While Childhood Slept | The Garden Theatre

While Childhood Slept
A Workshop Production
In Partnership with Holocaust Museum Houston
September 2-7, 2022
at MATCH (Midtown Arts and Theater Center Houston)
And Holocaust Museum Houston

Book and Lyrics by: Sharon Lands Sheppard
Music and Additional Lyrics by: Jo Ellen Hubert

While Childhood Slept is a heart-wrenching original musical based on the true story of the boys of Home Number One in the Nazi concentration camp, Terezin. The children create a secret republic within the camp, publishing their own magazine of art, poetry, and short stories called Vedem. A visit from The International Red Cross presents the opportunity to disguise their magazine as a secret message and a means of escape. While Childhood Slept is a story of bravery, determination, and hope with a promise that we will never forget the past and will never allow history to repeat itself.

This presentation of While Childhood Slept was produced as a fully staged workshop ahead of a full production in the 2023-2024 season. A talkback was held after each performance to gather valuable feedback and thoughts about the show. Proceeding this production, the creative team began working on revisions and edits to the existing material

While Childhood Slept premiered in 1999 in Houston, TX. From there it received an off-Broadway reading, and it’s finale number, "We Will Not Forget," was featured in the documentary Paperclips. In 2005, a revised version with new songs was performed once again in Houston. The Garden Theatre's workshop production was the first time While Childhood Slept had been performed in nearly two decades.