A century ago, as labor activist and songwriter Joe Hill faced death by a Utah firing squad for a dubious murder conviction, he sent a telegram to a union leader with the words, “Don’t waste time mourning. Organize!”
Hill’s legacy and music provided the inspiration for Joe Hill’s Last Will, a one-man play that will be performed on June 19 by Grammy-nominated folk singer and songwriter John McCutcheon to benefit the Richmond Peace Education Center. A former Charlottesville resident, McCutcheon has supported the center through such performances for many years, says Adria Scarf, executive director. The story of Joe Hill also has a message that resonates with the RPEC's members, she says.
"Joe Hill talked about the importance of the rights of working people and economic justice, and those are themes that are important to us and important for the larger community to hear and reflect about," Scharf says.
John McCutcheon
7 p.m. VCU Singleton Center for the Performing Arts. $25 ($10 for students). 804-232-1002 or rpec.org.
