On Saturday, March 25, 1911, at 4:45 p.m., 500 immigrant workers from Poland, Russia and Italy toiled toward the end of their 14-hour day making ladies dresses in the Triangle Waist Factory off New York's Washington Square.
Then, a cigarette was carelessly tossed into a bin of fabric scraps and caught fire. Flames swept through the eighth, ninth and 10th floors of the factory. On the ninth floor, some made it to the fire escape, only to have it collapse beneath their weight. Others ran to the exit door only to find it locked.
The fire lasted 30 minutes, but 146 workers were killed, either burned in the fire or from leaping through windows to escape the flames. The factory owners stood trial on manslaughter charges.
This real tragedy and its aftermath takes center stage in Northern Essex Community College's spring production of the "Triangle Factory Fire Project," which plays tonight through April 7 on the Haverhill campus.
Director and NECC professor Jim Murphy chose the play because of the emotional impact he felt upon reading it. He saw the story as a universal one, which had resonance today.
"It's what happened in the Triangle Factory Fire. It's what happened at the Station Night Club Fire (in Rhode Island)," he said. "It's certainly not a history piece. I am hoping it will have a lot of resonance with everybody."
This play draws on eyewitness accounts, court transcripts and other archival material to create a moment-by-moment description of the devastating fire, the controversial trial of its owners and the ensuing legislation designed to make factories a safer place.
"It's probably one of that hardest shows I have ever done," said 26-year-old Gina Kattar of Andover, a NECC student. "Just the content, it's very emotional."
The play culminates with the acquittal of the owners, which caused outrage across the entire country. The fire led to legislation that mandated improvements in factory safety standards and helped spur the growth of the International Ladies' Garment Workers Union, which fought for better working conditions for sweatshop workers in that industry across the country, including Lawrence.
"There is really a strong connection (to the area)," Kattar said. "It really sparked the labor movement, especially around here."
To prepare for their roles, students visited Lawrence Heritage Park in the shadow of similar mill buildings in Lawrence. They also visited the former home of the Triangle Waist Factory in New York City, and met with the play's co-author and first director.
"It put everything into perspective," said Kattar, who visited the author's ninth-floor office. "We could look down from a window and see what it would be like to jump from that high up."
At the conclusion of each performance, there will be 30- to 45-minute "talk-back sessions" between the audience and a community expert on a number of social issues revolving around the story. The speakers will include NECC professors Susan Sanders, C.J. Crivaro, Meredith Gunning, Bill Zannini, Steve Russell, Richard Padova, Steve Slaner, Arthur Barlas and Jorge Santiago.
"It's something I have never done after a show," Kattar said. "I think it will be interesting to get other people's opinions."
IF YOU GO
r What: "Triangle Factory Fire Project"
* When: Tonight and tomorrow, and April 4 through 7, all at 7:30 p.m.
* Where: Top Notch Theater on the third floor of the Spurk Building, Northern Essex Community College, 100 Elliot Way, Haverhill
* How: Tickets are $8 for students and seniors and $10 for general admission. They are available through www.mvarts.info or at the door 30 minutes before performance time as space allows.
The cast of the 'Triangle Factory Fire Project'
* Amesbury: Rachel McBride
* Andover: Gina Kattar
* Atkinson, N.H.: Maggie Elliott, Amanda Moss, Aaron Foss, Jason Pratt
* Boxford: J.P. Serret
* Derry, N.H.: Jessie Nappo, Joey O'Donnel
* Dracut: Babak Alian
* Kingston, N.H.: Stacy Peters
* Merrimac: Megan Peabody
* Newburyport: Chrissy Coates, Jamie Danahy, Ozan Haksever
* Plaistow, N.H.: Laurie Palermo
* West Newbury: Becca LaPierre
* Windham, N.H.: Bill Szafran
