American legendary folk singer, songwriter and activist Joan Baez has been at the forefront of cultural and political life for more than 50 years. Joan Baez: The Road To Woodstock is the story of one woman’s commitment to the peace movement and the music that accompanied it.
Baez became the voice of the peace movement with the songs Joe Hill, We Shall Overcome, With God On Our Side and many more. This selection, plus eight of her most rousing and influential songs will be performed along with a number of Janis Joplin songs from the sixties.
This story is about the rise of Joan Baez from folk singer, to performing the music of Bob Dylan and Peter Seeger, all culminating in her brilliant performance at Woodstock in 1969. Embodying the spiritual and political ethos of Baez and the counter-culture movement, this is a timely reminder for peace and the need for the resurgence of the peace movement.
Australian singer Petra Elliott will perform as Joan Baez. She will imbue the spirit of the songs with stories of the music and reflect on her life at the time. Bekkii O’Connor performs as Janis Joplin and Musical Director Paul Watson will also play Bob Dylan and Pete Seeger.
“Joan Baez: The Road To Woodstock is an attempt to revisit the days of the peace movement in the 1960’s”, says playwright Neil Cole. “She was the voice of the peace movement and in a time when we have war and hostility going on it was time to reflect on her work and her songs of peace.”
Neil Cole is an award winning playwright and Joan Baez: The Road To Woodstock is his twentieth play. A former Member of Parliament in Victoria, he was the Shadow Attorney General in the mid 90’s and the first politician in Australia and overseas to publicly discuss his mental illness, bipolar mood disorder. He is an Associate Professor, Mental Health, The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health. He has published two books and written extensively for academic journals about mental health.
Joan Baez: The Road To Woodstock
Chapel off Chapel, 12 Little Chapel Street, Prahran
Season: 21 April – 3 May 2015
Bookings: (03) 8290 7000 or online at: www.chapeloffchapel.com.au
For more information, visit: www.chapeloffchapel.com.au for details.
Image: Joan Baez