One hundred years ago Joe Hill, a Swedish immigrant to the U.S., worked for the IWW to promote the idea of a shorter work week and higher pay. Picked up by the Utah police and charged with a double murder, he refused to testify for himself and was convicted and sentenced to die. Although many people bid clemency for Joe Hill, including President Woodrow Wilson, he was executed on November 19, 1915 at the Utah State Prison.
An instant martyr, Joe hill rapidly passed into legend as an icon of the Labor Movement. Books and songs have been written about him including a one-man play written by Si Kahn, song writer and labor historian, for John McCutcheon to perform. John uses his talents as a singer, musician and storyteller to bring Joe Hill’s last night to life for the audience at St. James’ on June 12 at 7:30 PM.
The play includes all of Joe Hill’s songs and poems. John brings the issues of 1915 to us today. Like a lot of historical issues they haven’t been solved, they continue or recur because we still haven’t learned from our errors/mistakes. John as Joe Hill conveys the issues to us in song and in the telling of Joe Hill’s life the night before his execution. As JoAnn Mar, radio producer at San Francisco’s KALW has said, “John McCutcheon’s performance as Hill is riveting.”
John McCutcheon delighted the St. James’ audience in January with his 12th annual concert. We are looking forward to John’s return in this one-man drama as the legendary Joe Hill.
Tickets can be reserved here or by emailing events@saintj.com.