Events and Performances

BUY TICKETS FOR BREAD AND ROSES BIRTHDAY
September 12, 2016
Art is Labor
January 30, 2020
1

Events and Performances

Published by breadandrosesmo at
Categories
Tags

 Upcoming Events

The 2020 Workers’ Opera

Upcoming Performance Dates:

February 29th, Missouri Organizing and Voter Engagement Conference (MOVE), Columbia, MO

March 9-10 and 16-17, Gaslight Theater 358 N Boyle Ave, St. Louis, MO 63108

June 12-13, Grand Center Theatre Crawl, St. Louis

What: Workers’ Opera is a full length play of “devised” theater; the artists and performers are members of working St. Louis. These workers-turned-actors collaborate and train for months each year to create a series of sketches that connect past and present stories of struggle, and that focus on economic justice, racism, poverty, social justice issues and relevant policy. Stories are shared in word and song, historical reenactments, and tales of the ongoing struggle for workers’ rights, told by those most affected.

Photo compliments of Philip Deitch

 Past Events

The 2020 Workers’ Opera 

Debuted at the Missouri History Museum January 26th, 2020

 

 

 

 

 

 

Art Is Labor

Exhibit runs through Jan. 24th

What: The “Art Is Labor” exhibition, curated by Dail Chambers, highlights labor history as seen through art and artifacts, with a focus on Saint Louis. The selected work will explore topics such as social and economic justice and labor history. Contemporary artwork will be curated alongside historical collections of ephemera, text, and artifacts to build a narrative that speaks of the workers of our time and recognizes artists as workers.

When: December 7th, 2019–January 24, 2020.

Where: Arcade Contemporary Art Projects Gallery
The Webster University Gateway Campus
812 Olive Street, St. Louis 63101
See Gallery Site for Hours 

Photo compliments of St. Louis/Southern Illinois Labor Tribune

Art Is Labor Exhibit Opening and Gala

What: A cocktail party celebrating the opening of the Art Is Labor exhibit and Bread and Roses’ 5 year anniversary. The event features Percy Green & Jamala Rogers as guests of honor and a performance from the 2020 Workers’ Opera.
When: Saturday, December 7th, 6:00-9:00p.m.
Where: Arcade Contemporary Art Projects Gallery
The Webster University Gateway Campus
812 Olive Street, St. Louis 63101
Admission: $45 General Admission
   $75 VIP Admission

About the Gala: Bread and Roses invites you to join us for the opening of the “Art Is Labor” exhibition and gala cocktail party celebrating the 5th Anniversary of Bread & Roses Missouri. The evening begins at 6:00p.m. with programming beginning at 7:30 p.m. to celebrate our guests of honor, Jamala Rogers and Percy Green. A sketch from the 2020 Workers’ Opera will also be performed.

The “Art Is Labor” exhibition will highlight labor history as seen through art and artifacts, with a focus on Saint Louis. The selected work will explore topics such as social and economic justice and labor history. Contemporary artwork will be curated alongside historical collections of ephemera, text, and artifacts to build a narrative that speaks of the workers of our time and recognizes artists as workers. The exhibition will be curated by Dail Chambers and will run until January 17, 2020.

Event photo is the painting “We Demand,” an original artwork by Joe Jones, a St. Louis-born artist whose early 20th century works focused on the struggles of working people.

 

Jailbird: an original play about Eugene V. Debs

What: Bread and Roses presents the premiere of Jailbird, an original play based on a true story 
When: Friday, November 15th at 7:00p.m.
Saturday, November 16th at 7:00p.m.
Sunday, November 17th at 3:00p.m.
Where: Missouri History Museum
5700 Lindell Blvd, St. Louis 63112
Admission: FREE

About the Show: In 1920, Eugene Victor Debs ran a campaign for the US presidency- from a federal prison cell. He was imprisoned for his outspoken objection to the violence and chaos of WWI. Debs ended up receiving a million votes, and 100 years later, his revelations on our society, economy, prison system, and the nature of war, are strikingly relevant.

November 15th and 16th at 7pm, and November 17th at 3pm.

The Sunday performance will be followed by a talk back, “Then and Now,” featuring representatives from The Eugene Debs Foundation and Missouri Jobs With Justice.

Directed by Kathryn Bentley and written by St Louis playwright Colin McLaughlin.

Part of the Bread and Roses Missouri Workers’ Theater Project.

Featuring Shaun Sheley, Hassie Davis, Noah Laster, Summer Baer, Thomasina Clarke, Michael Paplanus, Kenya Hitchens, and Ryan Lawson-Maeske. 

 

 

 

The Joe Hill Road Show and After Party
Featuring the Shelby Bottom Duo

A performative telling of the story of Joe Hill, a union organizer, activist, and musician who was framed for murder.

When: Sunday, March 10th at 3:00p.m.

Doors (and Cash Bar) Open at 2:30
Reception Follows Performance until 7:00 p.m.

Where: Gaslight Theater 358 N Boyle Ave, St. Louis, MO 63108
Admission: $10
About the Show: Nashville’s Shelby Bottom Duo joins Bread & Roses Missouri to tell the story of labor activist and songwriter Joe Hill and the early U.S. labor movement. Joe Hill was executed in 1915…but not before he fanned the flames of labor discontent with his songs. Regarded as anthems of the IWW labor union (the Wobblies), Joe’s songs live on, influencing generations of social and political protest music. Join us to hear his story told through spoken word, historical images, and some new-fashioned, old-time music!
 

The 2019 Workers’ Opera

 

New and revised music, skits, and sketches about laborers, unions, and workers’ rights in the past and present.

When: Monday, March 11th at 8:00p.m.  

Doors (and Cash Bar) Open at 2:30

Where: Gaslight Theater 358 N Boyle Ave, St. Louis, MO 63108
Admission: $10
About the Show: The Workers’ Theater group gives voice to the rich history and contemporary struggle for living wages and fair working conditions (bread) along with dignity and artistic expression (roses).
The performers are workers-turned-actors and members of the movement itself, who have successfully entertained, educated and activated audiences on key issues such as raising the minimum wage and cleaning up government. Their performances commemorate the rich history of the labor movement, while celebrating social justice and solidarity with the arts.
They have wowed thousands across Missouri, at venues large and small, from our House Party series, to Union Halls,  the Missouri History Museum and the Grand Center’s Theatre Crawl. Thanks to MOVE, the Missouri Organizing and Voter Engagement Collaborative, we have taken the show on the road to Columbia and Kansas City, Missouri.
Each season brings an inspired rendition of the Workers’ Opera revamped and remixed, including some of the original cast as well as new additions, new poems, new music, dance and movement, historical reenactments and many new stories. The 2019 Workers’ Opera is directed by Kathryn Bentley and features music by Colin McLaughlin.

History of the St. Louis Worker: A Bus Tour in Partnership with the Missouri History Museum

A performative telling of the story of Joe Hill, a union organizer, activist, and musician who was framed for murder.

When: Saturday, May 11th at 3:00p.m.
Where: Tour begins at the Missouri History Museum
Admission: $65-85
About the Show: The Missouri History Museum will featured Joan Suarez, Bread and Roses Executive Director, as a tour guide for its Discovery Tours series. Each of these educational tours focuses on a different aspect of St. Louis history, and Joan was selected to lead The St. Louis Worker Bus Tour. Participants learned from Joan about the history of the labor movement in St. Louis and visited related historic sites around the city. The Museum selects only those who are experts of their field to lead these tours, so it is an honor to be chosen as a guide. Congratulations, Joan!

The Grand Center Theatre Crawl

A two-day pop-up theater experience featuring the productions of over 20 local theater companies in venues in and around Grand Center

When: June 2018 and June 2019
Where: Grand Center
Admission: Free
About the Show: Bread and Roses has had the honor of participating in the Grand Center Theatre Crawl by performing sketches from the 2018 and 2019 renditions of the Workers’ Opera, an annual production. 

breadandrosesmo
breadandrosesmo