RAISING CAIN

They defied the coal barons –
and made history

1902. Simmering discontent among Pennsylvania miners ignites into a tumultuous five-month strike. 140,000 men are roused to action by fiery union organizer Mother Jones and the women who join her crusade. A would-be union leader is caught in a desperate bind as the zeal for change intensifies.

   Inspired by true events and the author’s personal connection to Pennsylvania coal country, this new folk musical weaves themes of friendship, family, love, loyalty, and loss into a compelling and all too timely story of the poor versus the powerful.

Origin Story

Raising Cain (formerly The Mountains Are Burning) is loosely based on historical events in and around my hometown, Scranton, Pennsylvania – namely, the immigrant experience and the labor activism among coal miners and their families at the dawn of the 20th century.

I was first inspired by a visit to Eckley Miners’ Village Museum in Weatherly, PA, which brought back stories I had heard as a child. While walking the exhibits filled with everything from pickaxes, head lamps and sign-in boards (to keep track of who went into the mine – and who came out), something clicked. I had seen some of these objects in my father’s cluttered garage without understanding their significance.

I suddenly understood that I had grown up on hallowed ground. The sweat and blood of those who came before, including my grandparents, was – and is still – in the soil. They arrived as immigrants in an America that held both promise and disappointment for those who sought its refuge. They built a country that often gave them little in return. And they did so with determination, humor, and grace. Only after several generations were the fruits of their labor to be enjoyed. I felt that their story should be told – and that it was a story that could sing. 

A secondary source of inspiration was Bruce Springsteen’s joyous Seeger Sessions Tour, in which he performed raucous arrangements of songs made famous by that iconic folk artist and activist as well as other classic Americana songs. Hearing music from these earlier eras arranged and played with a gutsy 21st-century energy was in my mind as I left Eckley Village with the thought of putting these miners and their families into a piece of musical theater.

When we left the museum, I told my husband Paul that this would make a great musical. He responded: “So, write it.” And here we are. – Mary Ellen Bernard

principal Characters

  • Mary Harris “Mother” Jones, the audacious labor activist and electrifying speaker who descends upon the area to organize for the nascent United Mine Workers of America.
  • Ziggy Boyarski, experienced miner, uneducated but innately intelligent. A no-nonsense, hard worker who plays by the rules, he is forced into a battle for his soul and his conscience.
  • Zosia Boyarski, Ziggy’s wife, an elegant woman making the most of her crude surroundings while longing for the idyllic life of her childhood in Poland.
  • Magda Boyarski, their smart and strong-willed daughter, who shares both her mother’s romanticism and her father’s sense of justice.
  • Seamus “Riley” O’Riley, Ziggy’s best friend, mining buddy – and his opposite – he is gregarious, high-spirited, and unrestrained, with a strong militant streak.
  • Patrick O’Riley, Riley’s younger brother, a dreamer and a charmer, newly emigrated from Ireland.

Updates

GRANT AWARD:
I’m honored to have received a grant from the Arts Council of Rockland (ACOR) to help finance the transcription of the complete piano-vocal score for the show. LEARN MORE.

INTERVIEW:  WVIA Radio
I visited my hometown NPR station to discuss the evolution of Raising Cain with WVIA Arts Editor Erika Funke. LISTEN HERE!

STAGED READING:
We held our first staged reading to the public at the Pomona (NY) Cultural Center in 2024. Directed by Laurence Ruth, the cast of ten was backed by Paul on guitar and the hugely gifted Jonathan Powers on piano (who has also transcribed Paul’s song demos into our conductor’s score). An audience talkback session provided useful feedback.

OUTREACH: Theaters, Colleges, Producers
We are seeking creative partners to help us bring the show to life, preferably in its place of origin. But we look forward to working with any organization, in Northeast Pennsylvania or elsewhere, to present Raising Cain for an audience who will viscerally connect with the story and its historical significance. CONTACT ME to work with us or learn more!

EARLY DEVELOPMENT
We first introduced the concept for the show at our local cultural center in Pomona, NY. Paul and I, along with two other singers, performed four songs before I had a complete story or cast of characters. The audience response was highly positive and encouraged us to fully develop the project. 

I continued to research, write numerous drafts, solicit script feedback, and make revisions, with Paul composing music to my lyrics and recording song demos. We tested the material with several table readings for invited professionals who offered valuable comments.