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OUR THEATER GROUP HAS ITS OWN HISTORY

Shows available for performances at schools, unions and labor conferences.

COME ALONG AND JOIN

WRITTEN IN 1997: by Kathlyn Miles

The Theater Project's first dramatic production. It was based on the histories of Chicago's Lucy Parsons, Jennie Curtiss, Bessie Abramowitz-Hillman, Margaret Haley and Mother Jones. The play was performed at many union gatherings.

PENNED IN A SUITCASE: A TRIBUTE TO MARJORIE STERN

PRESENTED IN 1999: Written by Mary Bonnett

It was based on interviews from the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) under the leadership of Paula O'Connor. The sketch was performed by Bonnett and Brigid Gerace of the Chicago Teacher's Union. "The Thread That Binds," was written by Mary Bonnett based on the lives of Agnes Nestor of the Women's Trade Union League in Chicago, and Lillian Herstein a CTU activist, the first woman on the Executive Board of the Chicago Federation of Labor.

UNION TRAIN

A musical play written by Joan McGann Morris, with music by Ken Morris.

Is based on oral histories of Chicago trade union women collected by the WLHP oral history project. The story is set in Chicago's Union Station on the day of the settlement of the 1997 Teamster's union UPS strike. Passengers recount their stories of union organizing to a street musician who responds with new music: "Working Women's Blues" and "Union Train." Act I presents the story of Vicky Starr, a lifelong labor activist. She recounts struggles in the Chicago Stockyards and her work forming the CIO Packinghouse Workers. It shifts to a union meeting at the University of Chicago in the 1970's when the Teamster's union organized clerical workers. Audience members participate in the vote to form a union. Act II begins on a picket line and takes the audience to the settlement of the historic strike. The show was done again at the 2000 Bucktown Arts Festival. It was also performed as a radio play.

WOMEN OF HEART AND STEEL

written by Joan McGann Morris, Mary Bonnett and Lisa Layer of the WLHP. Music by Ken Morris.
Spotlights Florence Criley of the United Electrical Workers, and Radio and Machine Workers of America, Alice Peurala of the United Steelworkers, and Sylvia Woods of the United Auto Workers. Their stories are presented in a multi-media performance piece. The play features stories from the new book Women Building Chicago: 1790-1990: A Biographical Dictionary by Rima Schultz.

COME ALONG AND JOIN

WRITTEN IN 1997: by Kathlyn Miles

The Theater Project's first dramatic production. It was based on the histories of Chicago's Lucy Parsons, Jennie Curtiss, Bessie Abramowitz-Hillman, Margaret Haley and Mother Jones. The play was performed at many union gatherings.

WORKING WITHOUT UNIFORMS

A moving performance piece featuring stories of Chicago's Public School Nurses, collaboratively developed under direction of Robin Bennett, Arts and Curriculum Coordinator and Theater Director at Jones Academic Magnet College Preparatory High School. She was assisted by Sandra Marquez, Associate Director of Teatra Vista. The piece is based on Working Without Uniforms: School Nursing in Chicago 1951 - 2001 by Helen Ramirez-Odell.

 

 

 
 
 
  updated 03.26.09 by mia