SS Red Oak Victory (Richmond, CA)
Rivets, the new musical celebrating Rosie the Riveter, pays tribute to the family and loved ones left behind when 16 million American soldiers left to fight WWII. The show will be performed on the SS Red Oak Victory at the site of the historic Kaiser Richmond Shipyards in Rosie the Riveter National Park.
Event summary prepared by the Goldstar Editorial Team.
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The last event was Friday October 24, 2008 / 8:00pm. (view all dates)
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Very good show. We were surprised how large a cast it had. The overall story was a little weak....basically several vignette's/musical numbers without a compelling story woven through it all. Good use of local references and events during the WW II shipbuilding era. Some cast voices were great, some didn't project as well. Some of the jokes were a little lame and were guaranteed to get a reaction from the audience, like references to gasoline prices. The story line of the blind white man falling in love with the black woman was a bit trite and cliched. But overall, a good show and we enjoyed the location.
I liked the music, but thought there was too much emphysis on the racial conflict of this period, which likely left some uncomfortable as we are more intested in something uplifting with this diverse cast. I personally would emphysize more of the positive interaction that occured. I'm fully aware of the racial tension that prevailed during this time, which is well documented, i.e., Port Chicago Mutany, and my tour of duty in the Navy 15 years later proves that racial tension had made a dramatic turnaround.
This was great (aside from the metal folding chairs!). Good singing, interesting venue. Fun evening.
The cast was enthusiastic (and so was the audience). The musical moved along at a fast clip - no dead zones. After the show the cast was outside to say goodnight to everyone. i would recommend it to anyone who is looking for a bit of nostalgia (I loved the Lucy Strike Green and Bryll Creme commercials.) and a fun evening!
What a great show. The venue is spectacular and everyone should go see it. Singers are fantastic and the story is superb. Don't miss it!
The Kaiser Shipyards, the most famous and productive shipyards in the San Francisco Bay Area, serve as backdrop for RIVETS, which will run on the historic site Thursdays-Sundays, October 9-26, 2008.
The deck of the SS Red Oak Victory boasts views of both the Bay and Golden Gate Bridges and the Port of Oakland. “We are grateful have a musical that celebrates the dedication of Americans during WW2 performed on the ship during FLEET WEEK,” said Lois Boyle, President of the Richmond Museum Organization, owners of the Red Oak.
“The show’s characters are fictional,” McCarty explains, “but the story is based on a decade of historical research. Henry J. Kaiser's Shipyards produced the ships that helped America win WW 2, and changed our country forever.”
McCarty who penned the story, book and lyrics to RIVETS added that producing the show in the Kaiser Shipyard is an honor. “Being in the site where history was created, and understanding the significance of the American contribution, of those who worked around the clock to bring home their fathers, husbands and brothers – it’s monumental for all involved.”
With most of the Country’s men at war, women entered the work force for the first time in history. Women known as “Rosie the Riveter,” “Wendy the Welder” and “Dynamite Dorothy” were led by industrial geniuses like Henry J. Kaiser. The Bay Area had the largest concentration of shipbuilding, reaching from the Golden Gate nearly a hundred miles east to Stockton, with 14 shipyards contained within the area. The Kaiser Shipyard in Richmond employed over 40% of the area’s 250,000 shipyard workers.
The Red Oak Victory ship is the last surviving Victory ship built and launched in the Kaiser Richmond Shipyard.
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