8 million read the novel. Almost 800,000 saw the musical in its previous version. „Die Päpstin“ - Germany's most successful new musical of the last 15 years
After 5 years, „Die Päpstin - The Musical“ returns to the Fuldaer Schlosstheater from 31.05. - 04.08.2024 in a completely new production by Gil Mehmert.
The stage design by Tony Award winner Christopher Barreca, new costumes, a new sequence of scenes as well as completely new scenes, a new musical arrangement and three newly composed songs transport the audience to the early Middle Ages in more than 70 performances, where a little girl fights for her right to knowledge. In the further development of the book, the team of authors has attached great importance to sharpening the musical's message. For example, the new song „So much more“ appears relatively early on in the play. The title character sings about her irrepressible desire to gain more knowledge.
The new finale also takes up this aspect emotionally when Abbot Rabanus visits the girls' school she founded in Rome years after Johanna's death. But it is not only the educational aspect for girls that has been emphasized more strongly. Johanna's adversary Anastasius was also portrayed much more prominently. Johanna now has a much stronger opponent, which makes the story more credible and exciting. In addition, Marioza, the Caesar of Rome, is integrated into the play as a second strong female character with greater relevance to the plot.
Musical star Sabrina Weckerlin once again embodies the role of the Popess, which she already created for the world premiere in 2011. Mathias Edenborn will once again be on stage alongside her as Margrave Gerold, while Christof Messner will take on the role of the antagonist Anastasius for the first time, making his spotlight debut.
The content:
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. Joan must keep her secret. Because no one can know who she really is...
Further highlights of the musical summer 2024
On 16.08.2024 we celebrate 20 years of spotlight musicals with a big anniversary gala on Fulda Cathedral Square. Mark Seibert, Sabrina Weckerlin, Thomas Borchert and many other musical stars will present the hits from 8 world premieres on this unique evening.
From 22.08. to 31.08.2024, the musical „Bonifatius“ returns to the Domplatz in Stefan Huber's spectacular open-air production with a large choir and orchestra. Over 150 participants around Thomas Borchert, who takes on the title role for the first time, bring the story of Bonifatius to life at the original location. A modern catering world rounds off the visit for the more than 6,000 spectators.
The development of the musical
The world premiere of the musical „Die Päpstin“ marked the beginning of Fulda's firm establishment as a musical city. We thought long and hard about whether this story could be successfully staged in Fulda. It soon became clear that our home town was an exciting and ideal location for this play, not least because large parts of Donna W. Cross's globally popular novel are set in Fulda Abbey. Perhaps this fact also contributed to the fact that we, of all places, were awarded the world's first stage adaptation rights for this great material - a great honor, but also a great obligation.
Since then, we have constantly developed the show further and are delighted that the musical has already been shown in many theaters at home and abroad.
But the stage of the Schlosstheater Fulda is always something very special, especially for „Die Päpstin“. In just a few minutes, you can go from the Schlosstheater to the crypt of St. Michael's Church, a place where the Pope herself has certainly been, if there is any truth to the legend. However, it is not the job of the theater to assess the truth of a legend. Either way, „Die Päpstin“ is a fascinating story. The stage needs drama, and more drama than a woman on the papal throne in the early Middle Ages is hardly conceivable. Moreover, „Die Päpstin“ is the most powerful story imaginable about the rights and role of women in society. What is a woman allowed to do and what not? Or conversely: What is a man allowed to do and what not?
Questions that decided life and death in the Middle Ages, but are still of great importance today and which certainly contribute to the enormous interest in the novel and the musical.
13 years after the world premiere, it was time for us to present a completely new perspective on all these exciting questions. It's not just us as musical makers who have changed, our society is also different from what it was in 2011. Buzzwords such as „Me Too“, „Maria 2.0“ and the „sydonal way“ provide an insight into the current social changes. In addition, women's rights are being rolled back worldwide rather than developing positively in the spirit of the Pope. Seen in this light, our subject matter is more relevant than ever. And that is precisely why we contacted Gil Mehmert five years ago to persuade him to take a completely new approach to a contemporary production with a new focus. Our promise that we were prepared to put everything to the test, as well as the potential of the story and Dennis Martin's music, ultimately convinced him, so that this year we can celebrate our 20th anniversary with a new production under his direction.