Celebrating Rosie the Riveter!
WW 2's Homefront Soldiers
book & lyrics and directed by Kathryn G. McCarty
music & orchestration by Mitchell Covington

RIVETS

“A Sweeping Story, Beautifully staged” Pat Craig Contra Costa Times

“Wow! What a Show!” Charles Jarrett, Rossmoor News      

“Fascinating piece of history!” Sally Hogarty, Walnut Creek Journal





Video Promo & Clips from previous productions of
RIVETS
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HERE!



RIVETS:    Rosie the Riveter (the Homefront soldiers of WW2) battles the ever changing landscape of  family and country, while dealing with the powerful blows of racism and sexism in this fictionalized history of the Kaiser Richmond Shipyards.

A full length, two act musical, RIVETS has been been celebrated by thousands of Bay Area residents who recognize the rich history of the Kaiser Shipyards, which produced more ships in WW 2 than any other shipyard in the country.    Rivets has been hosted several times on The Red Oak Victory, the last surviving Victory Ship built in the Kaiser yards.  The Red Oak is a part of The Rosie the Riveter National Park.

A musical which has evolved in front of audiences in seven full runs, the show have been held on the SS Red Oak Victory in Richmond, the Lesher Center for the Arts in Walnut Creek, and at Contra Costa College. 

Creating new theatre is an evolutionary process, and we are working to make RIVETS a musical that will tell this important story of American history to people across the country.   Full treatments of the script, and songlist are available through email.


CAST LIST

The main action of RIVETS takes place in the Kaiser Richmond Shipyard, from 1942-1944.
The action is fluid, without blackout.  

The Mitchell Sisters
Martha Mitchell     Eldest, A Rosie the Riveter
Evelyn Mitchell    Journalist for Fore ‘n Aft, Kaiser Shipyards newspaper
Nancy Mitchell                                    Youngest Sister, Shipyard Worker, Boy Crazy, 17

Ike Lampley(Doubles Worker)       Martha’s Fiancee, Shipyard Superintendent

Mr. William BiondiShipyard Superintendent 
Henry BiondiWilliam Biondi’s Blind brother, plays Saxophone & Guitar, 18

Mr.  Benjamin WalkerAssistant Superintendent, walks with a slight limp or cane

Mrs. Tilden BlairAfrican American Union Organizer
Biddie BlairTilden’s Daughter, a Song Writer and Vocalist, 18

Martin Blair   (Doubles Worker)Tilden’s Son, A Tuskegee Fighter

Joe Boy Presa(Doubles Worker)Soldier, One of Nancy’s many love interests

Catherine RutledgeFloor Manager,  Peggy & Orlando , Mitchell aunt
Orlando RutledgeComic Reading Boy Scout
Peggy RutledgeRadio singer, Henry and Biddie’s best friend, 18

Mr. Wayne (Doubles Bartender)Racist announcer of San Francisco’s KGO radio
Secretary (Doubles as Worker & Newbie)    Ditsy blonde


Ensemble of Rosie the Riveter Shipyard Workers and Soldiers who double in the following roles

Shirley Jones   Former sorority girl, now Rosie
Jo Carol   Shipyard Worker
WisniewskiShipyard Worker
Rosalia GuzmanSpanish Rosie
Alberto GuzmanSpanish Shipyard worker
Scatter Patter   Entertainer

Peabody (Doubles Priest/Director) Older Shipyard Worker
Cameraman
Gladys, a Rosie Actress
Store Clerk

ANOTHER DAY  

ANOTHER DAY! ANOTHER NIGHT!
FROM SHIFT TO SHIFT, NO END IN SIGHT.
WORKING ROUND AND ROUND THE CLOCK
ON THIS DOCK.
PUNCH OUT MY DAY IS DONE!
MIDNIGHT MY DAY'S BEGUN!
FORTY FEET ABOVE THE SEE, NOTHING BETWEEN THE LAND AND ME,
DO MY JOB, STEADY MY FOOTING,
KEEP MY EYES FORWARD.
DONT SURRENDER TO MY FEAR, JUST KEEP BELIEVING.

PANTS  

MEN SELDOM GLANCE,
WHEN I WEAR PANTS.
IT'S THE STYLE, AIN'T IT CUTE?
WE'RE IN VOGUE IN STEEL TOED BOOTS!
THERE'S NOTHING THIS GIRL LACKS,
WEARING NICELY FITTED SLACKS.
BUT WHEN I WANT A MAN TO LOOK AT ME?
I WEAR MY HEM ABOVE THE KNEE!
WE'VE GOT A JOB TO DO -
TELL YOUR SISTERS AND YOUR AUNTS!
IT'S UP TO ME, IT'S UP TO YOU, FROM NOW ON
WE'LL WEAR THE PANTS!

“THESE SHIPS”
THESE SHIPS ARE NAMED FOR
FOLKS WHO CHANGED HISTORY
ORDINARY PEOPLE LIKE YOU AND ME
WHO CHOSE TO BE EXTRAORDINARY
FOR SOMETHING GREATER THAN THEMSELVES
MARCHING MEASURES THAT ARE FAR BEYOND
BECAUSE THIS NATION KNOWS 
EVERYBODY KNOWS
THERE’S A WAR GOING ON ………….

KITCHENWARE TO GUNS
MR. WAYNE:   AMERICAN MEN AND WOMEN -- BURNERS, TACKERS, DRIVERS, WELDERS, CLERKS, AND RIVETERS -- KEEP OUR COUNTRY RUNNING STRONG.  FROM 48 STATES, THEY COME -

FROM KITCHENWARE TO GUNS
FROM SEWING MACHINES TO BOMBS
FROM OUR HOMES TO BATTLEFIELDS
WE KEEP MOVING ON!
FROM SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES,
FROM 5 AND DIMES
NURSING CHILDREN, NURSING SOLDIERS
MARCHING TO THE TIMES

WE’RE MODERN PIONEERS
FROM OREGON TO DELAWARE
IN RAILROAD CARS AND BUSSES
WE HAIL FROM EVERYWHERE

SAMPLE LYRICS