THE TRIP
In March 2019, the team set out for the small town of Miami, Oklahoma, located just south of the ghost town of Picher. With support from local environmental researcher and activist Rebecca Jim, the three conducted dozens of interviews with former Picher residents, Quapaw Nation members, and more. Rebecca Jim led them on her famous “Toxic Tour” around Picher, showing them the widespread effects of pollution and improper mine closure in the small town. Throughout the life-changing weeklong trip, the team experienced firsthand the stories they had read about, seeing and feeling the complexities of the heartbreak over Picher. Through the generous help of Rebecca Jim, Aaron Smith and the Northeast Oklahoma University Theatre Department, and some dedicated locals, the trip concluded with a public reading of a draft of the script. After getting feedback from the community, the team felt that they had earned the locals' stamp of approval, catapulting them into writing a show that maintained that integrity.
 View of Picher from Chat Pile |  KEEP OUT - Abandoned House |  Lead Hazard Sign |
|---|---|---|
 Remains of Hoppy's Pool Hall |  Quapaw Veteran's Wall |  Lauren and Alex Rehearse |
 Abandoned House in Picher |  Picher's Last Business |  Historical Quapaw Relics |
 Writing Team on a Chat Pile |
 Quentin, Kait Kelly, and Lauren |  Four States Home Interview |
|---|---|
 Toxic Tour with Joplin Globe |
 Rebecca Jim giving Toxic Tour |  Rebecca, The Team, and Kim Barker |
|---|---|
 Rebecca and Team at the Coleman |  Rebecca Jim and John Sparkman |
Rebecca Jim is the executive director of LEAD Agency. Local Environmental Action Demanded (L.E.A.D.) Agency is a non-profit corporation organized in 1997 with the following goals: Educate the community on environmental concerns in Northeast Oklahoma; Take action to counter environmental hazards that put Northeast Oklahoma's residents at risk both physically and financially; Conduct environmental workshops and seminars concerning environmental issues in Northeast Oklahoma and other areas; Enhance our efforts by partnering with other environmental organizations throughout Oklahoma and the nation. More information can be found at leadagency.org
On top of all the dramaturgy, writing, interviews, and museum visits, the team was lucky enough to be featured on several different news outlets to help get the word out about the project. Kim Barker, from The Joplin Globe, was the first to meet the group and featured the team in a front page story. The project was also featured in on-air news segments with Autumn Bracey of Four States Home News, and Kait Kelly, from KOAM news. To see these stories, click HERE.
 The Team with Grace Goodeagle |  NEO Reading |  Ardina Moore |
|---|---|---|
 USS Quapaw Anchor |  NEO College Theater |  Banks near Douthat Bridge |
 Hoppy's Pool Hall - Interior |  Blooming Jonquils with Chat Pile |  Chat Pile Now |
 Chat Pile Then |  Chat Piles and Polluted Waters |  The Team at Gary's |
 Susie's Store |  Dobson Museum Picher Collection |  Mining Can |
 PHS Band Uniforms |  PHS State Champ Trophy |  Miner Photos |
 Mining Artifacts, Working Mine Photo |  Mining Town Replica |  Mining Town Replica |
 Mining Town Replica |  Mining Town Replica |