Embedded Files
"The minute attention to detail with the printing process of Hans and Alexander was incredibly, strangely gripping. As the mysteries about the characters are discovered, one tends to hold one's breath at times... a taut claustrophobia permeates the work."
"The minute attention to detail with the printing process of Hans and Alexander was incredibly, strangely gripping. As the mysteries about the characters are discovered, one tends to hold one's breath at times... a taut claustrophobia permeates the work."
Characters:
Characters:
Alexander Schmorell (Alex) - 25, M - Hans' best friend. Light-hearted. Artistic. Charming. Sensitive. Inquisitive. And maybe a little bit of a flirt.
Hans Scholl - 24, M - Intelligent but exhausted. Well-spoken but secretive. Determined to make a difference, but his cause gets buried in self-deprecation,
Sophie Scholl - 22, F - Hans' little sister. Full of energy and a sense of adventure. Quick-witted. Curious. Eager to help. Confident that she can help.
Note: written dialogue for a radio voice.
Setting:
Setting:
A study. In an apartment. In Munich. In Nazi Germany. In the Summer of 1942
Recommendations via NPX
Recommendations via NPX
“A powerful piece. The characters are well developed from the beginning, and we are drawn into the story that unfolds almost hypnotically. The epilogue is suitably grim and yet appropriate for the overall narrative. The use of authentic details from the period brings this true story to life for the viewer and reader. The minute attention to detail with the printing process of Hans and Alexander was incredibly, strangely gripping. As the mysteries about the characters are discovered, one tends to hold one's breath at times... a taut claustrophobia permeates the work. Highly recommended! ” - Brent Alles
“Alaina Tennant has crafted a powerful short drama that while set in Nazi Germany will resonate with today's movement to stand up to nationalism and to inspire activism in young adults to see what's really going on in society. This play makes no apologies nor does it try to wrap up the story in a happily-ever-after bow. With minimal set needs, theatres should consider this play for their black boxes for audience members who crave the intimacy that only live drama on stage can provide. Well done. ” - Eric Mansfeild
“ Alaina Tennant's Freiheit is a powerful, moving one act sure to gain attention from readers and theatres. Set in Nazi Germany, University student Hans Scholl works to prepare and distribute anti-fascist political leaflets with his Russian friend Alex Schmorell. Due to the danger involved, they seek to keep their activities from Han's younger sister Sophie. But things don't always go as planned. Highly recommended. ” - John Kelly
“ I recommend Freiheit by Alaina Tennant because, despite the topic being uncomfortable to read, it kept me hooked, always wanting to know how things would turn out for Alex, Hans and Sophie. Being a multilingual writer myself I also like the way the German language has been used in places for authenticity. ” - Lou Jones
“ This short play by Alaina Tennant tell just a small part of history when Hans Scholl and Alex Schmorell take action to fight for their country. The story stands by itself, but the history behind it will leave you wanting to know more about these characters and their actions. I will definitely read more by this author! ” - Laurie Scoggins
Stanley Niekamp and Cecilia Bailey in rehearsals
The Story
The Story
Based on the true story of The White Rose Resistance, "Freiheit" follows best friends and students, Hans Scholl and Alexander Schmorell as they write and print Anti-Nazi leaflets. All the while trying to keep the resistance activities a secret from Hans' little sister, Sophie.
"Freiheit" was written to introduce Americans to the story of The White Rose in an honest and contemporary setting. While this resistance is often portrayed as Sophie's story, it is, in reality, the story of a friendship built on intellect, determination, and resilience. Due to prejudices of the 1950s and onward, this erasure of Hans and Alex as the central figures of the resistance was intentional and systematic. In the eyes of the public, Sophie was without a hero, brave and well-spoken - but more importantly, she had nothing to hide.
"Freiheit" was written to introduce Americans to the story of The White Rose in an honest and contemporary setting. While this resistance is often portrayed as Sophie's story, it is, in reality, the story of a friendship built on intellect, determination, and resilience. Due to prejudices of the 1950s and onward, this erasure of Hans and Alex as the central figures of the resistance was intentional and systematic. In the eyes of the public, Sophie was without a hero, brave and well-spoken - but more importantly, she had nothing to hide.
This play is the accumulation of years of research, character study, and moral debate on how The White Rose should be portrayed - how they should be humanized in all their flaws, fears, uncertainties, and extraordinary strength. In the end, the most powerful stories are the ones found when we seek the truth.
Hans Scholl and Alexander Schmorell (1942)
The History
The History
In 1941, while completing mandatory military service, Alexander Schmorell met Hans Scholl, a fellow student who, like him, denounced Hitler's rule of Germany. Hans was charming, complex and dark. He was also well versed in literature and philosophy. Alex and Hans began their relationship by sneaking away from the military sports feild, to picnic in the grass, read, and drink fine wine. From there on they were together constantly.
Alex wrote to his friend, "“Hans was still with me. We smoked some pipes, spoke very little. [...] - I love such ‘sketch conversations’ the most. [These moments] are even more beautiful with lovers - with them, silence says the most.[...] after all, ‘the inner person doesn’t have a tongue’”
With a push from Hans' girlfriend, Traute Lafrenz, the two finally turned words into action with the publication of The First Leaflet of the White Rose - an anonymous essay campaign that denounced the German people for being blind to fascism and called for the toppling of the Nazi Regime.
In 1942, Hans' little sister Sophie moved to Munich to study psychology and biology. It wasn't long before she was handed a White Rose leaflet on campus and became interested in the resistance. She recognized a quote from the first leaflet and found it in Hans' books. Hans tried to keep Sophie out of the resistance, knowing that it was dangerous. Eventually, Hans caved, and Sophie took up the role of treasurer within the White Rose. She also helped secure stamps and paper.
By February 1943, The White Rose had published six leaflets and were working on a seventh.
On February 18th, the Scholl Siblings were laying piles of leaflets around the atrium of the University when Sophie pushed a stack of papers from the balcony. A janitor saw this and had the Scholls arrested. Following the Scholl's arrest, Alex attempted to flee Germany, but he returned to Munich on the 24th - not knowing that the Scholls, as well as his childhood best friend, Christoph Probst, had already been executed after an unfair trial on the 22nd. The executions were done via guillotine. As the blade fell, Hans Scholl shouted, "Es Lebe die Freiheit" (Long live freedom)
Alexander was arrested during an air raid on the 24th and held by the Gestapo until his execution on July 13th.
Sophie Scholl (probably 1942)
Gestapo mugshot of Alexander Schmorell
Gestapo mugshot of Hans Scholl
Gestapo mugshot of Sophie Scholl
The Script
The Script
The story of The White Rose has been told many, many times before. Most of those times, as theatre scripts. However, it's always warped to focus on Sophie, the trial, and the executions - a narrative created in the 50s to warp attention away from Hans Scholl and Alexander Schmorell (see second paragraph under "The Story")
In late 2023 it was announced that America would see it's first large scale adaptation of The White Rose's story -- and that the adaptation would completely focus on Sophie, not even mentioning Alexander Schmorell once.
It was this constant disappointment and frustration that drove the development of Freiheit.
Members of The White Rose (1942)
Stanley Niekamp and Kyle Mcfalls during the performance at Ohio State Thespian Festival
With Freiheit the goal was to tell the story of The White Rose, in not only an accurate way, but a way we haven't seen before.
This began with setting: in most depictions of The White Rose, time moves fast. We experience short scenes and multiple locations. Telling the story like this risks rushing the audience through the message, forcing them to work so hard just to keep up that they have to sacrifice their relationships with characters and theme. Freiheit is deliberately set in one room, maintaining a single scene for 90% of the performance. This simple switch not only allows the audience to focus on the characters - but it also showcases a more in-depth demonstration of Hans and Alex's duplicating process.
Most important, however, is the change in characterization. It's not often that the members of The White Rose are portrayed not only for their bravery and brilliance but also as deeply complex and flawed university students.
In Freiheit, Alexander Schmorell seeks to analyze and understand his best friend, Hans. But as the play progresses, Alex realizes he doesn't know as much as he first assumed. In this sense, Alex represents the viewers, the researchers, and the storytellers who thought they already knew the full history.
Freiheit isn't just a story of the past; it's a commentary on the present. And to drive this idea, the dialogue remains contemporary, allowing the audience to better relate with the characters.
Kyle McFalls, Stanley Niekamp and Cecilia Bailey during the performance at Ohio State Thespian Festival
Want to read Freiheit?
Want to read Freiheit?
Request a copy by emailing alainatennant@gmail.com
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