Off-Broadway's White Rose is currently playing Theatre Row through March 31, with a world premiere recording set to be released this spring. Watch Jo Ellen Pellman (Netflix's The Prom) and Mike Cefalo (New York, New York) perform the song "Who Cares" in the video above.
White Rose features a book and lyrics by Brian Belding and music by Natalie Brice. The production, which opened January 25, stars Pellman as Sophie Scholl, a real-world young German student who was executed for high treason due to her involvement with the non violent anti-Nazi resistance group White Rose. Will Nunziata is at the helm.
Pellman is joined by Cefalo as Hans Scholl, Kennedy Kanagawa (Into the Woods) as Christoph Probst, Laura Sky Herman (Hello, Dolly!) as Lila Ramdohr, Paolo Montalban (Funny Girl, Pacific Overtures) as Prof. Kurt Huber, Sam Gravitte (Wicked) as Frederick Fischer, Cole Thompson (Into the Woods) as Willi Graff, with Ellis Gage (Next To Normal), Dani Apple (The Sorceress), Pasquale Crociata, Cal Mitchell, and Aaron Ramey.
“The White Rose students were the privileged few who benefited from unjust laws and discrimination," Belding said in an earlier statement. "Yet they were the ones who ultimately stood up for those who no longer had a voice. They chose to use their privilege for good, risking everything. My hope is that this musical inspires those struggling to find their own way to take action where they see injustice.”
“It’s been an honor to use music to illuminate the poetry and capture the intention of the White Rose resistance group," Brice added. "This is a story of people who lived and loved during wartime. They had faith in what the world could be and felt deep down that change was possible as long as there was an idea of it. They kept their hope strong and shared their voice, even when unsure of the outcome. I’m over the moon to make their feelings and desires sing out loud and strong on this world premiere recording.”
The production features music direction and arrangements by Sheela Ramesh, movement direction by Jordan Ryder, and orchestrations by Charlie Rosen. The creative team also includes set designer James Noone, costume designer Sophia Choi, lighting designer Alan C. Edwards, sound designer Elisabeth Weidner, wig designer Liz Printz, and production stage manager Ellie Handel. Casting is by Eisenberg/Beans Casting. White Rose is presented in association with NewYorkRep.
“I am proud to be teaming with Jeff Laurinaitis, Charlie Rosen, Michael Croiter, Van Dean, and everyone at Yellow Sound Label to bring White Rose to listeners across the country and around the world," Nunziata said in an earlier statement. "This true story of young resisters who fought with faith and fortitude against injustice needs to be told now more than ever. Brian and Natalie have created a beautiful patchwork of lyrics and music that is universal and relatable and I am thrilled that the show’s songs and important messages will now live on forever with this world-class recording.”
Visit WhiteRoseTheMusical.com.
