WALLENBERG, an epic new musical with book and lyrics by the 2006 Kleban Award-winning team of Laurence Holzman and Felicia Needleman and music by Benjamin Rosenbluth, brings the incredible true story of Raoul Wallenberg, one of the greatest unsung heroes of the 20th century, vividly to life.
In July 1944, the 32-year-old Wallenberg, a businessman from Stockholm, left the safety of neutral Sweden on an American-sponsored mission to Nazi-occupied Hungary. Between face-offs with the notorious Adolf Eichmann and secret dealings with the wife of one of Hungary’s most prominent fascist leaders, Wallenberg saved over 100,000 lives—more than were rescued by any other individual during the Holocaust.
The Museum hosted an evening with the creators and actors behind WALLENBERG, exploring the Wallenberg story and performing a set of exhilarating and richly melodic songs from the musical’s score.
Watch the program below.
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Discover Raoul Wallenberg’s Story
Raoul Wallenberg was a Swedish businessman and diplomat who was recruited by the United States War Refugee Board to save Hungarian Jews in June 1944. He is credited with rescuing as many as 100,000 people in one of the most extensive and successful rescue efforts of the Nazi era. Learn more about Wallenberg’s rescue activities in this article.
Learn More About Wallenberg the Musical
Wallenberg the Musical, with book and lyrics by Laurence Holzman and Felicia Needleman and music by Benjamin Rosenbluth, celebrates Wallenberg’s legacy. Visit the musical’s website to learn more about the creative team behind it and support their work.
Explore the Legacy of Another Unsung Hero
Truus Wijsmuller was a Dutch social worker who helped organize the rescue network known as the Kindertransport, which saved the lives of approximately 10,000 Jewish children between 1938 and 1940 by transporting them to the United Kingdom. Last month, the Museum hosted a film screening and panel discussion exploring her unsung heroism. Watch the discussion here.