The Triangle Factory Fire Project

by Christopher Piehler

Saturday, March 25, 1911. 4:45 P.M. In the Triangle Waist Factory off downtown Manhattan s Washington Square where 500 immigrant workers from Poland, Russia and Italy toil fourteen-hour days making lady s dresses a cigarette is tossed into a bin of fabric scraps. Despite desperate efforts, flames sweep through the eighth, ninth and tenth floors. Panic-stricken workers run in all directions. On the ninth floor, some make it to the fire escape, only to have it collapse beneath their weight. Others run to the exit door but find it locked many, including the soon-to-be-married Margaret Schwartz, die with their hands on the doorknob. Dozens leap from the windows to their deaths, shocking the crowd of onlookers gathered below. And some through bravery or sheer luck make it out alive. In the space of twenty-eight minutes, the fire is under control, but 146 people, mainly young immigrant girls, have died. THE TRIANGLE FACTORY FIRE PROJECT uses eyewitness accounts, court transcripts and other archival material to create a dramatic moment-by-moment account of this historic fire and the social upheaval that followed. It culminates in the manslaughter trial of the owners, Isaac Harris and Max Blanck, whose shocking acquittal inspires new outrage across New York and the entire country, the repercussions of which shaped social, political and economic policies for decades to come. By using real words spoken by real people, from Ukrainian seamstresses to millionaire Fifth Avenue socialites, THE TRIANGLE FACTORY FIRE PROJECT paints a heartbreakingly clear picture of a disastrous day in American history and explores the human toll such a tragedy takes on us all.

Genres: Plays, Theatre, Historical Fiction

72 pages, Paperback

First published December 30, 2005

Reviews

[Mia Costa · Rating 4 out of 5]

The playwright written by Christopher Piehler is based on the event, The Triangle Factory Fire project. On Saturday, March 25, 1911, at approximately 4:45pm, In the Triangle Waist Factory in downtown Manhattan’s Washington square 500 immigrant workers went through a traumatizing event due a horrendous fire outbreak. They were workers from Poland, Russia and Italy all working fourteen hour days sewing and making women's dresses. When all the workers knew there were no smoking signs all over the walls still no one really followed rules and still few smoked. When one day someone tossed a slightly finished cigarette into a bin of fabric scraps. Therefore starting flames all throughout the eighth, ninth, and tenth floors all evolving around the building. All the workers including newly engaged Margaret Schwartz all died with their hands on doorknobs from trying to escape. Only a few lucky ones made it out alive. All within a span of twenty eight minutes the fire was still spreading and 146 mainly young women had died. A case opens which culminates in a trial of manslaughter, the owners Issac Harris and Max Blank. This outbreak was all across the entire country but especially New York. This shaped all social, political and economic policies for decades and even more to come. The fire project created a heartbreaking and forgetful history for many lives.

After reading the play I had a lot of mixed emotions about the whole story. I remembered reading about this back in my early high school days. It's different reading about it in scripted form. It is upsetting that this is based on a true story because this is actual lives taken away just because of a cigarette. Here’s another reason not to smoke, not only are you killing yourself but in a matter of seconds it can kill someone else. Also by the middle or near end of the play, I didn’t like how no one was guilty for starting the fire. They should’ve invested in more of the story to find out who actually started the fire, even though that person knew that there was no smoking allowed. I also feel super bad about Margaret because she was a soon-to-be married woman, and all of a sudden she wasn’t. It is crazy to think about how these women were going through, reading how some were trapped or some falling out of the building to choose their death. I couldn’t even think about what I would’ve chosen to do. Whether picking to fall to my death or be burned alive. These poor women have no peace. Them working all day in a hot building making dresses for 14 hours then going to your death in the workplace. Rest in peace to all these women.

[Sean Herrera · Rating 5 out of 5]

Summary: On March 25, 1911, one of the worst tragedies in American Labor history occurred, and 146 people mainly young immigrant girls died. In Washington Square located in Downtown Manhattan the Triangle Waist Factory, they have employed 500 workers who immigrated from Poland, Russia, and Italy and worked fourteen-hour days making dresses for women. Flames sweep through the eighth, ninth, and tenth floors caused by a cigarette tossed into a bin full of fabric scraps. Workers panic and run for their lives and those on the ninth floor make it to the fire escape but it collapses beneath their weight. As bystanders watch in horror as the tragedy unfolds many of the workers jump from the windows falling to their death. Workers tried to escape but as they tried to open the doors they found it locked and Margaret Schwartz who was going to be married soon died with her hands still on the doorknob. The few fortunate women through bravery and luck managed to make it out alive but as the fire ravaged them for twenty-eight minutes many lives were lost.
Commentary: I think the class, ethnic, and gender divisions are a great historical context to pay attention to as the story revolves around the Triangle Factory fire and the victims were mostly immigrant women who fell below the poverty line. A heartfelt dramatic action throughout the story is the lack of protection workers endured. Business workers also took advantage of these workers by forcing them to work long shifts in horrible conditions for a small paycheck. The structure of the play is also interesting to me as we see many of the practices deployed at the time still alive and well today such as companies making as much money as possible. Although regulations have been put in place since then the progress made has been slow considering an event where people lose their lives has to occur for real change. I do like how the Triangle Factory Fire is a story about a tragedy that created a much-needed labor reform and workplace conditions for workers in the United States but it is sad how the loss of life is needed to implement such changes.

[Kaitlynn Rodriguez]

In the play titled “The Triangle Factory Fire Project” the author Christopher Piehler recounts the story of a devastating fire that broke out in a factory that produced the new and well-sought-after shirtwaists. The Shirtwaist was a revolutionary new piece of clothing geared toward working-class women. It would allow for less restricted movement around the work environment and a professional style. Naturally, there was a big demand for shirtwaists so factory owners had many women working at the sewing machines, and some men working in other places of the factory. Sadly, one day a huge fire broke out at the factory. As men and women scrambled to find exits they were met with locked doors and overcrowded halls of women in a panic. As the fire drew near and its scorching temperatures were felt, the people trapped inside felt they had no other choice but to jump out from the windows. Although some made it out of the factory alive and some others left with minor injuries, others were not so lucky. A total of 150 workers died from either the fire itself or the plummet to the ground from the factory windows.
Overall, I think this play's use of historical context helps readers remember the many injustices women faced around the same time and why things happened the way they did. For example, when the two factory owners Mr. Harris and Mr. Blanck are put on trial with a jury, we find out that the jury consists of only men and one of those men is a factory owner himself. Back in the time this play is set, women weren't allowed to vote, much less take part in a jury and decide whether someone was guilty or not. I think the addition of historical context and eyewitness accounts made it easy to sympathize with the women who retell their experiences of the devastating fire.

[Madison Oliver]

The Triangle Factory Fire Project describes the tragic events of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire and the events that follow. It details the investigation, trials, and social reformation efforts that come out of the fire and brings to light the government neglect of factory workers during this time. While this play touches on the great amount of loss that happened during this tragedy, it also highlights the great heroism of many individuals and their roles in trying to save those in the building, and advocating for justice for victims and their families after the fire.
Overall, I thought this play was beautifully written to depict how heartbreaking this event was, not only for the families of those directly affected, but the pain felt by labor workers all over the country who also experienced harsh working conditions at the time. The story was very intense from start to finish and dramatized all the right moments to emphasize the fear that people experienced in the moments of the fire. The only issue I would say was that I felt the play was more of an article or journal report, telling events of what happened as one would see in a news article, especially with the headings, rather than in a play format. This was effective to some extent and made it seem like a headline to draw attention to its importance, but I found that it wasn’t as fluid to read. All in all, a very enjoyable play with an expanse of emotion that shows the gateway into justice for factory workers all over the country.

[Jeffrey · Rating 3 out of 5]

I always find plays to be a hassle to read, however, this one was interesting due to the historical event.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Triangle Factory Fire Project, written by Christopher Piehler, in collaboration with Scott Alan Evans, looks at the 1910 industrial disaster of the same name, which took the lives of 146 garment workers in New York City, through an interesting lens. A total of nine actors, playing multiple roles, take us through not only the horrific accident, but also the trial of the factory owners whom the victim’s families and the public wanted to be held accountable.
A strong use of dramaturgy, the play features a constant run of actual headlines from the time, threaded throughout the play, to give the reader/viewer a strong historical context through which to receive the play. The headlines mostly comment on racial issues, worker’s rights, and consumer products (to give us an idea of the economy in 1910).
To create a more personal connection with the audience, the playwright chose however to focus on the story of one victim in particular, Margaret Schwartz—a garment worker and promising voice among the women she worked with. We are drawn into Union meetings in the pre-suffragette era, reminded of how brute force was used to intimidate workers, and we are shown the terrible injustices that women (especially immigrants and unwed women) faced in the workplace. There is one mention, specifically, about the Union fighting for a 52-hour work week, something unimaginable to us today.
The choice to have the story told as it happened, through the voices of the workers who survived was a strong one. My only qualm with this is that the play sometimes read more like an article or story due to the fact that we have actors mostly talking to us instead of with each other. I feel that hurt the play slightly in that I wanted to see scenes from the homes of the survivors and victims alike, see what it did to the interiors of the families involved—rather than only focus on their public delivery of the events. We do, however, get a taste of this at the end of the play when we learn the fate of Margaret’s brother following the trial. Overall, I enjoyed this and would be very interested in seeing it performed.

[Jacqueline · Rating 5 out of 5]

Summary: The Triangle Factory Fire Project depicts the accounts of what took place on March 25, 1911. On this date, The Triangle Waist Factory went in flames resulting in the tragic deaths of some 150 people. Hundreds of immigrant workers were employed there. This play takes us through multiple accounts from these workers as well as the reporter who was on scene. Through their depictions we learn of how unfit the working conditions were. They had a fire escape collapse under weight, elevators at capacity and locked doors. Facing these tragic circumstances that prevent escape, many jump to their death in an avoidance of burning to death.


Review: I found the depiction of accounts beautifully tragic. It allows us to truly visualize the events in real time as it goes person by person what they endured and saw. It shows us the long term effects of tragic circumstances. With the loss of lives from the fire, it resulted in laws for work safety as well as further calls for unions. Buildings now have to be up to code, which likely was a direct result from the collapse of the fire escape. Despite the law in place for needing doors unlocked during work hours, the owners of the factory still got away with it. This play showcases how the jury (consisting of all males) and trial was bias in their favor for the owners. I found the play hard to stomach at times. For those who remember the events of 9/11 this play has many similarities to those events, especially with the depictions of their decisions to jump and the descriptions of the sounds. I did find the play easy to follow along and like the format of it being multiple people speaking their accounts on what occurred. It gives a similar format to the classic lawyer films as well as similarities to the trial scenes in the play Chicago. Overall, I found myself very invested in reading this play. It would not be one I will read again because of how difficult it can be to stomach. But otherwise it gives amazing historical context.

***Trigger warnings

[David Anzaldo · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Triangle Factory Fire Project is a book based off of the tragic Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire of March 15th 1911. It is a heart wrenching retelling of the events in a blend of historical true to live events and the humanization Christopher Piehler gave to life of these characters/victims in the play. The story centers around Margaret Schwartz a woman who has previously took part in a protest for better wages and her experience during the tragic event and its aftermath. The play uses the actors and stage to create unique displays of symbolism only possible within this medium. For instance the part where Margaret is beat by thugs but gets back up to join the marching women. Piehler also excellently shows the eventual degradation of this strong character when she falls over and can't get up again. This play's first act almost reads like a horror in which the events of the fire are described. during the beginning of the fire many people are trying to help or work together but as it eventually engulfs the entire floor and leaves them with no escape civility is thrown out and the raw nature of survival is exposed to the audience. The description of the panicking and frenzied acts to survive in the face of horrible deaths such as trampling, asphyxiation, jumping to their deaths, and burning are made more real and intense through the humanization of the girl's introducing themselves in the beginning. This effect is felt more with scenes where they show these girls had lives and futures ripped from them like the rings and necklaces melted into the charred bodies. I was happy the ending was on a good note of the headlines showing the reform and the eventual takedown of the two main owners of the factory. My overall opinion was that this play is a perfect example of how literature can add a voice to victims and shed light on injustices of the era to serve as examples to future generations and their struggles.

[Arely Calderon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brief Summary- The Triangle Factory Fire Project play tells a narrative through the multiple lenses of what exactly went wrong in the Triangle Waist Factory. Written by Christopher Piehler alongside Scott Allan Evans in 2005. The narrative is set in 1911, and tells of what happened on March 25 which resulted in the death of about 146 factory workers. Known as one of the deadliest industrial disasters in history in Manhattan, New York. A cigarette was tossed into some bin with material, catching on fire and burning the building from within. The only fire escape available collapsed, making an exit unavailable to the victims inside. We acknowledge this play from the multiple accounts and perspectives to learn of the historical context behind this incident such as the court trial in which the victims’ families fight for
justice and accountability.

My Review- Analyzing this play from multiple lenses was an interesting experience to understand the timeline of events and how everything occurred. This is a tragic event that could be used as an example to encourage safety union laws in workplaces, to avoid such incidents as this one. Although the play itself was a little difficult to understand the way it’s written in, it was almost like an article and also how fast it shifts from multiple perspectives. I believe this would be a play that would be preferred to view instead of reading, as it seems that the characters are speaking directly to us readers and enlightening us. It shows all the struggles of labor workers and the tragedy of those who had died in the fire, also how their families seek out justice to be served against the factory owners for their factory’s bad working conditions. It was overall a very intense reading, filled with tragedy from the beginning and knowing that this is a real event makes it even worse to stomach.

[Samantha Escobar · Rating 4 out of 5]

This play is based on the tragic events that occurred in 1911. Before these tragic events labor laws for minors and even just having sprinklers in a building were nonexistent. Furthermore, it is clear while researching and reading about this play that a lot of the concrete details were used in the play. In addition in Act II with the courtroom and trial happening we as an audience, are given the tools in Act I to really put in perspective how wrong everything that occurred was and simply how easy of a fix it could have been. This play really encaptures the details of this American tragedy and how much they failed those 146 immigrants.
When it comes to what I enjoyed from the play I would have to say first that I enjoyed all the minute details that you would not notice unless you did your research. There is so much that happened in that factory and also the consequences and changes that were made. As the co-artistic director Scott Alan Evans said “It's very much very much a documentary theatre piece”. Further, as an audience and reader, I can say I agree very much with that statement and how much this play felt like a documentary. Additionally, I also enjoyed the aspect of involving politics in the play as well because again it really sticks to the actual events of what happened in New York during and after the trial. As I said previously immigrants were the ones affected by this tragedy and I really enjoyed that the play incorporated what countries these workers were from and did not leave it as just a woman working at this factory. Having the incorporation of the background of these workers who lost their lives I found it to be very important to their stories since these are real people that they based the characters off of.

[Angelina G · Rating 4 out of 5]

The “Triangle Factory Fire Project” tells a disturbing look at the value of human life when it comes to profit. This play is a historic reenactment of the tragedy of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire that claimed 146 people by unsafe working conditions. By using headlines, witness statements, and deceased individuals as dialogue, this play is a reminder of how much a strong and powerful working class union is needed. Within this framework, the author is able to build and keep the intensity of the incident throughout its reading. He has created a piece that makes us question the conditions of the working class today.

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I personally found this play very intense, in a good way. The reader is able to keep up with understanding the tragedy of this incident and its effects. I think that the authors use of headlines was interesting because it describes the tragedies, the effects and it also reads off advertisements. It’s as if it is saying to public, yes we understand that people died but we still need to make sure products sell. It makes one question the value of a human life within the machine of capitalism. Another aspect that this play brings to the attention of the people is how little the working class is protected. With little to no protection the working class, women and immigrants in particular, become preyed upon and exploited as we see here in this play. I believe that this play is an important reminder for everyone that there are some people that will exploit what and who they can if they could get away with it.

[Trinity]

The Triangle Fire Factory Fire” by Christopher Piehler is a play about a tragedy which occurred in 1911. Causing 146 factory workers to lose their lives, most of whom were young immigrant girls, trying to make a living in the new country they traveled to. Most of the play is written by testimony of the workers who were able to make it out of the building alive. Through their testimony the readers are given a clear and horrible vision of the details that lead to the demise of 146 workers. The fire was started by a cigarette that was tossed into a fabric scrap bin, and the fire was contained after twenty eight minutes. While reading the play, readers can question why there were little to no safety measures taken to ensure the safety of the workers in the factory. The owners of the Triangle Factory, Isaac Harris and Max Blank, had buckets of water placed throughout the factory which the workers could use if any fires were to happen. This method was effective when they had small fires but they could have never predicted the amount of destruction that would happen on March 25, 1911.
While “The Triangle Fire Factory Fire” is a good play, some readers may find it hard to read. It does contain excerpts of graphic details on death. Some scenes might be a little too graphic for some audiences to read, so my suggestion for this play is mature. Even at that I do recommend a warning for this play if it is to be read as class assignments.

[Jaqueline Castaneda · Rating 5 out of 5]

The play "The Triangle Factory Fire Project" surrounds itself with a tragic event in a time when workplaces did not care about the safety of humans. It focuses on the life of the workers specifically women. In the factory, an awful incident happened and the aftermath very much affected society. It's a very tough but important story that has a deeper message than just talking about the tragedy.

The play was a very cruel but eye-opening story about history and how life used to be working in factories without safety. The play gave off a lot of tension and urgency constantly keeping me on my toes. The journey of the characters and how they develop throughout the play is very interesting because it shows how things have changed over time. The most outstanding thing to me was how the workers were described and mentioned such as women and immigrants and how they were treated which made me reflect on what still needs to be fixed in our society today. The choice of words in the play definitely hit deep and made me feel what the characters are going through. Although the play might have felt rushed a little bit, there are some points in the story that could have gone a bit more in-depth. Overall, the play made me think back at the times when people did not care enough about other people's lives and it gave me a powerful reminder that even though things have gotten a bit better, there are many issues that still need to be brought up and fixed.

[valeria chiquito]

The triangle factory fire project tells the story of what happened on March 11th, 1911, where a fire broke out in the top floors of the triangle shirtwaist factory, in which 146 workers perished, among them, most were young immigrant women between the ages of 13 and 23.

This play was very and I mean very devastating to read considering the what went down especially what happened during the real event, considering since some girls opted to jump out of the building despite there being a chance of not surviving but it also brings into perspective what their final moments were, the fear, the sadness, the anger, especially that aftermath that happened afterwards, I found it dark and unsettling on how the play described the final moments and what the workers were thinking despite the situation getting worse as time went by, not to mention afterwards when 146 lives perished in the fire, that it felt that the justice system had failed them afterwards, especially when the owners isaac Harris and max blanck basically got away with what happened despite being the responsible for failing to help the workers, even down to not seeing the fact that were at fault for what happened, i also found it unnerved how they just paid money for each live lost, when no amount of money will ever undo the damages that was caused that day.

[Susana Ruvalcaba]

Based on the true story of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire and the trials that occurred afterward, The Triangle Factory Fire Project is a chilling play that took place in New York in 1911. The play starts with Shepard, a newspaper writer, telling the audience something important about his line of work. The attention then shifts to the women who are fighting for better working conditions. This then leads to the day of the tragedy, and the horrific events that follow suit.
This has easily been one of my favorite plays to read. It feels strange to say that I enjoyed a piece written about a horrific tragedy, but it’s because it was well written. You’re given insight into the background of different characters that allow the audience to become attached to them and the thoughts and emotions of each character are clearly displayed in each line. As gruesome and disturbing as the scenes are described, the diction used paints a picture that makes you feel like you were there. Even though the images are horrible you still somehow manage to get pulled in. The play is suspenseful, eerie at times, and considering the time that the events occurred frustrating. If you have prior knowledge of this event then you already know what I am talking about.

[Pia]

The Triangle Factory Fire Project was a magnificent story that takes you on a whirlwind of emotion as it progresses. It follows the historic events of the horrific and tragic Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire that took place on March 25, 1911, in which 146 shirtwaist factory workers were exterminated through the rapid flames of the fire and the scathed parts of there chambers. The play keeps it up date with the original historical event and does make a great story by telling it through the characters of the production. The only problem is that some of these characters seem one- dimensional and too fast- paced, in which they do show up and tell their parts of the story but then that's it and then we never see them again. Although this could be intentional, as it does want to go with the overall mood of the fast paced story, it still seems the characters had more to say and it was completely left out. Despite this flaw, I still think the fast- paced atmosphere was still a good choice, as this event was sudden and did take everyone by surprise. This play was not hard to read and was an emotional rollercoaster and I give it a 3 out of 5.

[Friends! · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Triangle Factory Fire Project is based off true history, specifically the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory on the date of March 25, 1911, New York City. The work walks through the starting of the event, weaving in between real evidence to provide a highly detailed drama revolving around the erupting factory fire. This includes manslaughter cases, the deaths of victims involved, and the changes in the economic structure resulting from the chaos.

In consuming this work, I've been pulled through a series of emotions that could be summed up to just general anger and resentment to selfish people. I never liked, still don't like, I actually despise smoking, but smoking and being careless enough to result in human death is beyond insanity. The play supplied me with the strongest resentment, heartbreak, and the most striking part being how I must walk through the vivid imagery of people struggling to escape from the evolving fire. The court cases we sit through in Act Two are also intense, as I believe to remain true to documented history, making this play honor those fallen before their time.

[Larysa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Plunging into the heartbreaking story of the characters in the play, I experienced the horror, hopelessness, and tragedy of a fateful day in American History. The number of human lives that the fire has taken is horrifying. For me, this is a story about the essence of immigration. To become your own in a foreign country, you have to pay a high price; for the dead girls, it was the price of their own lives. To survive, you will work in terrible conditions, long hours, and for little pay - this, unfortunately, is the lot of immigrants to this day. But still, this tragedy became the foundation of labor law, trade unions, and the creation of protection in the workplace. We are doomed to live in a society where everything is interconnected. Man is a social species. Without other people, it is impossible to create any business. And since we are human, we must always remain human.

[Justine · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Triangle Factory Fire Project is a very emotional story surrounding the events of the Triangle Factory Fire. This play is about the before and aftermath of the fire and all the important events that have taken place. Reading this historical event was very interesting because of the women’s movements taking place. I thought the play stood out because of how fast the characters are after one another in dialogue and setting. The events that took place have affected the present time in several ways and continue to today. The fact the present still has problems like this is saddening to see though. The play is full of lots of political and social justice taking place all with such potential. I liked this play very much.

[Ivan Diaz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chris Piehler’s “The Triangle Factory Fire Project” is a detailed look at the tragedy that transpired on March 25th, 1911; Piehler’s work offers a complex and emotional look at the events leading up to and taking place after that horrific fire, with a particular focus on the trials that were held. Overall, it’s phenomenal how much it is able to tell through just the usage of dialogue and the brief descriptions of each scene. I thoroughly enjoyed how it established a handful of victims as real people, having their introductory lines be about who they were and what they did, including trivial information at times even. It’s an astonishing piece of drama that does such an excellent job of portraying the importance of the Triangle Factory Fire.

[Vanessa]

"Triangle bosses get $455 a life from insurance companies" This trial's outcome is unacceptable to me. I understand that this happened in the past when fire safety was lacking and inequality was at its height, but for no one to be guilty of all 164 deaths is inexcusable. I'm furious and heartbroken over this fire. The use of true testimonials in this play is a fantastic addition since it allows readers to hear the awful catastrophe that the Triangle Factory allowed to occur in detail. In under 18 minutes, 49 innocent workers were burned to death, 36 innocent workers were killed in the elevator shaft, and 58 innocent workers were killed by jumping. There were 36 children among the fatalities. I shared empathy throughout the play as this incident is far too traumatic and horrific.

[Jacob Morga · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story is basically broken down to 3 parts: the strike/fire, a trial, and a verdict. There isn’t a union involved and many workers are protesting as some of the women that work there are doing long hours of striking to get a twenty percent pay raise. They eventually speak about some of the workers there and there speaking from their point of view and you’ll hear people's stories and you’ll start to see the difference in culture is huge and how most of them are migrant workers. The fire happens and there isn’t a fire protocol. It spreads fast and some workers even risk their lives to have company documents loyal to their employers. After this tragedy they realize something must be done and they take it to court.

[Alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Triangle Factory Project by Christopher Piehler is a profoundly moving, and emotionally disturbing recount of the surrounding events of the triangle factory fire. Catastrophe that took hundreds of people’s life in minutes. By recreating the historical context, the author shows us the unsafe and exploitative working conditions of women and men, in early 20th century New York. Through the testimonies of surviving victims, the origin and evolution of the fire; and the descriptions of how people died work together to impact the reader. The play is a compelling tale for the case of social justice and fair working conditions. The first act of the play focus on the fire, the second act focus on the trails regarding the culprit of the fires. The nonguilty verdict makes the play super realistic in its tragic end.

[Karina Marin · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Triangle factory Fire Project was an easy read for me. I find that some plays are complicated for me to read and keep track of what is going on, but this play was pretty straight forward and informative. The fact that it is based on a true event makes it more heartbreaking and shows you the horrors of what the victims of the fire went through. I think the fact that it also shows the way immigrant women were treated at the factory before and after the fire also makes it heartbreaking to read. I quite enjoyed this play and definitely recommend for others to read it.

[Amy Najera · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Triangle Factory Project does a great job of explaining the tragedy that took place on March 25, 1911. We are shown everything, all investing you in the story. The writing makes it easy to follow along, and with the concept of headlines announced throughout Piehler makes it easy to understand the mood of NYC at the time. It's easy to feel the pain the workers must've felt at the time and the corruption they were too scared to speak out about. For anyone who loves heated dramas with many emotions, this one will grab you by the heart.

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this play but I do not know if I would want to read it again. It was a great play but the subject material was very grim. I had learned about the history of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire in school, but reading it in this play was a very different experience.

I thought it was very interesting that the play uses court transcripts, eyewitness accounts, and actual quotes from the people in the play. I think that these elements add a lot to the play by showing just how much workers were affected by the fire and how little other people cared about workers and their rights.

[Lehi Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was very heart breaking. The fact that there is so many tragic moments has me in tears. There are parts where I genuinely felt like crying. I very much will remember this moment of time and I will more likely share this book. I didn’t expect to feel so emotion when reading. I feel like there was so many moments where I connected with there tragedies. Imagining I was going through this experiences was insane. It makes me wonder how these people felt when this was all happening. Like imagine, there running knowing they have kids! I will rate this 5 stars and wish I can rate this higher.

[Fernando Preciado · Rating 5 out of 5]

An inspiring play about the human spirit and its willingness to demand for justice. Sticking up for working class people against big corporations. It was a bittersweet story in the sense that it took a tragedy to aspire change and reform, a much too common trend we see in our world today. I particularly admired that the play was not so focused on the tragic event, rather the people who stood up against the corporations. The large amount of actors worked to the play's benefit as it added to the theme of uniting the people. All in all, great play.

[Alexis Chavez · Rating 5 out of 5]

This play was very heart breaking to me. But I also thought it was very interesting. I did like this play and I do believe it’s something I’ll read again. The way the play uses eyewitness accounts, as well as court transcripts. It just puts it all together and makes it interesting. The historical event happening in this play is something you can absolutely learn about. Also what caught my attention was the dialogue that was being use in the play. I recommend reading this play!

[Maria Sirigos · Rating 5 out of 5]

required reading for class that I suprisingly enjoyed
a really well dramatized telling of the story