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This is an in-person event. To best protect everyone present for these gatherings, please be aware that all patrons 5 and older will be required to present proof of full vaccination upon entry. Additionally, all patrons must wear face masks in order to experience the production. For more information, please see our full COVID Safety Guidelines.
Working Theater, Radical Evolution, and New Ohio Theatre present
April 5-23, 2022
at the New Ohio Theatre, 154 Christopher St #1E, New York, NY 10014
Created by: Radical Evolution
Directed by: Rebecca Martínez and Taylor Reynolds
Music Director/Arranger: Julián Mesri
Choreographer: Joya Powell
Artistic Producer: Meropi Peponides
Lead Author: Beto O’Byrne
Contributing Authors: Eugenie Chan, Reginald Edmund, Rebecca Martínez, Jay B. Muskett
an Archive Residency premiere in partnership with IRT Theatre
Featuring: C.K. Edwards, Christian A. Guerrero, Cedric Lamar, Julián Mesri, Beto O’Byrne, Sara Ornelas, Jessica Ranville, Xiaoqing Zhang.
Tickets are priced according to our Sliding Scale Ticketing Initiative, reflecting Working Theater’s commitment to accessibility and the belief that theater should not be a luxury or a privilege. We want to make play-going a regular part of our lives. All are welcome here. To learn more and which ticket price is right for you, please visit here
Folk songs, stories, and movement weave together in this theatrical concert to celebrate the workers from a pivotal moment in history—the building of the US rail system—and how their labor has had a lasting impact on the world we live in today. Using music as central storytelling, Songs About Trains highlights the untold stories of this multicultural workforce and explores the complexities of immigration, labor, Manifest Destiny, and the “progress” of the railroad—how it helped forge a global superpower, generated unbelievable wealth to a select few, and did so at the expense of thousands of lives, all while inspiring one of the deepest canon of music ever made in this country.
Songs About Trains is made possible with support from the 21st Century ILGWU Heritage Fund, the Venturous Theater Fund of the Tides Foundation, and Pregones/PRTT and its ASAP/Artist Space At Pregones initiative
Watch a trailer from the Songs About Trains digital stream:
Watch a rehearsal trailer from Songs About Trains:
Join us at these special performances of Songs About Trains:
April 12: Post Show Conversation with Labor Historian Daniel Levinson Wilks
April 15th: Latinx Theater Community Night
April 19th: ASL Interpreted Performance
April 20th: Cast and Creative Post Show Conversation
Scenic Design: Peiyi Wong
Costume Design: Lux Haac
Lighting Design: María-Cristina Fusté
Sound Design: Margaret Montagna
Production Stage Manager: Megan Schwarz Dickert
Assistant Stage Managers: Diane Healy, Romi Moors
Casting: Stephanie Yankwitt, CSA, tbd casting co.
Graphic Design: the watsons
Production Manager: Drew Francis
Props Supervisor: Rhys A. Roffey
Scenic Design Assistant: Cassy Spaduzzi
Lighting Design Assistant: Omayra Garriga
Sound Design Assistant: Javier Stec
Casting Assistant: Tanis Parenteau
Covid Compliance Officer: Jordan Goldston
Press Representative: John Wyszniewski, Everyman Agency
Working Theater is supported in part by generous community members like you, and major gifts from: The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation New York Theater Program in partnership with the Alliance of Resident Theatres/New York; The Howard Gilman Foundation; The Shubert Foundation; The Axe-Houghton Foundation; The Howard Bayne Fund; The Michael Tuch Foundation; New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature; Public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council; An award from the National Endowment for the Arts.
SEASON SPONSORS: PLATINUM SPONSOR: MagnaCare.
GOLD SPONSORS: Cigna, EmblemHealth, Empire BlueCross BlueShield.
SILVER SPONSORS: CWA Local 1180, NYC Central Labor Council, Segal Consulting, United Federation of Teachers, Vision Screening Inc/DDS Inc