The cast of the Fredonia Department of Theatre and Dance production of “The Book Women”
includes (from left) Alejandra Sutherland as Sissy Mae Harlow, Micaela (KK) LaBarbera as
Della “Star” Harlow and Leilanis Sanchez as Josephine Jolly.
The unique contribution made by a group of women during the Great Depression will be highlighted in “The Book Women.”
The production of the Department of Theatre and Dance will be presented on Dec. 5 and 6 at 7:30 p.m., Dec. 7 at 2 and 7:30 p.m., and Dec. 8 at 2 p.m., in the Alice E. Bartlett Theatre on the SUNY Fredonia campus as part of the Walter Gloor Mainstage Series.
Tickets are available online 24/7. Tickets may also be purchased on Monday, Wednesday or Friday by phone at (716) 673-3501 or in person at the Fredonia Ticket Office in the Williams Center during the same hours.
Director Daniel Lendzian, who is an assistant professor of Performance, said there will be “music, adventure, and a lot of surprises waiting for audiences.”
“‘The Book Women’ is a compelling story because it celebrates the untold story of women in Depression-era Kentucky who sometimes risk of their lives to deliver books through federal programs like the Works Progress Administration,” Lendzian said.
Set in the midst of the Great Depression in an isolated mountain community crushed by the collapse of coal, “The Book Women” is the tale of a group of determined librarians who take to their horses to reach the people of Eastern Kentucky.
With “a dedication equal to the U.S. Postal Service,” these women deliver more than the books and magazines they carry in their saddlebags. They bring hope, dreams and the idea that if members of a community support one another they make a better tomorrow.
Featuring “an incredible set, fine acting and wonderful storytelling,” Lendzian said the Mainstage production will appeal to audiences of all ages, with a special significance for women and younger girls.
“It’s an amazing celebration of women’s stories that have often been overlooked by history,” the director said.
“It’s an amazing celebration of women’s stories that have often been overlooked by history.” Director Dan Lendzian
He also noted that bringing “The Book Women” to the stage has been an eye-opening experience for Fredonia students.
“Students have said ‘their lives were so different than ours,’” Lendzian said. “Imagining what it would be like to live in a time before social media, the Internet, and immediate access information has been an incredible thought exploration in the rehearsal room.”
The Mainstage team has also been hard at work on how to best integrate the women’s horses into the production.
“We also have an amazing way of depicting the horses on stage – that I think will really resonate with local audiences,” Lendzian said. “I don’t want to spoil anything – they’ll have to come and see how the book women have horses.”
Lendzian explained he has a special connection to “The Book Women.”
“Playwright Rachel Bublitz is a friend of mine,” the director said. ‘She sent me a copy of the script when I directed the world premiere of her play ‘Burst’ at the Alleyway Theatre in Buffalo. When I read ‘The Book Women,’ I knew I had to direct it - and Fredonia is the perfect place for it.”
In addition to being entertained, Lendzian hopes audiences will take something more away from the experience.
“I also hope that they leave with an appreciation of the women who worked to educate the American population,” he said. “I also hope they leave humming some of the songs in the production.”
