The United Steelworkers
The United Steelworkers (USW) established the Institute for Career Development (ICD) with the vision that workers must play a significant role in the design and development of their training and education and their work environments. ICD and the participating companies set the goal to help every worker attain their full potential, as an employee and as a human being. At one point, they offered a class in poetry. The result was outstanding.
The poetry eventually made it into print, with Studs Terkel writing the introduction. Next, they provided a playwriting class. Again, the result was beyond expectation. The ICD then decided to produce the plays under the program title, “Steelworkers on Stage.”
In 2004 I was offered the opportunity to teach a play production class and direct the plays written by steelworkers, probably because I came from a steel working family and had worked at US Steel, Gary Works. I happily agreed, with the condition that all the actors and actresses be steelworkers, not professionals. Assistant Director Loraine Masterton coached and guided the game steelworkers and helped them become thespians.
In 2005 The plays were presented at the Towle Theatre in Hammond, Indiana. The response was overwhelmingly positive. So much so, Harmon Lisnow, Executive Director of ICD, decided to take the show to Manhattan. In 2006 we remounted the show, made some modifications, and took it to New York. This time Denita Linnertz, a superb actress in my theatre company, The Piccolo Theatre, functioned as Assistant Director.
I can only say the show was a triumph.
The staff at ICD and JobLink supported the process all along the way. Kudos to Stephanie Stalmah, Diane Lentz, Marcia Taylor, and Harmon Lisnow. As you will see, many others helped realize the creative energy of our steelworkers. Fortunately, we recorded both shows. They are presented here, along with production photographs and documents. This website honors the Steel Workers on Stage for their creativity, courage, and commitment.
John Szostek