The Trial of Mother Jones
The Trial of Mother Jones
Genre: Historical Drama
Format: Live In-Person Performance
Keywords: Workers' Rights, Labor History, Participatory Theatre, Period Piece
Cast Size: 18+ (9 male, 3 female, 8+ any gender); with doubling, 5 (2 female, 3 male); optional extras
Duration: ~90 minutes
Time Period: 1914
Cautions: Occasional strong language, references to and depictions of violence
Contact info@gitelmangoodpublishers.com with questions.
Set in the aftermath of the 1914 Ludlow Massacre, The Trial of Mother Jones dramatizes the fiery and relentless fight for workers' rights led by Mary Harris "Mother" Jones, one of America's most influential labor organizers. This historical two-act play places the audience in the heart of the action as union members tasked with deciding Mother Jones’ fate. Through tense courtroom-style debates, vivid flashbacks, and powerful oratory, the play explores themes of justice, sacrifice, and the human cost of social change. With key historical figures like Clarence Darrow and John D. Rockefeller Jr. shaping the narrative, the story captures the labor movement's most pivotal conflict and challenges audiences to reflect on the power of collective action. Perfect for student productions and educational theatre, this script offers a compelling exploration of history through drama.
How We Price
Our pricing is simple and transparent. Each play includes two parts: a one-time script fee of $150, which grants you immediate access to the play and permission to copy and share it within your program; and a performance license of $65 per performance, which covers your live productions for the selected license duration.
How You License
At checkout, select your license duration (for example, the current or next school year) and the number of performances you plan to give. Each license covers live, in-person performances.
What You Get
You’ll receive an instant PDF download of the full script. During your license period, you’re free to copy, print, and share the script within your school or theatre program for rehearsal and performance use—no per-script fees or copy limits.
Praise for This Play
“A stirring, well-researched script … A triumph of justice and effective drama. The play works as both a history lesson and a drama, raising questions and emotions alike. For once, the other side of the story is told, the story of the wretched and oppressed.” - Leslie Burger, Boulder Daily Camera
“The piece is deeply researched and presents many openings for digging deeper to find answers, encouraging the audience to use the context to examine similar actions in our current society”. - Shirley Lorraine, Ventura Breeze
“Entertaining, educating, and enriching” - Broadway World
Customer Reviews
Roger Holzberg’s The Trial of Mother Jones is a gripping, thought-provoking play that transports audiences to the heart of the 1914 Colorado Coalfield War, a brutal chapter in American labor history. This participatory production, inspired by real events, masterfully blends historical drama with moral complexity, inviting the audience to grapple with the weighty question: when does oppression justify rebellion?
As a former California school administrator, I believe The Trial of Mother Jones could readily be introduced into high school curriculum for the study of American labor history; Mother Jones’ impact on child labor; and a powerful exploration of resistance, sacrifice, and the cost of justice.
We as Americans need real heroes right now. Mother Jones and Clarence Darrow helped bring freedom and justice to our country. This play shows us how Mother Jones and her fight for labor unions was, and continues to be, so important to American history. The production I saw in Oxnard, CA, was rousing, moving, joyful, powerful, and, surprisingly, funny. Mother Jones's wicked sense of humor carried her through the play's darkest moments. Students all over America should see this challenging and perceptive play!
Witnessing this play again after nearly 50 years, I was blown away by how solid, vital and impactful it can be. Both Mother Jones and Clarence Darrow are iconic figures who can speak clearly to any age, but in today's world, high school audiences need to know them RIGHT NOW.
Elite Theater in Oxnard CA produced an excellent staged version. However in my own experience booking The Trial of Mother Jones for HS audiences in Colorado and Wyoming in the 1970's was truly doing the good work of allowing young audiences to sit up and pay attention to the lessons of history and of honorable Americans. Take a look!
It was such a good play, a valuable history lesson and a wonderful discussion starter. I saw the play at The Skylight and found the after show talkback to be valuable for the entire audience because the topics of the play were so immediate and current.
This play is extremely well researched, informative, and never more pertinent than now to the US's political climate. As a high school English teacher, I could easily imagine students benefitting from a unit designed around this play!