For our seventh annual May Day Performance...
 THE
MAN WHO NEVER DIED
The Story of Joe Hill!
by Barrie Stavis
May 1st, 2008
A staged reading at the Alt Theatre
As the seventh-annual installment of our May Day
Performance Series, we were very honored to present a staged reading of THE
MAN WHO NEVER DIED by Barrie Stavis in celebration of May Day 2008.
This rarely performed docu-drama play tells the all-too-true story of the
life, frame-up, and execution of the famous I.W.W. organizer/songwriter Joe
Hill.
Born Joseph Hillstrom in 1879, this Swedish immigrant
moved to the U.S. in 1902 and became a fervent organizer for the
revolutionary union group The Industrial Workers of the World (I.W.W. a.k.a. "The
Wobblies").
Also a gifted songwriter, Joe Hill immortalized many
of America's most popular union songs including "The Preacher and
the Slave," "Power in a Union," and "Rebel
Girl."
While leading a miners' strike in Utah, he was framed
by area copper magnates and ultimately executed in 1915. Since his
death, the fighting legacy of Joe Hill has provided inspiration to workers all
the world over.
Our staged reading turned out a standing-room-only
crowd and the play's extensive cast gave a very passionate performance of this
powerful tribute. The evening was capped off beautifully as Buffalo's
own living legend, the once-blacklisted playwright, actor, and union organizer
Manny Fried lead the audience in a chorus the classic union ballad "I
Dreamed I Saw Joe Hill Last Night."
As always, we were honored to do our small
part to help keep the tradition of May Day alive and kicking! Here are
the details on who did what:
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THE CAST
sorta-kinda in order of appearance
Narration . . . . . . Virginia Brannon*
Joe Hill . . . . . . . . . . . . Tim Eimiller
Ed Rowan . . . . . . . . . Brian Zybala
Tom Sharpe . . . M. Joseph Fratello
Ben Winton . . . Marshall Maxwell*
Rabinowitz, others . . . Kelly Beuth*
Policeman, Stone . . . . Neil Garvey
Judge Howe, others . Keith Elkins*
Martha Weber . . . . Jennifer Linch*
Harry McRae . . . . . . Tom Scahill*
Moody, others . . . . Dennis Keefe*
Marshall, others . Doug Zschiegner
Cooley, others . . David Granville*
Hennessy, others . . . . Tom Izard*
Thompson, others . . . Jason Healy
Hilda Winton . . . . . . Julie Oesch*
Judge Beard, others . Bill Schmidt*
McBride, Gov. Weed . Ed Tormay
THE CREW
Director . . . . . Kurt Schneiderman*
Stage Manager . Hasheen DeBerry*
Sound Designer . . . . John Shotwell
Prod Asst. . Jeanette Schneiderman*
HOUSE MANAGERS
Jeanette Schneiderman*,
Bobbi DeBose*,
Brian Barrington*. |
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