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Arts & Culture

All Is Calm: The Christmas Truce Of 1914

The cast of "All Is Calm: The Christmas Truce Of 1914"
Courtesy of Dan Norman
The cast of "All Is Calm: The Christmas Truce Of 1914"

Stream or tune in Thursday, Dec. 24, 2020 at 10 p.m. on KPBS TV

The Western Front. Christmas. 1914.

Out of the violence comes a silence, then a song. A German soldier steps into No Man's Land Singing "Stille Nacht." Thus begins an extraordinary night of camaraderie, music and peace.

This award-winning docu-musical theatre production recreates an astounding moment in history when Allied and German soldiers laid down their arms to celebrate the holiday together by trading carols, sharing food and drink, playing soccer and burying the dead.

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Benjamin Dutcher in "All Is Calm: The Christmas Truce Of 1914."
Courtesy of Dan Norman
Benjamin Dutcher in "All Is Calm: The Christmas Truce Of 1914."

This remarkable story is told through the words of the great WWI poets, official war documents, diary entries and letters written by more than thirty WWI soldiers.

The historic documents are woven together with iconic WWI songs and European Christmas carols to create a profound retelling of this extraordinary moment in history.

“A beautiful musical recounting of a World War I cease-fire of gifts, poetry, and melody.”The New York Times

Watch On Your Schedule:

The film will be available to stream on demand.

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Credits:

Written / Directed by Peter Rothstein. Vocal Arrangements by Erick Lichte and Timothy C. Takach. Music Direction by Erick Lichte. Costume Design by Trevor Bowen. Lighting Design by Marcus Dilliard. Sound Design by Nicholas Tranby. Starring Sasha Andreev, Paul Coate, Benjamin Dutcher, Andrew Hey, Ben Johnson, Riley McNutt, Rodolfo Nieto, James Ramlet, Andrew Wilkowske, and Evan Tyler Wilson.

Andrew Hey in "All Is Calm: The Christmas Truce Of 1914."
Courtesy of Dan Norman
Andrew Hey in "All Is Calm: The Christmas Truce Of 1914."