A Hiawatha Project Original Play
Directed by Anya Martin
Devised by Kyle Bostian, Tom Driscoll, Delana Flowers, Monteze Freeland, and Anya Martin with Angela Baughman and Britton Mauk.
Workshop, Production Photos and Videos
Related Stories
JH: Mechanics of Legend Ensemble
Sponsors & Partners
JH: MECHANICS OF A LEGEND
The legend of John Henry, the only African American tall tale character, is not just a myth — he was a real man and the truth of his story is rooted in the dawn of a new nation and the American machine age. His legacy, left to us in song, tells of the mighty railroad man who races a steam drill until his heart bursts, leaving his fabled hammer to his great love, Polly Ann.
JH: MECHANICS OF A LEGEND melds the language of mechanics, century old ballads and primary historical records to explore the legend of John Henry. A diverse team of artists joins forces with theater making company, Hiawatha Project, to measure the myth, the man, and the machine, revealing a poetic and dangerous truth inside the machinations of history.
Hiawatha Project 