'White Rose: The Musical' to premiere off Broadway

Jo Ellen Pellman and Mike Cefalo star in this new show, which is inspired by the true story of a group of students who stood up to Nazism in Germany.

White Rose: The Musical, a new production at Theatre Row, will premiere off Broadway in January. The limited 12-week run begins January 17 ahead of a January 25 opening.

White Rose is set in Nazi Germany and is based on the true story of a group of German student activists, led by Sophie and Hans Scholl, who created and distributed anti-Nazism flyers.

"The White Rose students were the privileged few who benefited from unjust laws and discrimination," said Brian Belding, who wrote the show's book and lyrics, in a 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.”

The cast of White Rose: The Musical features Jo Ellen Pellman as Sophie Scholl, Mike Cefalo as Hans Scholl, Kennedy Kanagawa as Christoph Probst, Laura Sky Herman as Lila Ramdohr, Paolo Montalban as Professor Kurt Huber, Sam Gravitte as Frederick Fischer, Cole Thompson as Willi Graff, Ellis Gage, and Dani Apple.

Additional casting has yet to be announced.

In additon to Belding and composer Natalie Brice, the creative team features director Will Nunziata, music director and arranger Sheela Ramesh, movement director Jordan Ryder, set designer James Noone, costume designer Sophia Choi, lighting designer Alan C. Edwards, sound designer Elisabeth Weidner, and orchestrator Charlie Rosen.

Photo credit: Jo Ellen Pellman and Mike Cefalo. (Photos courtesy of production)