Bone Hill

Bone Hill

  • Bone Hill Martha Redbone

Presented as a dramatic musical work with a cast of seven actors/musicians, BONE HILL: THE CONCERT is a devised, interdisciplinary theater work inspired by Martha Redbone’s family lineage in the Appalachian Mountains. An epic story of one woman’s return to her homeland on Black Mountain and the coalmines of Harlan County, KY where her family have dwelled for centuries.

Spanning the lives and stories of four generations of women in a Southeastern Indigenous family Redbone travels back in time to her childhood and beyond into the memories and tales of her ancestors. It is a story about the

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Intro

  • Bone Hill Martha Redbone

Presented as a dramatic musical work with a cast of seven actors/musicians, BONE HILL: THE CONCERT is a devised, interdisciplinary theater work inspired by Martha Redbone’s family lineage in the Appalachian Mountains. An epic story of one woman’s return to her homeland on Black Mountain and the coalmines of Harlan County, KY where her family have dwelled for centuries.

Spanning the lives and stories of four generations of women in a Southeastern Indigenous family Redbone travels back in time to her childhood and beyond into the memories and tales of her ancestors. It is a story about the family’s connection to the land – the simplicity and sacredness of that connection and the ruptures that threaten to extinguish it. The journey brings to light an important piece of American history that has remained untold.

Created by Martha Redbone and Aaron Whitby, with all music and lyrics by Martha Redbone and Aaron Whitby.

FORMATS

Standard Performance

Interdisciplinary theater work featuring a seven-piece ensemble (five voices w/ one doubling on cello, violin/harmonica, banjo/guitar, bass, drums, and piano).

OUTREACH

Educational Study Topics

  1. The US Calvary’s attempts to exterminate and remove the native people (Indian Removal Act and the resultant “Trail of Tears”). Policies of the American Government towards America’s Indigenous people can be studied, stimulating thinking about one’s relationship to the land as a person and as a government.
  2. The Coal Mining companies attempts to force the Native people off their land to mine it and their manipulative practices towards accomplishing their goals. This topic raises questions about mining practices including their environmental and social impact.
  3. Study of the Jim Crow Laws, which perpetuated deep discrimination against native and black Americans.
  4. Cultural preservation, Indigenous rights, and Cultural identity are all topics that Martha has given talks on. Students can engage in dialogue around racial identity and diversity in both an historical and personal context. American racial identity as expressed by DNA, laws and choices, and finding one’s own roots.
  5. History of coal mining and the resultant environmental destruction and widespread poverty present in Appalachia now.

Outreach and Residency Activities*

  1. Student performances for young people (full cast OR songs as written, played on piano by Aaron with Martha OR Martha Redbone Trio performance).
  2. Panels or discussion formats in American History, on any of the above topics – bringing in local professors and experts to teach with Martha.
  3. Martha’s Southeastern Woodlands traditional music workshop.
  4. Post-show Q&A.
  5. Residency for a day to visit many of these topics in classrooms.
  6. In addition Martha can also lecture on these topics (options include but are not limited to):
    • Southeastern Native & African American History and Culture and Intersections
    • The lives of black coal miners in Appalachia
    • The indigenous roots of American music
    • Challenges facing women in the arts, the role of identity and politics in art
    • Songwriting and performance

*As example, Martha helped curate the Native American session of Carnegie Hall’s youth K-2 music program MUSICAL EXPLORERS.

 

 

Please contact your SRO Artist Representative if you are interested in Outreach Activities from Bone Hill.

ITINERARY

02.21.2025 MO, St. Louis
Sheldon Concert Hall
02.28.2025 CA, Berkeley
Zellerbach Auditorium
07.17.2025 NY, Clayton
Clayton Opera House

PROMO ASSETS

Documents

Artist Bio Bone Hill (revision pending) | PDF | DOC
Artist Bio Martha Redbone | PDF | DOC
Outreach Activities | PDF | DOC
Program Notes (available specifically for each performance, contact Pertz)

Images

Martha Redbone's "Bone Hill - The Concert" - Publicity Images - 2016 Martha Redbone's "Bone Hill - The Concert" - Publicity Images - 2016 Martha Redbone's "Bone Hill - The Concert" - Publicity Images - 2016
Additional “Bone Hill” Images avail via DropBox | LINK
Also available, Martha Redbone Publicity Images | LINK
Check back soon to find additional high-res photo and admat downloads. For immediate needs, contact Pertz.

Media

Bone Hill – EPK 2018
> Audio Bed Reel (audio only from video promo reel)  |  MP3
> Video Promo Reel (960/540 pixels)  |  STREAM  |  MOV/zip