Composer STEVE JONES Director ELISE BRYANT Musical Director BILL MEYER

Home , Charles Coughlin

Friday, Sept. 9 ~ 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 10 ~ 8 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 11 ~ 3 p.m. At the Millennium Centre Composer STEVE JONES Director ELISE BRYANT Musical Director BILL MEYER

Proceeds support the Detroit waterfront Michigan Labor Legacy Project • Sponsored by Michigan Labor History Society

The Story Behind

L I

FORGOTTEN F

A elcome to the return engagement of For- R B

E H gotten: The Murder at the Ford Rouge Plant. T F O Y S This jazz/blues opera premiered at the E T R U W O Marygrove College Theatre in March, 2004 and is C S O OT back in the Detroit area by popular demand following PH performance of all or parts of the show in Minneapolis, Chicago, and New York. Forgotten is based on the life of the s Rev. Lewis Bradford, a Methodist min- h ister who arrived with his wife, Ella, in Detroit in the 1930s and who worked at the Howard Street Mission on the W

west side of downtown. As part of his A L T E R

work with unemployed and homeless P .

R E

people, Bradford began a radio show U T H E

on station WXYZ, “The Forgotten R

L I B

Man’s Hour,” which would become a R A R Y ,

counterpoint to Fr. Charles Coughlin, W A Y N

the notorious “radio priest” who broad- E

S T A

cast anti-Semitic and pro-fascist propa- T E

ganda on WJR. N I V E R

When the family needed funds for S I T medical care for their daughter, little Y Lewis and Ella Bradford, and the Ford River Rouge plant. Ella, Bradford went to work at the Ford Motor Co. River Rouge plant in nearby Dearborn. There he tried to help workers by urging Henry Ford to treat his employees fairly. Just a few years earlier, five workers had been killed while approaching the Rouge plant to seek jobs and health care in what became known as the Ford Hunger March. Bradford unsuccessfully sought to interest Ford in a meeting with Muriel Lester, a visiting socialist/pacifist from Britain, hoping such a meeting would lead to a softening of Ford’s attitudes. Shortly afterwards, in November 1937, Bradford was found unconscious in a remote part of the Rouge plant. He died three days later. A funeral was held at Detroit’s Central United Methodist Church, where Bradford and his family had regularly worshiped. Bradford’s widow left Detroit after receiving threats, but Bradford’s story continued to be remembered by his family. In 2001, his great-nephew by marriage, Steve Jones, came to Detroit to research his relative’s death. A sympathetic Wayne County clerk helped him find the autopsy report, and the Wayne County Assistant Medical Examiner, after reading it, wrote that Bradford’s death could not have been accidental, but probably should have been labeled a homicide. Jones, an award-winning composer who lives in Maryland, composed Forgotten in tribute to his great-uncle and to the workers who fought side by side with him for justice in the 1930s. Today, as American workers face new challenges, the story of how labor and people of faith can work together for justice is a lesson that should never be forgotten. The Michigan Labor History Society and The Michigan Labor Legacy Landmark Inc. Present A Jazz/Blues Opera FORGOTTEN The Murder at the Ford Rouge Plant A Benefit for the Michigan Labor Legacy Landmark FRIDAY, SEPT. 9 M SATURDAY, SEPT. 10 M SUNDAY, SEPT. 11, 2005 Millennium Centre Theater, Southfield, Michigan

Composer...... Steve Jones FORD HUNGER MARCH Director ...... Elise Bryant Alan Canning (Joe York), Kae Halonen Music Director ...... Bill Meyer (Joe York’s mother), Stephen Jones (Joe DiBlasio), Susan Newell (Joe CAST DiBlasio’s wife), Samuel Richardson In order of appearance (Curtis Williams), Sam Kirkland Nurse Attendant ...... Denise Dotson (Curtis Williams’ father), Ella Bradford ...... Christine Chila Gordon Patton (Coleman Leny), Little Ella...... Katie Nelson Jamie Crawford (Joe Bussell) Henry Ford...... Larry Schrock* DANCERS Lewis Bradford ...... Henry Nelson Melanie Garcia, Jillian Richardson Foreman ...... Alan Canning Allen Johnson ...... Mitch McMurren MUSICIANS Joe Cantor...... Jamie Crawford Bill Meyer...... Keyboards, Director Rosie Johnson...... Lynn Marie Smith Hubert Crawford ...... Bass Frank Jackson...... Sam Kirkland Charles Stuart ...... Percussion Father Coughlin...... Davis Gloff Members, Detroit Federation of Harry Bennett...... Mike Carluccio Musicians, Local 5, AFM Clara Ford...... Jan Sage S I L L E . WORKERS CHORUS D N W A H Melvin Beasley, Julie Beutel, S : TO O Christine Chila, Jamie Crawford, PH Denise Dotson, Melanie Garcia, Lynn Marie Smith and Suzan Gouine, Kae Halonen, Stuart, Meyer and Crawford Mitchell Q. McMurren Ola Hemphill, Stephen Jones, Kiesha Key, Sam Kirkland, PRODUCTION STAFF Mitch McMurren, Susan Newell, Gordon Patton, Samuel Richardson, Steve Jones ...... Writer/Composer Anne Drake...... Assistant Lisha Sly, Lynn Marie Smith, Elise Bryant...... Director Stage Manager Maurice “Skip” Turner Bill Meyer...... Music Director Sister Brenda Moon...House Manager Lisa Canada ...... Producer John Woodland.....Costume Designer Mission Quartet Dave Elsila...... Producer Celeste Smith...... Assistant Christine Chila, Mitch McMurren, Ron Burns ...... Set Designer Costume Designer Henry Nelson, Lynn Marie Smith Reuben Garza...... Lighting Designer Dave Balman...... Sound Designer Hour of Power Quartet Elaine Hendricks Smith*...... Alan Canning, Suzan Gouine, Production Stage Manager *Designated actor and production stage managers appear through the courtesy of Actors Stephen Jones, Susan Newell Sandra Glover*...... Production Equity Association, the Union of Professional Stage Manager Actors and Stage Managers in the United States. FORGOTTEN Act I: Detroit & Dearborn, Michigan, 1930s Overture ...... Forgotten band: Bill Meyer, Hubert Crawford, Charles Stuart Keep the Wheels Rolling On ...... Allen Johnson with Henry Ford and entire cast You’re Gone Again/How Can I Explain ...... Ella and Lewis Bradford We Can Start Again ...... Lewis The Forgotten Man’s Hour ...... Allen & Rosie, Ella & Lewis, Joe Cantor, Frank Jackson The Hour of Power/Cleanse Ourselves ...... Fr. Coughlin & Hour of Power radio choir/Lewis and troupe I Invented Auto Love ...... Henry Ford The Ford Hunger March ...... Rosie and workers’ chorus You’ll Be Like My Son ...... Ford and Harry Bennett I Got a Job/I Know the Fear ...... Lewis and Bennett When You Organize ...... Lewis and the troupe Bradford You Are Dreamin’ ...... Allen It’s About Time ...... Lewis, Ella, Rosie A New Beauty ...... Lewis Sit Down (Maurice Sugar) ...... Rosie and workers’ chorus I’m Here for You ...... Lewis and Ella Radio, Guns and Money ...... s...... Coughlin, Bennett, Ford INTERMISSIONs WHO’S WHO IN THE CAST & CREW

Steve Jones (composer) clude Workin’ for a Livin’. She now teaches at ton and The Gaylords is a jazz musician and the National Labor College in Silver Spring, and who has performed composer in Maryland, Md. She is an IWW member. at the Fisher and Fox where he can often be Theaters. His first al- found sharing music at Bill Meyer (music direc- bum, Teach Me Tonight, union events with his tor) composes and was recorded with the brother Peter and oth- arranges for TV and ra- Eddie DeSantis Orches- ers. He is a member of dio and has been key- tra. A war veteran, he AFM Local 161-710. boardist for Guys and has helped raise His grandfather was Ella Bradford’s cousin. Dolls, Wizard of Oz, $40,000 for the World War II memorial fund Mama Mia and other through performances for UAW, Daimler- Elise Bryant (director) Broadway shows. He is Chrysler, and Delta Dental events. was raised in Detroit, music director for Mo- the daughter of Albert town’s Martha Reeves. His social activism is re- Christine Morand Bryant, a UAW Local flected in his productions of the Detroit Tribute to Chila (Ella Bradford) 600 member who Paul Robeson and Barbara Dane Returns. He is a has performed for stu- worked over 30 years member of AFM Local 5. He performs regularly dio and road gigs, jazz at the Rouge. She spent at Bert’s jazz club near Detroit’s Eastern Market. combos, show bands, almost 20 years work- and dinner theaters. ing with labor theater Michael Carluccio (Harry Bennett) is a vocal- Venues include a Walt in Detroit and Ann Arbor; her many plays in- ist who has opened for Al Martino, Bobby Vin- Disney cruise ship, Act II: Detroit & Dearborn, Michigan May-December, 1937

Shake Hands with the Devil ...... Clara Ford Cleanse Ourselves (reprise) ...... Coughlin and Hour of Pow- er radio choir/Lewis and troupe We Speak Louder than Machines ...... Rosie and workers’ chorus The Stakes Are High ...... Ford, Bennett, Coughlin Battle of the Overpass ...... Allen and the troupe W

A I Got a Bad, Bad Feeling ...... Ella L T E

R I Cannot Be Silent ...... Lewis

P .

R Let’s Take a Walk ...... Bennett E U T

H Bradford I Have Got a Job For You ...... Foreman E R

L We Will All Forget ...... Hospital attendant, Ella, Bennett I B R

A I’m Here for You (reprise) ...... Ella R Y ,

W Monologue ...... Little Ella A Y

N We Remember You ...... Rosie and Allen, E

S T

A workers chorus, Ella, Little Ella T E

U N I V

E Epilogue R S I T

Y After receiving threats, Ella Bradford and her children left Detroit, never to return. Sixty-five years later, there are grandchildren and great-grandchildren and others who know Lewis’ story and keep it alive. Lewis Bradford is not forgotten. In 1941 after years of struggle, the United Auto Workers was on the verge of winning a contract at the Ford Motor Co. Ford declared he would shut down all the plants worldwide before he would sign with the union. Clara Ford threatened to divorce Henry if he didn’t come to an agreement with the union, and soon after, he signed the most far-reaching contract in the auto industry up to that time. Today UAW Local 600 at the Rouge plant is a strong militant union with a fighting tradition.

Meadowbrook Music Festival, Masonic Tem- graduate of MSU in is proud to be associated with such a dedicat- ple, and Detroit and Flint jazz festivals. Cred- theater/social science, ed and talented cast and crew. He dedicates its include Anything Goes and Tony ’n’ Tina’s returns in the role as this performance to the memory of Lewis Wedding. Her favorite role is “Mom,” raising Allen in this produc- Bradford and to all people who have spent three kids with her friend, favorite drummer tion of Forgotten. He their lives helping others. and husband Joe. has performed in Side Show with the Birm- Katie Nelson (Little Davis Gloff (Fr. ingham Village players Ella), a fourth-grader, Coughlin) has been a and made his movie is already a veteran of performer, announcer, debut in the independent film drama An Apol- the stage. She debuted lecturer, teacher, pi- ogy to the Dead. When not acting he works for at the age of three as a anist, clinician, com- Total Health Care. flower girl in the Pon- poser and music com- tiac production of Tony mentator for over 35 Henry Nelson (Lewis ’n’ Tina’s Wedding, and years, A graduate of Bradford) performs is delighted to return Wayne State, he has with The Players in with her friends in Forgotten. She plays piano sung and acted in opera, oratorio, concert, Detroit. He was in the and sings with her school choir; this summer and recitals throughout the U.S. and has per- Detroit Actors Guild she participated in the Macomb Center for the formed with the Michigan Opera Theatre, production of Tony ’n’ Performing Arts drama program. She thanks DSO, and other orchestras. He is a member of Tina’s Wedding and was her mother, father, and brother, Jack, for their the Piccolo Opera Co. and is an announcer on an understudy in the love and support, and her music teacher, Mrs. ClassicalMusicAmerica.com Meadowbrook Theatre Morgan and piano teacher, Mrs. Anger, for production of Little Shop of Horrors. Honored their instruction and encouragement. Mitchell Q. McMurren (Allen Johnson), a to play the role of Lewis in this production, he Continued on next page WHO’S WHO IN THE CAST & CREW

Jan Sage (Clara Ford) and joins the cast of ers Stories in 1985. He is also a singer-song- finds herself in love Forgotten for a second writer who has recorded two albums. He with Michigan after time. Married with works at Ford’s Rawsonville plant in Ypsilan- three years of living, one daughter, he en- ti and is a member of UAW Local 898. He is singing and teaching joys acting and has married with four children (two of his own) in Flint, a big change performed in The and is a proud grandpa (Hi, Gwen!). from nearly a lifetime Crucible and La Cage of acting, singing and aux Folles. He spends Denise Dotson (alto) teaching in Florida. spare time weightlift- lives the fine and per- She has directed and choreographed more ing and works for the federal government. forming arts. She is an than 50 productions, most recently for the actress, artist, jazz vo- University of Michigan, including Stephen Julie Beutel (sopra- calist, and children’s Sondheim’s Assassins, How to Succeed in Busi- no) is a native of De- storyteller. She was a ness…,” and A Man of No Importance. She has troit. A singer and gui- member of the 2004 sung everything from opera to barbershop and tarist she has traveled cast of Forgotten and is proud to be a part of such a talented ensem- in Europe and Central is pleased to be in- ble presenting Forgotten’s powerful story. America, living and volved with such a wonderful production working with Witness again. She thanks her family and friends for Larry Schrock (Hen- for Peace in Nicaragua their support and she honors the memory of ry Ford) is a member during the war for al- her father, who worked at the Rouge, of her of Actors Equity and most two years. A mother, activist, and De- mother, as well as all of her ancestors who left has appeared at troit teacher, she sings at coffee houses, con- the right legacy for her life. Meadowbrook The- certs, fundraiser, funerals, weddings, and pri- atre, Jewish Ensem- vate parties. She has sung in nursing homes, Melanie Garcia (so- ble Theatre, and schools, jails, subway stations in Europe, prano) holds a B.S. in Plowshares Theater soup kitchens, bars, churches, trains, and so dance from Wayne Co. He has sung with many anti-war marches she has lost count. State, where she per- the DSO chorus, Farmington Community She especially loves the chance to sing what formed with the Chorus, and the Detroit Lutheran Singers. He she passionately feels is the truth. WSU dance company has represented Ford at several auto show from 1998-2001. She each season since his retirement after 30 Alan Canning (fore- has appeared at De- years in Ford product engineering, which man), a resident of troit’s Music Hall, makes his Henry Ford character particularly Ferndale, is owner Bonstelle Theatre, Community Arts Theatre, interesting to him. He lives in Farmington and creative director and on On Stage! performances for Detroit Hills with his wife Betsey and two teenage of A2Creative, a video Public Schools children. Since graduation, sons. His two older children have given him pre/post commercial she has performed in Joseph and the Amazing three grandchildren. production facility. Technical Color Dreamcoat. His acting credits in- Lynn Marie Smith clude Dr. Henry (Rosie Johnson) is a Jekyll/Hyde in the Starlight Theatre produc- Suzan Gouine (so- singer-songwriter tion of Jekyll & Hyde (The Musical) this past prano) lives in Ham- whose debut album summer, as Percy Blakeney in the Oakland tramck. She is an with Infinity recording Theatre Guild production of The Scarlet Pim- alumna of Second artist Natures Divine pernel, and as Bill Sykes in Oliver! As a per- City Detroit main- reached number five cussionist, he has performed in productions stage, where she on the Billboard charts. of the Detroit Actors Guild, the Jewish En- helped write and per- A labor activist, she semble Theatre and other theater groups. form Less Talk, Mo- has performed at Greenfield Village, Labor- town; Woodward to fest, the Labor Legacy Landmark dedication, Jamie Crawford Your Mother, and Ten. She holds a B.F.A. in and at many picketlines and rallies. She is an (tenor) of Taylor, acting from Wayne State, where some of her organizer for the Michigan Federation of Mich. has been in- credits include Cabaret, Romeo and Juliet, Teachers and School Related Personnel. Her volved in theater Godspell, Little Women and Crimes of the Heart. new CD of labor parodies is now on sale. most of his life. Roles She is also a member of several improv as Snoopy in Charlie troupes including Tiger Ride, The Franchise, Workers Chorus & Brown and RP Mc- The Lab, The Neutrino Project, and Ax’s in Albu- Supporting Troupe: Murphy in Cuckoo’s querque. She thanks Pete for his love and en- Nest eventually led couragement and Elaine for rides to rehears- Melvin Beasley (tenor) is a native of Detroit, him to join the cast of Workers Lives/ Work- al. This is for Michael. Kae Halonen (alto) cy. She loves to perform on stage and dance. Jelinkova, Christina Kammuler, and Sergey grew up in a Finnish- Although she is currently working full time at Rayevskiy. In 1993 she was accepted into the American working- SBC Inc., where she is a member of the Com- Creative and Performing Arts School in Mich- class family that em- munications Workers of America, she aspires igan under Mary Murphy, and has studied phasized the impor- toward a full-time acting career. under Danielle Clifford and Wen Wei in Van- tance of singing, the- couver, B.C. Credits include featured roles in ater, and social con- Samuel Kirkland Nutcracker and as a soloist dancer for the Riv- sciousness. A singer, (bass) is chairman of er Community Church. She is also a dance violinist, and man- UAW Local 653 in instructor. dolin player, she frequently joins husband Pontiac and has Sam Stark singing a variety of people’s music worked in the UAW Samuel Richardson in various settings. She has worked with ed- National Organizing (tenor) is earning his ucation programs for industrial workers for and Public Relations B.F.A. in acting at more than 15 years. and Publications Wayne State. He has Dept. He has written done improvisation at Ola Hemphill (tenor) extensively for union publications including Second City and Plan- is a retired Detroit Solidarity and has edited three local-union et Ant, and has per- math teacher who papers. He graduated cum laude from the formed in several lo- performs as a jazz vo- National Labor College and is coordinator cal productions in- calist and pianist. She and developer of the Black Men In Unions cluding To Kill A Mockingbird, Last Seat on the has sung with jazz pi- Academy. He sings with the Northwest Uni- Train, The Underpants, The Dream Tunnel. For- anists Charles Boles, tarian-Universalist Church choir. ever Christmas, and Bat Boy. He plays the Teddy Harris Jr., Bill Playboy in the movie Hot Turkey. Meyer and others. She Susan Newell (sopra- performed with her all-female band in the no) is a native of Indi- 1980s and as a keyboardist for her brother’s ana, who has made Lisha M. Sly (alto) is gospel hit play, Perilous Times, in the 1990s. Detroit her home for a native Detroiter In 1992, she interacted vocally with Betty 30 years. Since 1979, whose vocal talents Carter at the Pontchartrain Hotel, and in she has lent her voice can be heard in the 1997 performed monthly with the Charles in support of labor chorus sponsored by Boles Quartet at Baker’s Keyboard Lounge. She and other progressive UNITE!Here. She has was featured in the March 1999 issue of Jazz causes, first in Finland been a business man- Quarterly. This summer, she sang with Motown Station, a Detroit-based folk group, and more ager of UNITE!Here Sings Gospel. She will record her first CD of recently in One by One, which performed an Local 124-129 since original music, It’s About the Message, this fall. eclectic mix of folk, blues, reggae, and pop. 1999 and serves on the Metro Detroit AFL- CIO. She is a trustee of the Laundry Workers Stephen Jones (bass) Gordon Patton (bass) trust fund and a member of Hope Communi- is a poet and song- is a member of the ty Church. She co-founded Detroit’s “Ring in writer who teaches Black Men in Unions the New Year with a Bell, not a Bang!” cam- English and journal- Players and has ap- paign. ism at Detroit’s Chad- peared in the stage sey High School. He productions of Stress Maurice “Skip” has sung at Laborfest in the Workplace and Turner (bass) has and the Concert of Last Day in a Non- performed in several Colors and Detroit- Union Shop. He sings theatrical produc- area coffee houses, and appeared in a South- with the Paul Robeson Chorale at Fellowship tions including When field production of The Fantasticks. A CD of Chapel, and he performed as John Newton You Strike Flint, his labor songs, One More Day, was issued in singing Amazing Grace at the church’s Watch Workin’ for a Livin’, 2000 as a fundraiser for the Detroit Council Night Kwanzaa production. He recently and The Grievance of Newspaper Unions. He is a member of the served as second vice-president, district com- Trilogy, and has writ- Detroit Federation of Musicians and a former mittee person, and civil-rights chair of UAW ten and directed The Terrible Three, Last Day member of the Newspaper Guild of Detroit. Local 3000 at Auto Alliance in Flat Rock. in a Non-Union Shop, Overtime in a Time of Layoffs, and his latest work, Just Between You Kiesha Key (soprano) Jillian Richardson and Me. He has been road manager for the is a 25-year-old actress (dancer) began her Spyder Turner show and was a producer with from St. Clair Shores. training at a studio in his brothers on the 2000 production of the She studied drama at her hometown of hit CD, Spyder Turner. He is coordinator of Martin Luther King Jr. Livonia, Mich. With Black Men in Unions, the Michigan Summer High School in Detroit 15 years experience, School for Women Workers, the Winter and theater at the Uni- she has trained under Leadership Institute, and the Unity Confer- versity of Detroit Mer- Carol Cotter, Slavka ence at the University of Michigan. THE PRODUCTION TEAM Ron Burns (set/lighting designer) works reer in labor journalism has included edit- Bryant who moved to that position from De- regularly with Plowshares Theatre, the Jew- ing the Michigan Teacher, American Teacher, troit. She is a member of UAW Local 22 and ish Ensemble Theatre, and Ballet Interna- and Solidarity. He is a member of UAW Lo- TNG/CWA Local 35. tional of Indianapolis. He has designed over cal 1981 and a retiree from TNG Local 22. Elaine (Hendricks) Smith (production 200 productions in more than 30 years of A resident of Grosse Pointe Park, he is mar- stage manager) is a member of Actors Equity. working in this field. ried to Katie Elsila and has three children This is Elaine’s second time stage-managing and one grandchild. Lisa Canada (producer) has worked in the Forgotten, much to her delight. She currently labor movement for many years, first for Sandra Glover (production stage manager) hails from Eastpointe Mich., where she lives HERE and then for the United Food and worked most recently with Plowshares The- with her husband and daughter. She is the Commercial Workers. She currently is politi- atre Company’s Crowns. Other venues in- outreach director for Matrix Theatre Compa- cal director for the Metro Detroit AFL-CIO. A clude Detroit Repertory Theatre, Buku Pro- ny in southwest Detroit and is currently stage resident of Ferndale, she is married to labor ductions, Marygrove Dance Theatre, and the managing Altar Boyz for the City Theatre. attorney David Radtke and has two children. Detroit Festival of the Arts. She was costumer John Woodland (costumer) is a professor of for Mosaic Youth Theatre’s summer hit, Now costume design at Wayne State University, Anne Drake (assistant stage manager) has That I Can Dance. She thanks the Forgotten and has also taught at the University of performed with Workers Lives/Workers Sto- cast for a warm welcome as she takes over Michigan, St. Lawrence University, and the ries and was in the cast of Workin’ for a Elaine Smith’s role as stage manager. University of Michigan. He earned his B.A. Livin’. She wrote song parodies for UAW or- Sister Brenda R. Moon (house manager) is at Otterbein College and his M.F.A. at the ganizing drives and strikes, and is retired as a percussionist with Ubaka Hill and Drum University of Michigan. He has worked in an electrician from Ford. She is a member of Song Orchestra and is president of “Power costume design at the Hilberry, Purple Rose, UAW Local 898 where she continues as ed- Surge Posse.” She is former assistant direc- and Boars Head theaters, and is a guest artist itor of the Local’s publication, Raw Facts, as tor in the AFL-CIO Education Dept. and for the University of Michigan in dance. well as the UAW Region 1A Retirees News. now works as a national AFL-CIO field rep. One of his most recent costuming assign- David Elsila (producer) is a coordinator of A former staff member at the National Labor ments was the Hilberry production of the Michigan Labor Legacy Project. His ca- College, she “traded places” with Elise Antony and Cleopatra.

MATRIX THEATRE 2730 Bagley, Detroit MI 48216 e applaud Your local home for WLynn Marie theatrical productions of social significance. Smith, Organizer, Call 313-967-0999 now AFT Michigan, and to reserve your seats for two one-act plays running as a double-bill the entire cast of in October and November MOTHER TONGUE Forgotten. the powerful story of Mother Jones and Sojourner Truth A Union of Professionals and AFT Michigan HARPER’S FERRY AFL-CIO a theatrical portrait of John Brown and Frederick Douglass

Design: Barbara Barefield DesignWorks