Genre: Drama with music, in two acts
Period: mid-19 century
Settings: New York Harbor, a farm in Kentucky, a mining town in Nevada, Levi Strauss factory, San Francisco
Synopsis:
-
JEANS! tells the story of the invention of blue jeans--the pants that
won
the West and the world, becoming an American icon.
It is based on historical fact and real characters, Levi Strauss and
Jacob
Davis. For the sake of drama and humor, fictional characters and events
have
been created. The story is also that of the American dream. A penniless
Jewish immigrant, Jacob Davis, comes to the United States with his
family,
makes his way West and after many failures achieves success. The play
celebrates an individual's ability to recast himself in a new
environment--a
story common to the American West.
Subplots involve Davis' two motherless daughters, both of whom have their own big dreams, and a romantic interest between Davis and an energetic widow, Bella Cohen. The relationship between Davis and Levi Strauss develops throughout the play and closely follows true events.
JEANS! contains fourteen songs, all with original lyrics, all with popular tunes, using sheet music in the public domain. A sample CD of the songs, as well as a full scene-by-scene synopsis, cast list, and full script are available upon request. The play may be performed with as few as 13 actors or as many as 35. It has been performed by both children and adults and is suitable for audiences of all ages.
Sasha Nikolaev plays a farm woman in JEANS! Farm hands (L to R) Alex Vetushko, David Freeland, Gosha Vetushko and Daniel Vetushko read news about the Gold Rush.
Letters published after the first showing:
Audio samplers:
-
We're gonna leave Kentucky
-
The widow Bella Cohan
-
Alkali Ike's Complaint
-
I have a feeling
-
The gold mines
Historical note:
From the Levi Strauss website: On May 20, 1873, the two men received patent #139,121 from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. We consider that day to be the official birthday of blue jeans. For more information on the history of the Strauss company, go to http://www.levistrauss.com. For Jacob Davis' legacy go to http://www.bendavis.com.
The letter written by Davis to Strauss, suggesting partnership, is available on the Ben Davis web site.
DISCLAIMER:
Levi Strauss and Jacob Davis secured the patent for riveted pants. Louis Stern also existed. All dialogue, other characters, and situations are products of the authors imaginations and any resemblance to actual persons living or dead or events is coincidental. The timelines have been altered for dramatic purposes.
Performance history:
Staged reading: Capp Street Theatre, San Francisco, February 2004;
Staged reading: Sunnyvale Community Theatre, Sunnyvale, CA, September
2004;
Full production: Main Street Arts Theatre, Saxtons River, Vermont,
November, 2004.
The local newspaper published
this great review by Anne Lawrence Guyon.
Backstage and on-stage pictures
Full production:
Children's Drama Studio/TheaterGames at Congregation Beth Am,
Los Altos Hills, CA, March 2007.
Emigre letter.
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Dedicated to the memory of Jos Claerbout, whose acting made the villain Mr. Green into Mr. Charming.