The Story

In a Nutshell

A survivor of the 1915 Armenian Genocide struggles with the responsibility of being a savior in the Jewish Holocaust.

Plot Synopsis

Armen is a drama about an Armenian watchmaker, who has arranged safe passage out of 1939 Germany.  Discovering his plan, Della, a Jewish woman begs Armen to take her 7-year old son, Benjamin, with him on the journey. Doing so would add greater risk to Armen's plan, and to make matters worse, a wary Nazi SS Officer watches Armen's movements like a hawk. Meanwhile, Armen's own childhood memory of the 1915 Armenian Genocide haunts his every thought. Before Armen can save Benjamin, Armen must confront his past and the present evil that festers outside the doors of his humble shop.

What is Genocide?

A Definition from Merriam-Webster Online:

"The deliberate and systematic destruction of a racial, political, or cultural group"

The Places

Germany: 1939

The scent of war permeates the air. Adolph Hitler and Nazi party are busy restructuring the country in preparation for what would be known as World War II. Persecution against Jews and other groups has taken hold and grows unabated in what would become known as the Holocaust.

Ottoman Empire (Modern-Day Turkey): 1914

On the eve of World War I, propoganda from the War Office of the Ottoman Empire labels Armenians as supporters of the Ottoman Empire's enemy-at-the-time, The Soviet Union. The way is paved for discrimination, persecution, and ultimately, genocide.

Read more in the History section

The People

Armen

Age: 33 years old
Ethnicity: Armenian
Occupation: Watchmaker
Features: Medium height, dark Caucasian features

In order to survive, he must hide and not draw attention to himself.

Della

Age: 30 years old
Ethnicity: Jewish
Occupation: Mother to Benjamin
Features: Medium height, middle-eastern features

In order to save her son, she must persuade the only man capable she knows of getting him out the country.

Benjamin

Age: 7 years old
Ethnicity: Jewish
Occupation: None
Features: Dark hair, brown eyes

Young Armen

Age: 7 years old
Ethnicity: Armenian
Occupation: None
Features: Similar features to adult Armen

See who's been cast to play each character!