The early 20th century was a high-stakes era for social democracy in Germany and Austria, a time of peace-seeking and war-making when human hope and despair took every turn imaginable. This history has a bearing on our lives today, as we confront authoritarian political power and look for a path toward an equitable, peaceful, environmentally sustainable world.

A theatrical adaptation of Arthur Schnitzler’s novel “The Road Into the Open,” exploring the origins of Zionism in Vienna at the turn of the 20th century. Featured are the experiences of the city’s Jewish inhabitants, including their fiery debates about assimilation, identity, and Zionism.