Ten Penny Players began as a children’s theater. As a small literary press it continued its mission by involving children in readings and publishing poetry for and by children. Barbara used her letter press to print poems and pictures by her son and his third grade class at PS 41. Waterways invited children to perform their poetry at book fairs and led poetry workshops for children in the the New York and Brooklyn Public Libraries.
In partnership with the Straphangers Campaign, Ten Penny Players worked with the schools to create a chapbook of children’s poetry about the subways, Subway Slams (1981). Forty five students were published and performed their poems under the 42nd Street Public Library in the subway system tunnel. Radio Station WNYC broadcast the student readings.
Subway Slams: Poems from NYC Children
Richard Ravitch, at the 1981 MTA hearings, listening to the children’s poetry as Barbara read from Subway Slams, said he needed to take the students’ testimony to Washington.
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