Composed by Michael Hickey Libretto by Ryan Gilliam © 2010 Contact:
[email protected] Downtown Art 61 E. 4th Street NY NY 10003 www.downtownart.org 'The Waistmakers' Opera' was produced by Downtown Art and performed outdoors at several sites, including the former Triangle Shirtwaist Factory. All the roles were performed by teen girls, ages 12-19. Performances took place in May 2010, September 2010, and finally, in March 2011 to comemmorate the 100th Anniversary of the Triangle Factory Fire. Performers: Lily Abedin, Ari Anderson, Alyssa Burgos, Lauren Burgos, Olivia Cabrera, Lena Feliciano Hansen, Michela Garabedian, Gal Gelbard, Izzy Jenkins, Jeanne Kessira, Alice Quinn- Makwaia, Claritza Quezada, Lindiana Timmons, Erin Simone Wells (2011), Mariana Quinn Makwaia (2010), Lili Gehorsam (2010), Doris Alcantara (2010), Isabella Sullivan (2010) Musicians: Eli Greenhoe, Hans Bilger (2010), Zach Crumrine (2010), Gabi Acevedo (Sept 2010- 2011), Matt Berger (2011), Michael Hickey ____________________________________________________________________________ On the Anniversary, March 25, 2011, the company met with friends and neighbors on 4th Street. After company members chalked a dedication on the sidewalk to Rosie Friedman, the following remarks were made by Ryan Gilliam. "Today we are remembering how one hundred years ago a fire broke out in a factory a few blocks to our west. How 146 people died in that fire. Across the street, at 77 East 4th Street, Rosie Friedman lived. She came from Bialystock in Poland when she was 14, part of a flood of Eastern European Jews hoping to leave violence and discrimination behind, hoping for something better in America. She came alone to live with her aunt and uncle, to find a job and send money home to her family.