ve transitioned to providing mainly musical entertainment now (at Café Europa),” said Amy Neuman, Director of Holocaust Survivor Services. “But it’s unusual that we have someone who is literally a Broadway star, performing in musicals as we speak!”
The Music Man (and Woman)
Billy Tighe has performed on stages all over the world, from Pippin on Broadway to The Book of Mormon in London’s famed West End, and on national tours of Finding Neverland, Wicked and more. This past fall, he portrayed the title role in The Music Man with City Springs Theatre Company, and it was there that Caren Kern, Holocaust Survivor Services Program Coordinator, met Billy and invited him to perform at Café Europa.
Billy and his wife Kristine Reese, a theater star in her own right, happily agreed to perform. When Caren inquired about the fee for their appearance, they graciously declined. “The purpose of the event is priority, over the compensation,” said Billy. “We’re thrilled to be able to participate, and use our gifts to spread joy.”
Joy was evident on the faces of everyone from Holocaust survivors to staff (CEO Terri Bonoff and COO Mike Beldie joined the fun) and volunteers alike. Billy and Kristine performed nearly an hour's worth of selections from classics like West Side Story and The Music Man as well as more modern pieces, including songs from the recently revived production of Pippin, which they both performed on Broadway.
Billy Tighe and Kristine Reese’s heartfelt performance was a beautiful reminder of the power of community, and the joy found in shared experiences.
We are proud to continue the vital tradition of Café Europa, and many other initiatives at JF&CS—subscribe to our newsletter here to stay up-to-date, and click here to support the work of our agency.
This service is supported by a grant from The Jewish Federations of North America’s Center on Aging, Trauma, and Holocaust Survivor Care.