She Died for Our Convenience Chorus
The chorus for She Died for Our Convenience was a group of women and non-binary singers who had never sung together before. They rehearsed Monday nights in the spring of 2019 and gave their full hearts to the women who’d worked at the mill. The music was directed by composer Chrissy Wolpert and assistant director Clara Weishahn.
Laura Almeida
Sarah Bernstein
Aria Boutet
Jenine Bressner
Kris Brown
Emily Bryant
Jamie Burke
Cristin Cali
Jeannine Chartier
Jane Diener
Melanie Fuest & Patricia McGee
Lu Heintz
Marisa Kambour
Martha Lavierei
Suzu Ledoux
“I am an actor, educator and mother of two. I moved to Providence from New York and this is my second performance with Strange Attractor. SDFOC was meaningful because it was a chance to sing, to build community and to honor the stories of the women of the mills.”
Jenna Legault
"Pretending to be a ghost was great practice for my future hauntings."
Jen Long
Tristan Munchel
Eli Nixon
Colleen O’Donnell
Sarah Reis
Kimi Rich
“woman, artist, mother”
Susi Ryan
“I am first generation American born citizen in my maternal family from Eastern Germany and a descendant of Enslaved Africans in the USA in my paternal family. I am a peaceful activist for social justice, Fiber Artist, co-founder and current President of SISTERS IN STITCHES JOINED BY THE CLOTH QUILT GUILD, a CSA worker at Cotyledon organic vegetable farm and an Associate of Inspired By Courage.
Performing in She Died For Our Convenience was a once in lifetime opportunity with purpose. I am honored that I was able to participate and in doing so the memories and history of so many people and the land will not be forgotten, especially the historically less documented, Women of Color.”
Kate Schapira
Emma Schlam
Casey Seymour Kim
Wanda Strukus
Cassie Tharinger
Elizabeth Truskoski
Johanna Walczak
Vikki Warner
Lauren Watka
“As a Providence resident, I was excited to be part of this project bringing some of this city's untold history to life. What a powerful thing when a group of women come together with a mission and some music.”
Clara Weishahn
“I am a theatre artist who collaborates frequently with Strange Attractor. The opportunity to assist with the creation of this choral haunting and sing Chrissy Wolpert's gorgeous music with 39 other voices was one of the most powerful and empowering experiences I've had as a performer/creator. I am in awe of the Rhode Island community for their support of and participation in this unforgettable experience.”
Anna Wingfield
”I am an art educator and drummer. Chrissy approached me about playing percussion in a ‘choral haunting’ in Fall 2018. I had no idea what she had in mind, but everything she does is amazing so I knew I had to say yes no matter what. I usually play behind a band, but being positioned behind 40 vocalists was a totally new world for me. I was so nervous to be on my own with the drums but everyone in the chorus was super supportive of each other and it was a magical experience. It truly felt like a haunting and also a beautiful remembrance of the women who worked at the Paragon Mill. I wish we could do it all over again!”
Chrissy Wolpert
Tatyana Yanishevsky
E Ymeraga
Jenny Young
Ellen Zahniser
”in the immediate silence of the performance's end when i was walking away from the audience, i thought i heard the sound of a ghost inside the mill singing a sopranic response to the choir. it was very wonderful! afterwards i felt overwhelmed with beautiful feelings!”
Photos by Maxwell Snyder