SINGING JAILBIRDS in SAN PEDRO, CA
TRS
The Relevant Stage Theatre Company (TRS) will present a visionary
musical adaptation of Upton Sinclair’s 1924 play, “Singing
Jailbirds”. The new production titled, UPTON SINCLAIR’S SINGING
JAILBIRDS: THE MUSICAL will feature a large cast of performers. The
story is set in 1920’s San Pedro, the Port Town of Los Angeles amid
the demonstrations of union activists during the worker’s movement.
The World Premiere of UPTON SINCLAIR’S SINGING JAILBIRDS: THE MUSICAL
will feature over 35 musical numbers, including numerous songs from
the IWW’s (Industrial Workers of the World) Little Red Songbook by Joe
Hill, T-Bone Slim, Ralph Chaplin and other Wobbly leaders. The score
also includes popular music from the decade such as If I Could Be With
You, Have A Smile, Sonny Boy, If I Had You, Love’s Ship, and more.
Composer and Music Director Robert Gross, along with Writer and
Lyricist, Ray Buffer also penned several original songs and the entire
show consists of new musical arrangements.
The cast features Joshua Searcy as Red Adams; opera performer Amanda
Meyers as Nell; New York City actress Amelia Meena as Muriel - the
Stenographer; Chris Stolz as the District Attorney; Justin Tyler
Brooks as Jake Apperson; M Richards as The Dominie, Isela Griffith as
Mrs. Smith, Jonathan Lucero as One Lung; Frank Blakley as Joe; Richard
Taylor II as Pete, Fred Crawford as Pierre, Paul Rorie as Claude, and
Joseph Blakley as Sonny Boy.
Comprising the ensemble of “jailbirds” are over 15 men from the Beacon
House Association of San Pedro’s Sober Living Program who perform
supporting roles as well as the many working class songs with aplomb.
In addition, TRS also will feature teens from the drama and music
programs of San Pedro High School in the chorus.
Opening each performance with a special acoustic preshow, will be
Random Lengths News Publisher and Editor-In-Chief, James Allen,
performing his composition, “The Ballad of Liberty Hill”.
The story of UPTON SINCLAIR’S SINGING JAILBIRDS: THE MUSICAL opens
with Red Adams, a leader of the Wobblies, who is thrown into solitary
confinement without criminal charges for peacefully demonstrating.
Threatened with the charge of criminal syndicalism (a charge no longer
in the State of California’s law books) Red begins to lose touch with
reality as isolation and starvation begins to play with his mind.
Through Red’s delusions we see his secret past, and his perceptions of
the present and future. His steadfastness to the doctrine and vision
of the One Big Union is what keeps him grounded as he and his fellow
workers use songs to turn pain into power and get their pleas for
change heard.
In 1923, 86 years before this production, Upton Sinclair climbed the
steps of a platform that striking dockworkers had built atop a hillock
they named Liberty Hill. As someone held a candle for illumination,
Sinclair said nothing about the 600 dockworkers who had recently been
arrested for striking. He only tried to read the Bill of Rights. He
got as far as the first three lines of the 1st Amendment, the one
guaranteeing freedom of speech, before he was arrested. His
experience led to the writing of “Singing Jailbirds.” The ACLU of
Southern California was formed the same day that Sinclair addressed
the public, one week after his arrest and three years after the
national ACLU had formed. Sinclair’s arrest and release also led to
the empowerment of the labor movement.
Robert Gross who scored the popular original TRS production of The
Christmas Carol. is back as composer and arranger putting new spins
and exciting passion into music that has not been heard in nearly a
century, as well as collaborating to create new songs.
Producing Artistic Director and Founder of The Relevant Stage, directs
this production, with Mercie Maes as Stage Manager, Amelia Meena as
Choreographer, Nathan Schroeder as Technical Director, Brooke Corpus
as Set Designer, Kara McLeod as Costumer Designer, Richard Taylor as
Lighting Designer, Ty Maes as Set Carpenter, and Denise Fuller as
Sound Designer.
Sinclair’s four-act play on which this new production of UPTON
SINCLAIR’S SINGING JAILBIRDS: THE MUSICAL is based, ran for 79
performances on Broadway in 1928 and 1929. 80 years later, this new
musical production will run May 22 – May 24; May 29 – May 31, 2009 on
Fridays and Saturdays at 8PM, and Sundays at 2:30 PM. Performances
will be at Warner Grand Theatre, 478 W. 6th Street, San Pedro, CA
90731. WGT is a facility of the City of Los Angeles Department of
Cultural Affairs.
Tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for Senior Citizens & Adult Students
and $5 for 18 & under. Wine Lover’s packages are $25 and include the
show plus a sampling of up to 6 wines prior to the performance across
the street from the theatre at Off the Vine. Dinner Theatre package
is available at Whale & Ale British Restaurant for $40 and includes a
two-course dinner with house wine, beer or soda - before the show.
A special FREE private performance of UPTON SINCLAIR’S SINGING
JAILBIRDS: THE MUSICAL will take place on Friday, May 22, 2009 for
teens and teachers to attend at 12:00 Noon. Schools wishing to bring
students may contact (310) 929-8129 to make FREE reservations.
Advance tickets may be purchased at www.therelevantstage.com. Press
inquiries may be made to p...@therelevantstage.com or (310) 929-8129.