Theater group presents ‘Soul of a Swimmer,’ the inspiring story of a teen athlete
At 6 years old, Nicholas Dworet knew a lot about dragonflies.
He knew they live in water, in the larval stage, for the first five years or more of their lives. And then they fly.
They are fast and skim over the water after that. The way Nicholas swam.
But for just a short time.
Parents and teens, and really everyone seeking inspiration, will not want to miss learning the story of Nicholas Dworet, a competitive swimmer at 17, who had finally found his way. His was a journey of pulling himself up and learning to grow through difficulties.
And just when his dreams of possibly swimming in the Olympics were within reach, it was that day — Feb. 14, 2018 — when 17 lives were stolen in one of America’s worst school mass shootings.
Fourteen of those lives were students at Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland.
Nicholas was one.
The new stage production “Soul of a Swimmer” tells his story. It will be presented at 8 p.m. Feb. 7 & 8; and at 2 p.m. Feb. 9 at Westchester Cultural Arts Center. It will then travel to Hollywood Performing Arts Center for a performance at 8 p.m. Feb. 15.
The biodrama is based on the book “Soul of a Swimmer” written by Carla Albano, herself a competitive swimmer, who memorialized Nicholas Dworet’s fleeting yet determined life two years after his death.
The socially conscious community theater group What if Works adapted the book as seen through the prism of Nicholas’ mother, Annika Dworet.
What if Works previously presented “The Placemaker-Poet,” about the life of visionary developer and poet George E. Merrick, and “Artist X,” an exploration of the life and work of advocate eco-artist Xavier Cortada.
Founding director Phillip Church said the production offers its audiences a compelling experience as theater, film and live music dramatically infuse the narratives of mother and son accompanied by a chorus of three actors.
“I am still in disbelief that Phillip Church chose to bring “Soul of a Swimmer” to the stage in South Florida,” said Albano, the book’s author. “Phillip has been able to harness the extraordinary passion and heartfelt goodness of an exceptional human being: Nicholas Dworet.
“Nick’s story is one of a talented young man who passed away at a moment when his goals were just within reach,” she said.
“Through the play, Nick’s legacy shall be thoughtfully retold by all who loved him; his teachings shall be an example for future generations. I am so grateful for the support of our community in keeping memories of Nick alive, and for understanding how important he is to our local history.”
“Soul of a Swimmer” features Tracey Barrow-Schoenblatt as Nicholas’s mother and Alec Avila as Nicholas Dworet, with Monica Ayesa, Patrick Quintana and Rafael Mayfield as a multiple-character chorus.
As Annika Dworet reminds us at the end of the book, “With Nick and the others gone, our society is missing countless good things.”
Tickets to “Soul of a Swimmer” are $15 with veterans, students and seniors tickets $10. Purchase at www.whatifworks.com and www.Roxyshows.com or call 305-226-0030 or 954-613-6119.
HOLOCAUST AWARENESS AT FIU
Florida International University is hosting its annual Holocaust & Genocide Awareness Week with events that include personal testimonials, a film, lectures and panel discussions held on both campuses and elsewhere in the community. All are open to the public at no charge.
On Jan. 30, the Annual Holocaust Commemoration Ceremony will honor the late Tibor Hollo, a Holocaust survivor, who was a well-known real estate developer and philanthropist. Along with his wife, Sheila, he created the Tibor & Sheila Hollo School of Real Estate in the FIU College of Business and provided major support to the Holocaust & Genocide Studies Program.
“This past year FIU and the broader South Florida community lost a hero who cared deeply about Holocaust education, and it is fitting that, in the week the world commemorates 80 years since the liberation of Auschwitz, we honor the legacy of one of that camp’s survivors,” said Oren Baruch Stier, director of the Holocaust and Genocide Studies Program and professor of Religious Studies.
Another offering at FIU’s Biscayne Bay campus on Jan. 27 will feature Leslie Gelrubin Benitah, U.S. producer of The Last Ones – a project that documents and shares stories of the last living Holocaust survivors – and journalism professor Neil Reisner, marking the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz death camp. They will discuss “The Media and Holocaust Memory: Doing Good on the Global Stage.”
To learn more about event sponsors and other offerings visit bit.ly/4h3Qpn0
PINECREST 5K IS FEB. 1
Get your new year off to a healthy start at Pinecrest’s third annual FitCrest 5K, powered by Baptist Health. The popular community event will start and end at Evelyn Greer Park and is open to all ages and abilities. Runners, walkers, joggers, strollers, wheelchair users and four-legged friends are welcome.
Registration is $35. Race bibs include timing chips for accurate results, and pre-registered participants will receive an event T-shirt while supplies last. Those who complete in the race will also receive a medal. Check-in is 6:30 a.m. Feb. 1 at Pinecrest Gardens, 11000 Red Rd. The race starts at 8 a.m. More at pinecrestgardens.org
IT’S COOKIE TIME!
Girl Scout Cookies are now on sale through Feb. 23. When you buy Girl Scout Cookies, you’re helping girls gain confidence, build relationships and fund their next big adventure. Maybe they’re planning a night under the stars or dreaming of building a robot. Your purchase makes it possible.
Stop by a cookie booth near you to support them. Find out more, and where you can buy them in your area, at www.girlscoutsfl.org/en/cookies.html
Write to ChristinaMMayo@gmail.com with news for this column.
This story was originally published January 23, 2025 at 11:05 AM.