For Honor

Writer, Director, Producer - Lee Sankowich
Producer, Lyricist - Robin Bradford
Composer - William Beatty

First Workshop Reading

STORY

"For Honor is a sweeping original musical about resistance, sacrifice, and the human cost of courage. Set during the Warsaw Ghetto Resistance and Uprising of 1943, it follows a group of young Jewish fighters who chose defiance over despair. As their world collapses under Nazi occupation, they forge weapons, bonds, and love in the shadows. At its core, For Honor is a story about ordinary people rising to extraordinary bravery—told through and unforgettable score that fuses urgency with beauty, heartbreak and home.

Although a challenging subject, one has to look no further than Les Misérables, Miss Saigon, or Cabaret for examples of compelling and important musical storytelling during times of war.

With emotionally powerful solos, driving ensemble numbers, and moments of raw intimacy, For Honor asks: What does it mean to fight for something larger than yourself? And what is the price of dignity when survival is no longer the goal? From acclaimed director Lee Sankowich comes a new work that redefines the war musical for a new generation.

HISTORICAL CONTEXT

For Honor is based on the lives of a small band of Polish Jews who fought their way from persecution and certain death to home for future generations, led by charismatic Mordechai Anielewicz, who brought disparate groups together and inspired his fellow resisters to stand up against Nazi Germany in 1939.

Conditions in the Ghetto were sub-human, and at its peak, the population rose to approximately 450,000, many of whom were ultimately shipped to the death camps. Of those left, thousands died from starvation, typhus, tuberculosis, dysentery, and other diseases caused by lack of care and sanitation. Still, many clung to a tiny hope of survival, and continued to live their lives—celebrating love, births, and religious holidays. They didn't let go of their dreams and passions, nor their zest for life.

The fighters had little chance for success. Pleas for help from the Allies went unanswered. Armed with a few stolen weapons, the Jews demonstrated to people all over the world that dedicated individuals can overcome great obstacles. They made the conscious choice to die with their most important value intact: Honor."

WHY NOW?

The world needs stories like this.

As political extremism, antisemitism, and historical erasure continue to rise, For Honor offers an urgent reminder of how art, identity, and courage endure. This is not just a Holocaust story—it's a story of survival, solidarity, and what it means to live for something greater than yourself.

FROM A VISIONARY DIRECTOR

Lee Sankowich has spend 50 years directing iconic works across the American stage—from his record-breaking One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest production in San Francisco and Off-Broadway to acclaimed premiers at Marin Theatre Company, the Zephyr Theatre, and Pittsburgh Public. With For Honor, her brings a lifetime of theatre mastery to a deeply personal, entirely original work.

This is the first piece Sankowich has written—a musical.

It may be his most important work.

Robin Bradford is an award-winning playwright and lyricist whose work spans theatre, television, and narrative nonfiction. Known for her emotionally resonant storytelling and poetic lyricism, she brings a deep sense of character and history to every project. Bradford's work has been developed and presented at regional theatres across the U.S., and she is widely respected for her ability to give voice to untold stories. For Honor marks her first major collaboration as a musical theatre lyricist. She first met Sankowich when he directed the premiere of her play Low Hanging Fruit in Los Angeles. Branford was a resident playwright and Lee Brady Fellow at 3Girls Theatre Company.

William Beatty is a pianist, composer, and music teacher living in his hometown of Berkeley, California. His compositions reflect the varied musical styles which he has studied and performed as a soloist, in jazz ensembles, and in baroque, classical, romantic, and modern chamber music settings. William has collaborated on recordings with many fine San Francisco Bay Area vocalists, instrumentalists and sound engineers. Piano studies include jazz theory with pianist Don Haas and classical piano with Jeanne Stark Lochmans. With For Honor, Beatty makes a compelling American musical theatre debut, unveiling a score that balances European lyricism with the intense urgency of resistance and courage.

LYRICIST & COMPOSER

INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY

We are currently raising funds to support the next phase of development for For Honor, including:

Final script and score workshops
Hiring musical director and vocal coach
Equity staged readings and showcase production
Set/costume concept design and recordings for grant and licensing pitches
Marketing and festival submissions

We are seeking investments starting at $10,000 per unit, with flexible participation tiers available. Investors will receive a full prospectus, including financial structure, projections and production milestones.

Beyond the potential for financial return, investors in For Honor will play a vital role in helping and important, human story reach audiences around the world.

SUCCESSFUL MUSICALS can yield 3x-10x ROI or more, especially if they tour, get licensed, or generate cast albums/film adaptations.

Hamilton recouped its $12.5M investment in 9 months.
Dear Evan Hansen recouped in under a year and has earned well into 9 figures.
The Phantom of the Opera and Wicked have generated hundreds of millions in global grosses.

COMP MUSICALS

These comps reflect For Honor's epic emotional terrain, wartime backdrop, and moral resonance:

Les Misérables (1985-present)

A quintessential comp--and ensemble-driven, sung-through musical set during a revolution, centering on themes of resistance, love, and redemption. For Honor echoes its sweeping score, emotional urgency, and fight for dignity under oppression. (Eight Tony Awards/twelve nominations, longest-running West End musical)

Miss Saigon (1991-2001)

A tragic love story set during the Viet Nam War, Miss Saigon is a large-scale musical that explores persona sacrifice within political and military chaos. Both shows blend romantic intimacy with the devastation of war. (Three Tony Awards/eleven nominations)

Hamilton (2015-present)

While stylistically different, Hamilton is a revolution-focused musical that uses history to ignite modern dialogue. Like For Honor, it centers on young voices facing impossible odds, with music propelling the narrative forward. (Eleven Tony Awards/sixteen nominations, Pulitzer Prize for Drama)

Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812 (2016-2017)

Though more experimental, it's a war-adjacent, emotionally complex musical with intersecting character arcs. For Honor similarly balances quiet humanity with sweeping stakes. (Received 12 Tony nominations)

Next to Normal (2009-2011)

Though a domestic drama, it's a comp in tone--serious subject matter, deeply felt relationships, and music as emotional architecture. For Honor likewise uses score and lyrics to carry psychological weight. (Won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and three Tony Awards)

Get In Touch

if interested in investing...

Contact

lsankowich@yahoo.com
Tel: 415-271-4036

Based in

San Francisco, California