In commemoration of the 75th anniversary of Czech resistance leader Milada Horáková's tragic death, we are premiering a new play about her infamous trial. Written by Slovak American playwright Laura Zlatos (Happily After Ever ) and directed by Tom Costello (Associate Director of American Buffalo on Broadway), Show Trial brings Milada’s story to the stage with authenticity, historical accuracy, and biting satirical edge. Starring acclaimed Slovak actress Natália Germáni (Její telo, Svetlonoc), this production represents a unique collaboration between U.S. and Slovak artists, and a rare opportunity to share European history with American audiences. Milada's courage, conviction, and unwavering commitment to justice remain a symbol of resistance not only in Slovakia and Czechia, but for all who stand against authoritarianism today.

As we prepare to premiere Show Trial at two prestigious NYC venues in June — the Bohemian National Hall in the Rehearsal for Truth International Theater Festival, an annual event highlighting contemporary theater from Central and Eastern Europe, and the The Tank, off-off Broadway’s busiest hub for presenting bold new work — we are seeking your generous support. Your partnership would not only help us bring this important story to life, but also amplify Slovak voices and values on an international stage.           

Charged with espionage and high treason, Czech resistance leader Milada Horáková stands trial against the communist regime in one of the largest sham trials in Eastern Europe. The only woman among 248 political executions in Cold War Czechoslovakia, her case epitomized the era’s ruthless propaganda machine. Blending the absurdism of Václav Havel, the chaos of the Marx Brothers, and the dark wit of Franz Kafka, Show Trial satirizes Stalin-era show trials through real court transcripts translated into English for the first time. With biting humor and sharp critique, the play exposes the farcical nature of authoritarian justice, proving that whoever controls history, creates it.

This production of Show Trial was originally set to be funded by the Slovak Consulate. However, due to the country’s shift toward a new authoritarian administration—featuring a Prime Minister implicated in the murder of a journalist—and significant cuts to the arts and culture sector, we lost all of our funding.

The U.S. and Slovakia are facing growing threats to their democracies every day. From the rise of authoritarianism to the spread of propaganda, the current political climate bears unsettling similarities to 1950s Czechoslovakia. Show Trial uses satire and trial transcripts to shine a light on this surge of autocracy. Our goal is for this play to foster greater understanding and cultural awareness between Slovakia and the U.S., while encouraging political reflection and discussion. Now a symbol of peaceful and democratic resistance to totalitarianism, we hope Milada Horáková’s story will inspire audience members to take action.

Thanks to the generous donation of rehearsal and performance spaces, 100% of your contribution goes directly to the artists. Each of the 9 actors and stage manager will receive $400 per week, with designers and other members of the artistic team receiving a $400 stipend. While we are producing this show on a lean budget, it is important to us to fairly compensate everyone involved. Even after losing our funding, we made the decision not to cut back on these essential payments.

By supporting Show Trial, you are helping preserve a vital piece of Slovak and Czech history and championing the arts as a vehicle for social change. We deeply hope you will join us in bringing this powerful story to life.

Laura Zlatos (playwright) is a Slovak American playwright and librettist. Her plays include The Blue Whale (Shawnee Playhouse; 2024 S.O.P.S. Dramatic Play Winner; 2022 Todd McNerney Playwriting Award; 2021 Marsha A. Croyle Award), The Even More Lamentable Tragedy of Lavinia (2020 Women are Funny Prize), Happily After Ever (59E59 Theaters; Edinburgh Fringe Festival; Bloomington Playwrights Project; 2017 Woodward/Newman Drama Award, The Advocate’s “Top 10 NY Theater of 2016,” Honorable Mention), Three Hours (HERE Arts Center), and the musical A Problem with the Pattersons (2023 CITSTS Emerging Writers Residency, Finalist; 2020 O’Neill Music Theatre Conference, Semifinalist – music/lyrics by Andre Catrini). Laura’s musical Reincarnation Blues will receive a workshop in April 2025 at the Other Palace in London, directed by Olivier-nominated Amy Hodge (music/lyrics by Coyle Girelli and Ben Thornewill). Laura was a playwriting fellow with Playhouse Creatures Theatre Company and a resident playwright with the Exquisite Corpse Company. She has developed work at the Rhinebeck Writers Retreat and the Orchard Project and was a finalist for the Princess Grace Award. MFA: Playwriting, Columbia University; MA: Performance Studies, NYU.

Tom Costello (director) was the Associate Director for the 2022 Broadway revival of American Buffalo. He has been a Drama League Directing Fellow at the Hangar (Olivia Dufault’s The Messenger and Christopher Parks' Aesop's Fables), an Associate Artist at the Flea Theater (NYT Critic’s Pick Smoke by Kim Davies), and is a member of Ensemble Studio Theater. Most recently, he directed and co-wrote Sarina Freda’s no no no please no god no, nevermind i’m fine, which went to the Edinburgh Fringe and HERE Arts Center in NYC. He is Artistic Director for Atlantic Acting School, where he also serves as a faculty member, and recently co-directed the Atlantic for Kids production of This Girl Laughs, This Girl Cries, This Girl Does Nothing by Finegan Kruckemeyer. Co-founder of The Debt Gala. He was an exchange student in Slovakia, attended the film school FAMU in Prague and holds a Slovak fluency certificate.

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Thank you!