Dramatic Defiance: Lipscomb Theatre’s “Antigone in Munich”
“Somebody, after all, had to make a start. What we wrote and said is also believed by many others. They just don’t dare express themselves as we did.” – Sophie Scholl.
Emma Ramsey as Old Sophie. Photos courtesy of Phoebe Countryman.
Antigone in Munich will be performed in the University Theatre Blackbox on Friday, September 13th and Saturday, the 14th at 7:30, and Sunday, the 15th, at 2:30.
This play is entirely student-produced. It is the second of its kind at Lipscomb University, following the incredible production of I and You in 2023.
When asked why director Sofia Hernandez Morales chose this specific play, her answer consisted of the themes prevalent throughout the story, such as “the importance of having people to lean on when you don’t know who you can trust.” She also talked about how “it shows the innocence of a child and how impactful an education and the government are to them. We see how Mohr and Sophie are so similar, yet one fights to defend the laws of man, and the other fights to protect the laws of God.”
Sofia wants people to walk away with the challenge of “having your values and beliefs strong so that no one can stand against it or make you change your mind when adversity comes. We live in a world where everyone thinks so differently, and while we can want similar things, people can have different perspectives and actions that might not align with yours. It is up to you to discern whether that is something you want to do and ask yourself: Are you ready to accept the consequences? Are your beliefs strong? Who are your people? Who are you protecting? ‘What happens when the laws of man contradict the laws of God?'”
The Story of Antigone in Munich is based on the incredible true story of Sophie Scholl. It compares the tragedies of war and fascism in Nazi Germany to the centuries old story of Antigone.
Antigone, written by Sophocles circa 441 B.C., is the story of a girl whose brother died in war. The new ruler, Creon, decrees that Polyneices’ body should not be buried as punishment for his rebellion. Antigone defies Creon’s edict, believing that divine law and familial duty require her to bury her brother. Her act of civil disobedience leads to her arrest and execution. It is a tragedy about going against authority and knowing when authority is wrong.
“The comparisons between Antigone and Sophie are uncanny. However, in the beginning Sophie is nothing like Antigone. She is more like Antigone’s sister, Ismene. She wishes to be safe but longs to be Antigone. As the show progresses, we see Sophie’s development from someone scared of standing for her beliefs to someone who becomes prepared to die doing what she believes is right.” – Sofia Hernandez Morales.
Sophie Scholl was a real person who challenged authority when she knew that what the authority was doing was wrong, just like Antigone. Sophie’s story needs to be heard, and the Lipscomb Department of Theatre does a wonderful job of telling it.
Make sure to buy your tickets quickly, as they are selling out fast. The student code is WHITEROSE. You can purchase tickets here.
