NORTH ADAMS, Mass.— "The Celestials," adapted from Williamstown author Karen Shepard's  novel, shines a light on the history of North Adams and Chinese laborers.

 

The play, by Peter Glazer, debuts at The Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art (MASS MoCA's) Club B10 on June 8 at 7 p.m. 

 

According to a press release:

 

"The Celestials" is set in North Adams in the 1870s when 75 young Chinese men and boys were brought from San Francisco to break a strike in a local shoe factory. It explores how the lives of residents and immigrants alike were affected by the experience. Calvin T. Sampson's shoe factory, once located across the street from MASS MoCA, and the beauty of the surrounding Berkshires, provide the setting for this unusual love story, both historical saga and social commentary.  

 

This play reading is a collaboration between MCLA Arts & Culture (MAC) and MASS MoCA. Admission is $10 and tickets can be purchased online: https://massmoca.org/event/the-celestials/