The historic 1912 "Bread and Roses" textile strike has inspired songs, books, films, and plays for
more than a century. Now it's inspiring a new musical—and its creator is looking for partners to help bring it to the next stage.
Former SEIU senior writer/editor Peter Pieragostini has spent years developing Roses Too!, an ambitious sung-through musical based on the Lawrence, Massachusetts textile strike. Still very much a work in progress, the project explores not only the famous struggle between labor and capital, but also the experiences of immigrant workers and the echoes of those struggles in today's debates over race, inequality, addiction, domestic violence, reproductive rights, and social isolation.
After sharing the libretto with Working Theater Artistic Director Colm Summers last fall, Pieragostini was encouraged to pursue a staged reading as the next step in developing the work. Working Theater wasn't in a position to produce a project of this scale, but Summers suggested partnering with a university or other institution with strengths in labor studies, American studies, and the performing arts.
That's where the labor arts community comes in.
Pieragostini is actively seeking collaborators—including directors, dramaturgs, producers, performers, educators, labor studies programs, theater departments, unions, and arts organizations—who are interested in helping develop Roses Too! through workshops, readings, and creative partnerships. The goal isn't a full production—yet—but to assemble the team needed for a staged reading that can help shape the musical's next draft.
If you or your organization might be interested in exploring a collaboration, email info@laborheritage.org and we’ll connect you with Peter. Sometimes the most important part of a new work isn't the script—it's finding the community that can help bring it to life.