The Orphan Train

From 1853 to 1929 over 250,000 homeless and orphaned children were sent on trains to the American West, looking to find a home. Any home. This is the story of how foster care began in the United States.

Viewed through the eyes of the children themselves, The Orphan Train, by Aurand Harris, is based on the experiences of young orphans sent off on a train from New York City in 1914. But the past and present blur in this production, as anxiety, abuse, rejection, acceptance, and hope, are all encountered on this journey — echoing experiences all too familiar to modern day orphans.

This is a visceral, urgent piece of theatre, making use of music, movement, and film to create a compelling production as relevant now as ever.