Craig Christie & Andrew Paterson | Musical | Drama | 11m, 9f, 3m/f + Chorus
Short synopsis
"How can we expect righteousness to prevail when there is hardly anyone willing to give himself up individually to a righteous cause ..."
Sophie Scholl, 1943 (immediately prior to her death)
'The White Rose' is based on the true story of a group of students at Munich University in 1942 who formed a resistance movement to Hitler's regime. It traces the story of Sophie Scholl, her brother Hans, and his friends as they despair of the increasingly totalitarian lives being forced onto the German nation. 'The White Rose' is a musical production both intimate and epic in its portrayal of the story and characters involved, and, though drawn from the pages of history, it is as relevant today as it was when it originally unfolded during the dark days of war.
NOTE: a play version of this is also available.
Synopsis
Characters
"The name of Germany is dishonoured for all time if German youth does not finally rise, take revenge and smash its tormentors" - 'Fellow Fighters in the Resistance', White Rose Leaflet #6
The White Rose was a non-violent/intellectual resistance group in Nazi Germany, consisting of students from the University of Munich and their philosophy professor. The group became known for an anonymous leaflet campaign, lasting from June 1942 until February 1943, that called for active opposition to Adolf Hitler's regime.
One day in 1942, copies of a leaflet entitled “The White Rose” suddenly appeared at the University of Munich. The leaflet said that the Nazi system had slowly imprisoned the German people, was now destroying them, and that the Nazi regime had turned evil. It was time, the leaflet said, for Germans to rise up and resist the tyranny of their own government. At the bottom, the following request appeared: “Please make as many copies of this leaflet as you can and distribute them”. The leaflet caused a tremendous stir among the student body as it was the first time that internal dissent against the Nazi's had surfaced in Germany.
Today, the members of the White Rose are honoured in Germany as amongst its greatest heroes, since they opposed the Third Reich in the face of almost certain death. The six core members of the group were arrested by the Gestapo and they were executed by decapitation in 1943.
This dramatic musical is based on this true story of a group of students who formed an unprecedented resistance movement to Hitler's regime. It traces the story of Sophie Scholl, her brother Hans, and his friends as they despair of the increasingly totalitarian lives being forced onto the German nation.
'The White Rose' is a musical production both intimate and epic in its portrayal of the story and characters involved, and, though drawn from the pages of history, it is as relevant today as it was when it originally unfolded during the dark days of war.
Principals (5m, 4f)
Sophie Scholl - 22, a university student
Hans Scholl- 24, a university student
Christoph Probst- 23, a university student
Herta Probst- early 20s,the wife of Christoph
Willi Graf- 24, a university student
Alexander Schmorell- 25, a university student
Traute Lafrenz- 23, a university student
Johann Wittenstein - 20s, a university student
Gisela Schertling- early 20's, a university student; joins, then betrays them
Support (6m, 5f, 3m/f)
Else - shares a cell with Sophie
Hilde - Callisthenics Leader
Heinrich - a Gestapo officer (fictional)
Eichart - a Senior Gestapo officer (fictional)
Professor Huber - 40-60, a professor of philosophy
Klaus Bath - 20s, A university student, believes in the Nazi party (fictional)
Students 1, 2 and 3 Gauleiter Geisler - 30-50,
A Governor of the University (fictional)
Girls 1, 2 and 3
Jakob Schmidt - 50-60, a university janitor
Chorus of Students, Soldiers, Girls doing callisthenics etc
This item is NOT available from us to customers in Australia or New Zealand.
If you are located anywhere in continental Australasia, please click here.
This item is also available in a full length play version.
If you require any additional information regarding this script, please don’t hesitate to contact us here.
Songs
1) Faith And Beauty -Hilde, Male Ensemble & Female Ensemble
2) Schliess Aug Und Ohr Fur Eine Weil - Christoph, Herta, Willi, Hans, Alex, Traute & Sophie
3) Til There’s Nowhere Else To Hide - Herta & Christoph
4) Ode To Joy - Student Ensemble, Hans, Traute & Sophie
5) Be Careful, Sophie - Johann
6) A Heart In Chains - Sophie & Johann
7) The White Rose - Hans
8) Lose To Win - Sophie
9) No Answers - Herta, Sophie, Traute & Female Ensemble
10) Onwards Through The Years - Company
~~ Interval ~~
11) Songs Like Lili MarleneSoldiers (possibly The White Rose boys)
12) Onwards Through The Years (Reprise)Sophie
13) Roll Up, Roll Up! - Student Ensemble
14) Loaded GunS - tudent Ensemble15) HeroesWilli
16) A Quiet LifeSophie, Johann, Gisela, Traute, Hans, Willi & Alex
17) Til There’s Nowhere Else To Hide (Reprise) - Herta & Christoph
18) Walk With MeCompany
19) Curtain Calls - Company
20) Playout - Instrumental
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Available now (see below)
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Flute
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MD's Full Score
We have secured the rights to video productions of this title from the Author, and we manage them on his behalf. Once a 'Licence To Perform' has been granted, and then on payment of a fee, we will be able to issue a 'Licence To Record'. There are some strings attached to this, but these are far outweighed by the benefits.
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