“Number the Stars” with Lois Lowry and Sean Hartley 

Seating is first come, first served and requires advanced registration.

In Lois Lowry’s unforgettable Newbery Medal–winning novel, Number the Stars, a ten-year-old Danish girl’s bravery is tested when her best friend is threatened by Nazis in 1943. As the German troops begin their campaign to “relocate” all the Jews of Denmark, Annemarie Johansen’s family takes in Annemarie’s best friend, Ellen Rosen, and conceals her as part of the family. Through the eyes of ten-year-old Annemarie, we watch as the Danish Resistance smuggles almost the entire Jewish population in Denmark, over seven thousand people, across the sea to Sweden. The heroism of an entire nation reminds us that there was pride and human decency in the world even during a time of terror and war. 

The event will feature a performance of songs from the Number the Stars musical by Sean Hartley. A signing with Lois Lowry will follow, with books available for purchase. 

This program is a part of the Museum’s series of programming around our exhibition Courage to Act: Rescue in Denmark, the Museum’s first exhibition for visitors 9 and up about the incredible story of the Danish Rescue. 

Lois Lowry is the author of more than forty books for children and young adults, including the New York Times bestselling Giver Quartet and the popular Anastasia Krupnik series. She has received countless honors, among them the Boston Globe–Horn Book Award, the Dorothy Canfield Fisher Award, the California Young Reader Medal, and the Mark Twain Award. She received Newbery Medals for her two  novels, Number the Stars and The Giver. 

Sean Hartley is the director of musical theater at Kaufman Music Center in New York City, where he curates, produces, and often hosts the series Broadway Close Up and Broadway Playhouse. As a lyricist, composer, and/or playwright, his productions include the upcoming Prelude to A Kiss (book by Craig Lucas, music by Daniel Messe), Cupid and Psyche (with composer Jihwan Kim, Drama Desk nomination), Little Women (Syracuse Stage, Village Theater), Love and Real Estate (with composer Sam Davis) and Snow (ASCAP Harold Arlen Award for Best New Musical). His works for television include the Disney Channel’s The Book of Pooh and Bear in the Big Blue House. His works for children include Number The Stars (from the Newbury Medal book by Lois Lowry), Sunshine (from a book by Ludwig Bemelmans, music by John O’Neill), and Vashti!, and Holy Moses! (Both with books by Bob Kolsby.) He teaches at Special Music School, One Day University, and Lucy Moses School.  

Photo Credit: Lois Lowry © Matt McKee 

Co-presented by Kaufman Music Center

This program is made possible in part by support from the Battery Park City Authority.