Octavia, Hannah, and other girls from dissimilar backgrounds are thrust into the American industrial revolution of the 1840s when they take on jobs in a New England mill. There they discover the unique rewards of factory work, as Hannah earns money to send her brother to Harvard, while Octavia saves for her own tuition. As Irish immigration provides a wave of cheap labor to the mills, wage cuts and miserable working conditions become the norm -- but the mill girls are determined to gain reasonable pay and conditions. With compelling characters and theatrical staging, the play brings history vividly to life. (A full-length version of this play is also available.)
- Drama
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- 40 - 50 minutes
- 12 W, 3 M, (15-24 actors possible: 12-20 W, 3-4 M)
Set: Moveable elements including stool, table, benches, barrels, crates, and ladder.