American Rose: Our Gals On The Homefront 1941-45 by Susan Hansell, Spring 1997. (Photo:Back Row Patricia A. Chilsen, Sandra Daley, Jean Taylor Front Row Masha Obolensky, Leslie Jones) Originally the idea for this piece was written and developed by Artistic Director Eileen Phelan under the working title of Rosie the Riveter and performed at HERE's American Livingroom Series and at Todo Con Nada, formerly on Ludlow Street, in 1995. Growing out of that effort, Sightlines Theater Company was founded and a new playwright, Susan Hansell, was commissioned to write a play based upon research done for the original Rosie the Riveter piece. The commissioned play was entitled American Rose and explored the powerful history of the 18 million women who work in non-traditional employment during World War II. These women were known as 'Rosie the Riveter.' The subsequent production was at The Ohio Theater, a loft-style theater that was formerly a factory, in Soho. Themes of women and work and the fifties backlash were explored.
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