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 In
the summer of 1827, using scoops pulled by mules and horses as well as simple
hand tools, the construction of a man-made river began. This artificial
waterway was built to efficiently move anthracite coal to meet the demand
from New York and Philadelphia and quickly became the vital link between
the mines at Summit Hill and these cities. The Lehigh Navigation Canal system
transformed the area from a farming region to a booming industrial center.
There were more jobs being created than people to fill them. Immigrants
flocked to the Lehigh Valley, changing the ethnic makeup of the area and
increasing the population."My Name is Jeremiah" is a partnership between the Wildlands Conservancy, the Mock Turtle Marionette Theater, and GreenTreks. This play and video performance strives to educate a wide range of Pennsylvanians about the history of canals, the events leading up to the Industrial Revolution in America, and the reason our rivers remain such an integral part of the environmental health in the 21st century. The production tells the story of canal life in the 19th century through the eyes of Jeremiah, an old canaller reminiscing about his life as a boy on the canal.  GreenTreks adapted the live version of the play to create an innovative film rendering. The video is an ideal place for people to "meet" Jeremiah whose schedules prohibit them from an in-person introduction. It is this relationship with the characters, as well as the experience of going to the theater, that directed the video production. "We wanted to transfer the dramatic effect, the ' theater feel', to the screen, and yet we didn't want the characters to feel distant," says Maria Erades, director. Needless to say, it did not take much convincing to get those unique characters to hold onto their friendly, fun appeal in front of the camera. "My Name is Jeremiah" also depicts life during the booming coal industry through the eyes of people who lived and worked along the canal. Hand-carved wooden puppets make up the cast of characters; these interesting folks tell their own stories of daily life and relay the history of the canal during the 19th century. As Jeremiah journeys down the towpath, we meet people that include the lock tender, the paymaster boss, a canal boat captain, his family and more. We learn a few lessons as well, such as travel time between points, the commitment of individuals putting in long grueling days, and the economics of this transportation system. Let's join Jeremiah on the canal towpath and meet some of the folks that played an integral role on the Lehigh canal. ***
"I read a fair amount of oral history to get a general sense of who these guys were and what they were about. Then I got to draw them and think about their roles- what they did everyday- as I drew them. This is the fun part. If they didn't become someone on the sketch pad, I just went back and read some more or asked more questions to people like Tom and Lance." — Doug Roysdon,
Puppet Designer
***
MEET THE PUPPETS: Paymaster, Muskrats, Mrs. Fenstermacher , The Lock Tender , Mule and Mule Tender , Brawlers, Emmie , Coal Baron and Mr. Cruickshank , Aunt Hattie, Accordion Player (Mr. Shy Guy - photo not available).  VIDEO PRODUCTION CREW:Director — Maria Erades Camera — Gerry Hooper Grips — Alex Djordjevic and Adam Smith Editor — Valerie Keller Graphic Design — Sylwia Majewski Production Assistant — Jackie Schlitzer PLAY ARTISTIC STAFF: Director — Doug Roysdon Puppet Designer — Doug Roysdon Scene Designer — Doug Roysdon Costume Designer — Judith Warner Lighting Designer — Nathanael Washam Sound Designer — Doug Rosdon, Nathanael Washam Musicians — The Druckenmillers, Christie Royston Production Designers — Emily Abbruzzi, Josh Bombino, Steve Wojtas PLAY PRODUCTION STAFF: Producer/Original Concept — Tom Gettings Script and Characterization — Doug Roysdon Puppet Makers — Bob Chapellow, Doug Roysdon, Judith Warner Set Designers/Construction Crew — Genessa Bombino, Bob Chapellow, Doug Roysdon, Judith Warner Costume Construction — Judith Warner Lighting Crew — Genessa Bombino, Nathanael Washam Sound Crew — Nathanael Washam Run Crew — Nathanael Washam |
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