8 million read the novel. Almost 800,000 saw the musical in its original version. „Die Päpstin“ - Germany's most successful new musical of the last 15 years
Last year, the Gil Mehmerts New production of „Die Päpstin“ the hearts of the audience and was awarded the renowned German Musical Theater Award for the best revival and sound design. Now the successful play from the 13.06. - 20.07.2025 back to the original location of Fulda.
The world premiere in 2011 marked the beginning of a new era for Fulda - the birth of the musical city of Fulda. Since then, the play has undergone an impressive development and has been seen on many stages in Germany and abroad. With new choreographies by Andrea Kingston and three new songs that enrich the emotional range of the play, the audience experiences the story of Johanna in a completely new way and in an even more multifaceted way than before. The stage design by Tony Award winner Christopher Barreca and the lighting design by Michael Grundner give the stage work additional depth and dynamism. This year, too, the audience can expect a revised version with many new surprises. The great cast, above all Sandy Mölling in the role of the Popess, take the audience back to the early Middle Ages, where a courageous girl fights for the right to education and self-determination! At her side as Margrave Gerold Dennis Henschel on stage, while Christian Schöne plays the antagonist Anastasius. For the first time Ethan Freeman as Rabanus and Yngve Gasoy-Romdal in the double role of Arsenius and Fulgentius.
The story of Pope Joan
In the year 814 Anno Domini, a girl is born to a village priest and a Saxon pagan woman: Johanna. The child is exceptionally clever and learns to read and write secretly and against her father's wishes. Through a chain of coincidences, Johanna is finally given the opportunity to attend the convent school in Dorstadt.
But as a young woman, she doesn't have it easy there, as the hostility from all sides increases. A cruel Norman attack overtakes Dorstadt and Johanna is the only one to miraculously survive the massacre.
Left to her own devices by fate, she makes a lonely decision: she leaves Dorstadt, takes off her women's clothes, cuts her hair and from then on pretends to be a man. Johanna becomes Johannes Anglicus, who joins the monastery in Fulda as a monk.
A decades-long game of hide-and-seek begins, making Johanna the hunted. Her path leads from Fulda to Rome. To the center of power. Rome is dangerous. Enemies threaten the city. And at the Pope's court, powerful opponents are spinning their intrigues.
But Johanna continues on her path and rises to become the Pope's personal physician. However, when she suddenly and unexpectedly meets the only man she has ever loved in Rome, she has to choose between happiness in love and independence.
And yet her most difficult task is yet to come: when the Pope dies, the Roman people elect her as his successor and present her with an almost impossible task.
Johanna has to keep her secret.
Because nobody can know who she really is...