Rebel Voices offers a variety of programs which look at the history of different social movements through songs, stories, and narration. The telling of history through song has a special advantage, in that we can learn of history directly through the voices of the people who lived it. Thus it is the equivalent not of reading a text book of history but of studying the original source material.
“Janet and Susan are accomplished musicians, inspiring entertainers, and movement educators all wrapped into one great duo. You’ll love them too!”
-Dan Lahey, Former Director,
Labor Education and Research Center, The Evergreen State College, Olympia
We have developed programs on the following specific themes, and are open to working with your organization to create new programs as well.
- Organize!: One Hundred Years of Working People’s History in Song
- Times Have Changed: Women’s Issues and Struggles from Immigrant Child Labor to Freedom to Choose
- Unsung America: History Through the Eyes of the Disenfranchised
- The Popular Wobbly: Songs of the IWW and the Pacific Northwest
- A New Look at the Bill of Rights: Stretching the Constitution by Exercising Democracy
- Vocal Conspiracy: Harmonizing Together
A Rebel Voices Miniresidency consists of a full concert and a 1-2 hour workshop (i.e., American Studies Seminar on Women’s or Labor History, an interactive harmony workshop, a high school assembly.) Rebel Voices would be happy to tailor their large repertoire to your campus’ or conference’s particular needs. A complete description is available here.
PAST PERFORMANCES
Rebel Voices have performed for festivals, schools, colleges, community organizations, clubs, and coffeehouses across the United States and as far away as England and Portugal. For a detailed list, see here.
Rebel Voices concerts and workshops present the struggles and triumphs of real people – – workers from many lands and many times. Included too, are the voices of today’s rebels: union activists, gays and lesbians, pro-choice advocates, environmental activists, persons with disabilities and those who are usually powerless and therefore too frequently voiceless: children, immigrants, political prisoners. With an integrated vision of theater, harmony and politics, Janet Stecher and Susan Lewis fill the stage with rare power and compassion.
“For anyone who wants to champion and appreciate working women, there is no better voice than Rebel Voices. They make history live and reflect our lives
-Karen Nussbaum, Director
with power, incredible harmonies and fun”
Working Women’s Department, AFL-CIO