About Our "Workers' Power Play Series"
The Theatre has a rich tradition of plays that speak to concerns of working
people. Sadly, this tradition is all but ignored by most of today's
commercially-minded theatres who are far too busy courting an upper-middle
class subscriber base to be bothered with the issues that affect everyday
people.
We at Subversive Theatre believe that theatre has an
unshakable duty to help keep alive the lessons of workers' struggles -- both
past and present. We are also eager to help rebuild the connections
between theatre and Organized Labor that once played such a crucial role in
this Country.
That's why we set aside one performance slot each
season for a play that specifically takes on the issues of working people --
we call this our "Workers' Power Play Series."
From exploitation to workplace discrimination, from Union busting to Corporate
corruption, from the triumph of Union drives of the past to the
challenges of the present -- we are proud to turn our spotlight on plays from
all over the World that face these subjects head on. In this way we
hope to help create a forum for discussion of these incredibly urgent issues
and, hopefully, provide some degree of empowerment for the many, many people
who face these issues every day on the job.
Now in it's third year, this program has featured the
follow productions:
2006-2007.
In January and February of 2007, our "Workers'
Power Play Series" got underway with  the
World-debut of FOUNDATIONS
by Subversive Theatre's own Founder & Artistic Director Kurt Schneiderman*
at the New Phoenix Theatre on the Park.
This modern-day proletarian polemic forced a group of
gruff construction workers to overcome the racial and personal differences
that had kept them at each other's throats as one victimized co-worker
declared himself on a one-man strike. As management, politicians, and
policemen tried everything to drive them apart, these workers learned the hard
way that solidarity is still best weapon in their arsenal!
2007-2008.
Almost exactly one year later we returned to
the New Phoenix Theatre to present one of the greatest working class plays of
all time -- WAITING
FOR LEFTY by Clifford Odets.
Written and set in the 1930s, this historical piece
offers a searing reminder of the bitter Labor struggles of the Great
Depression. Taking place during a Union meeting of taxicab workers who
are bitterly divided by the question of whether or not to go on strike, this
play fiercely exposes the lies of the
bosses and the need for working people everywhere to stand up for a better
life!
Our rendition of WAITING
FOR LEFTY was a great success later winning the Award for "Outstanding
Production" at the 2008 Artie Awards. But much more
importantly, we were able to reach a large section of actual union members
with this play's militant message and draw support from various area Unions --
following up one performance with a panel discussion of local Labor leaders
and historians which triggered an excellent group discussion on the need to
organize in the here and now!
This production was sponsored by the Western New York
Area Labor Federation and the Buffalo Teachers' Federation.
2008-2009.
For our most recent installment, were
particularly proud to present DROP
HAMMER by Emanuel "Manny" Fried* from November 13th through December 14th, 2008.
The very namesake of our theatre, Manny Fried* was
one of Buffalo's most notorious Union Organizers throughout the 1940s,
and 50s -- for which he was once called "The Most Dangerous Man in
Western New York" by Buffalo's Father Clancy and later blacklisted!
He drew on much of his first hand knowledge of Unions to write DROP
HAMMER which tells the story of rank-and-file industrial workers in
the late 1950s who are forced to confront the corruption of their own Union
Leaders.
Chock-full of lessons that are still all too relevant
to Union members today, it was an honor to present this fiery blue collar drama
by the very living legend of Buffalo's Labor Movement himself!
Help Make It Grow!
In just three short years, our "Workers'
Power Play Series" has grown from a half-baked idea into an
increasingly important annual event. Everyone knows that theatre can't
by itself put a stop to the evils of capitalism. But it can, should, and
MUST at least try to encourage people who have been exploited far too long to
stand  up
for themselves!
Slowly we have begun to build connections with
sections of the local Labor Movement and we are very proud to that some area
Unions have become sponsors of this program. But we are eager to join
forces with many more. If you're interested in getting YOUR Union
involved with our "Workers' Power Play Series," please
contact us and we'd
love to make it happen!
Click
here to read about the next installment of our "Workers' Power Play
Series."
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