www.broadwayworld.com: In 2010, the Upper Big Branch mine explosion killed 29 men, and tore a hole in the lives of countless others. In this riveting, emotionally stunning new work based on first-person accounts by survivors and family members, Jessica Blank and Erik Jensen, award-winning writers of The Exonerated, and three-time Grammy Award-winning country/folk legend Steve Earle dig deep into the lives and loss of the most deadly mining disaster in recent U.S. history. Jessica Blank directs this haunting world premiere that gives voice to those yet unheard and shines a piercing light on the deadly forces of greed and the enduring power of love.
2 comments:
This sounds like a really amazing show to see. I have always wanted to see a Public show in New York, but I have not gotten around to doing it yet. I love what their organization stands for and I always love to hear what they are doing next. They consistently try to make theatre in New York City more accessible to people of all different backgrounds, and I think that that is so important. Coal Miners seems like a really interesting and innovative concept. I really love the versatility of theatre because this is something that not a lot of people know about and it is being brought to light by the Public. Another thing I love about them is their free Shakespeare in the Park series in Central Park over the summer. This is such an amazing opportunity for New Yorkers and beyond, and they often have a lot of famous actors and broadway designers. They are a really impressive organization.
This production seems refreshingly simple and intimate. This isn't explicitly stated in the piece, but it appears to be a play with music rather than a musical. The style isn't necessarily new, but it does seem to be more popular. In my musical theatre history class, we covered Golden Age Musicals this past week. Most of them followed a traditional "formula" of what a Broadway hit needed to consist of. I am seeing less and less of such a standard, such as with "Coal Country." The Public Theater's emphasis on new works as a core aspect of their mission is also evident through what critics are saying about the piece. I definitely have not heard of the Upper Big Branch mine explosion, as I thought of incident like those as a thing of the past (but it happened in 2010!!). The fact that the survivors are the ones guiding the story also adds a level of emotional depth.
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