Haverhill, MA — In 1943, a small group of college students in Germany created a non-violent resistance organization called The White Rose to oppose Hitler’s Third Reich. Navigating extreme danger at every turn, members of The White Rose wrote and distributed pamphlets throughout Germany urging their fellow citizens to use every non-violent means available to resist the rise of Nazi tyranny. Their story is told in a play called The White Rose written and performed by Bradford Christian Academy students for this year’s Massachusetts Educational Theater Guild Festival. 

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The White Rose premiered to a standing ovation at the preliminary round of the festival on Saturday, March 3, in Chelmsford, MA. Massachusetts Educational Theater Guild judges selected the play to move forward to the semi-final round of competition which occurred Saturday, March 10, at Hamilton-Wenham High School. 

During the preliminary competition, Bradford Christian Academy students received awards for Outstanding Actress (Rebecca Mulley), Outstanding Dramaturg (Kaley Chandler, William Ellis, Zachary Gaiero, Rebecca Mulley, Lilianna Smith, and Victoria Squire), and Outstanding Stage Management (Julia Gaiero). At the semi-finals, Rebecca Mulley won a second time for Outstanding Actress, accompanied by awards for Outstanding Actor (Zachary Gaiero), and Outstanding Projection Design (Noah Beckman, Abbie Ellis, and Lidia Rudd).

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Students in Bradford’s theater program felt especially drawn to the story of The White Rose because Bradford’s high school and Temple Emanu-El, Haverhill have forged a strong relationship as they co-exist in shared facilities. Bradford students were inspired by the courage and conviction displayed by members of The White Rose, and wanted to capitalize on the large audiences who attend the Festival to share a meaningful message.  “As college students, White Rose members didn’t have any political power, but they believed their voices expressed through words on pamphlet pages were much more powerful than violence.  We hope that we and everyone in our audience are challenged to think about what we would do if we found ourselves in a similar place today,” says Rebecca Mulley who plays Giesela. 

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Licensing & Performance Rights:

whiterose.bca@gmail.com

 

Media Contact:
whiterose.bca@gmail.com