A New Musical by Gary Robert Hanson
What happens when everything you believe is consumed by fire?
Against the backdrop of Joan of Arc's remarkable story, Burn follws a man whose faith is shattered by tragedy and a choice he cannot forgive .
It's Not What You Know
Follow Louis de Contes on an unforgettable journey from the quiet fields of Domremy to the center of history. Through friendship and rivalry, triumph and tragedy, wonder and heartbreak, BURN explores the people, events, and sacrifices that challenge one man's understanding of faith—and change his life forever.
The Music
Better Things To Do
​Convinced that faith must be earned through knowledge, Louis dismisses Joan as an arrogant and misguided village girl. But as he catalogs all the reasons he should ignore her, his words betray a growing fascination he cannot explain.
The Lovers
Their purpose, their path, their fears
Once wary of a stranger in their midst, Louis has come to see him as a trusted friend. As he struggles with the obstacles standing between himself and the woman he loves, Louis encourages him to ignore the voices of fear and judgment and choose love instead.
The Brothers
Their purpose, their bluster, their bigotry
Fresh from a youthful skirmish with boys from a neighboring village, Joan's brothers transform a minor victory into dreams of battlefield glory. To Louis, it is just another display of youthful folly—one more generation convinced that war will teach lessons history never has.
The War
Her purpose, her path, her faith
The dreams of village boys become the ambitions of armies as French and English forces prepare for war. To Louis, the coming battle promises only bloodshed, loss, and another humiliating defeat for France. Yet what follows will leave him questioning whether he has witnessed military victory—or something far more difficult to explain.
The Lesson
Grace, dignity, forgiveness
As a trusted friend slips beyond his reach, Louis fights desperately to hold on to the person he cannot bear to lose. In a haunting vision of love, memory, and what lies beyond this life, We Were Angels Once explores the power of grace in the face of unimaginable loss.