Antigone in Munich

In her telling the true story of young anti-Nazi activist Sophie Scholl, Claudia Haas uses the central question of the ancient Greek tragedy Antigone: what do you do when the laws of man contradict the laws of God? Set in Germany before and during World War II, Antigone in Munich follows Sophie as she witnesses and works to resist the terrifying rise of the Nazi regime. Scholl’s imagined Sophie finds inspiration in the story of Antigone, who singularly defied her powerful uncle to give her brother a proper burial. Like Antigone, Sophie has to stand alone in what feels like a hopeless fight. With a rich historical basis and connection to ancient Greek drama, the play offers strong roles for high school performers and a variety of possible uses in the classroom. The casting is flexible, with doubling of roles possible, and the playwright encourages colorblind casting.