Goodman's "History of the Johnstown Flood"

Natural Disaster Recreated on the Goodman Stage

Recommended by Rachael Scholten

In 1889, a poorly constructed dam broke in the hills of the Allegheny Mountains, and the subsequent flood took 2200 lives in the downstream, blue-collar town of Johnstown. The tragedy sparked a nationwide debate about class and inequalities in a time of disaster– an early predecessor to events over a hundred years later in New Orleans. In a meta-commentary about the role of arts in society, playwright Rebecca Gilman follows a traveling theatre group as they navigate the flood and its aftermath.

Insider Info: A True History of the Johnstown Flood is an interesting marriage between Gilman, whose intimate plays fare better in small, black-box theaters, and the breathtaking production elements required to re-create the devastation of 20 million tons of water. While the play itself is good, the production elements take center stage here, with incredible sets, lights, and sounds that really do evoke a disaster of epic proportions. 

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