'A Life for the Revolution' A Historical Play: New Ulm Circa 1872
Schedule
Sun, 17 May, 2026 at 02:00 pm
UTC-05:00Location
1 N State Street, New Ulm, MN, United States, Minnesota 56073 | New Ulm, MN
š Saturday, May 16, 2026, at 7 PM
š Sunday, May 17, 2026, at 2 PM
š State Street Theater, 1 N. State St., New Ulm, MN 56073
Following the Sunday, May 17, 2 PM performance will be a āTalk backā Q and A session with the German Playwright Erich Becker.
A Life for the Revolution follows the extraordinary true story of Ludwig Bogen, a spirited German revolutionary whose lifelong fight for justice carries him from the upheaval of 19th-century Europe to the young American Midwest.
The play traces Bogenās early idealism, shaped by the 1830s student movements and the failed German revolutions of 1848. Through tense interrogations, family conflict, and political struggle, we see a young man determined to challenge oppression and advocate for a democratic Germany. Even as imprisonment, censorship, and exile threaten to break his resolve, Bogen refuses to surrender his belief that ordinary people deserve a voice.
When hopes for reform collapse, he immigrates to the United States, seeking a place where the freedoms he dreamed of are already woven into civic life. In New Ulm, Minnesota, he becomes a writer, publisher, and community leader, still fighting for fairness, still calling out injustice, and still striving for a better future. His work bridges two continents, tying the revolutionary ideals of Europe to the emerging democratic identity of the American frontier.
Spanning five decades, the play blends political history with deeply personal moments, family bonds, moral struggles, and the weight of sacrifice. A Life for the Revolution honors Ludwig Bogen not only as a revolutionary but as a steadfast advocate for liberty whose voice, even in hardship, continued to shape the community he called home.
Adults $15* in advance, $20* at the door.
Students ages 13-25, of $10* in advance, $15* at the door.
Kids 12 and under at $5* in advance and at the door.
*A $1 system processing fee covers the cost of our reservation system, providing a seamless patron ticketing experience.
Where is it happening?
1 N State Street, New Ulm, MN, United States, Minnesota 56073Event Location & Nearby Stays:













