I'm so glad you wrote this. Someone will come across this piece, just like the indie radio host found you and gave your voice to a wider audience, and get the word out even more about the remarkable Luna and Julia (and you).
Thank you, Gretchen! Fun fact: I’m so techno-phobic/illiterate, I didn’t know about putting in search terms and keywords back when I originally wrote the essays on Luna. So nobody outside Rx Nature found those posts. Now I’m a tiny bit wiser, so yes … hopefully this piece will have longer legs!
And a second fun fact: When Julia was up in Luna, I was writing features at the Times. Before you were my editor. I proposed a story where I would go out to California, climb Luna and interview Julia. One problem: I have horrible, crippling fear of heights. I wouldn't have made it more than 10 ft. off the ground. Nancy W. wisely nixed that idea. 😆
Thanks, Jeanne. I have complicated feelings about the ways that environmental activists are both marginalized as weird and relied upon to do the hard labor of resisting society’s wanton destruction. And also mythologized — even though they are real people who’ve made real sacrifices to stand up in protest. That said, I’m glad to see a mainstream production celebrating the generosity of trees.
I feel much the same, Julie. You express it well! And I too am glad to imagine that some people who didn’t think much about trees or didn’t realize their magic will think differently after seeing this play.
That is such an inspiring story about Julia and the tree Luna. There is something almost magical about being in an old growth forest of those tall pines. I remember visiting similar old tall pines on a visit to Vancouver British Columbia. Stunning trees to say the least. Thanks for sharing, Jeanne.
I saw Redwood on Broadway a couple nights ago and found your article searching for reviews. I'm confused, though, because the play devoted quite a bit of time to Julia Butterfly Hill, telling the story on giant LED screens with larger-than-life images of articles and photos about her epic tree sit. It actually threw me a bit at first because there didn't seem to be a transition, all of a sudden here was this narrated display that looked like the commercials movie theaters show now. It took me a minute to realize this was part of the play, and a thorough historical recap of the famous tree sitter. The character talks about her admiration for Julia as well.
One thing I do want to mention that I wasn't prepared for, though, was those stunning visuals were equally stunning when the wildfire broke out, triggering some PTSD I didn't realize I was still harboring, since the wildfires I lived through happened several years ago. I decided now was a great time to visit the bathroom, where I stayed with a minor panic attack till the end of the play, which was almost over at that point so the timing worked out perfectly. In case anybody else lived through a wildfire and ever felt a little on edge over it, the bathroom makes a great spot to ride it out, and you can still hear well enough to know what's happening if you choose to listen.
Wow, Sienna, thanks so much for sharing your firsthand account of seeing the play! I'm really glad to hear that they indeed featured Julia in the play ... even though (as I mentioned) the NYT review did not mention her, and the preview article only mentioned Menzel's "obsession" with her. Good on them for mentioning her in the play! Thanks also for your trigger warning about the wildfire scene in the play. Having just survived a wildland fire close to my home (only extinguished a couple of days ago), I sympathize with your reaction to that in the play. Glad you survived it and thanks again for dropping in here to comment!
not near enough! it's about a three to four hour drive from me. There is reputed to be a single, rare, grove near my area but it is not easy to access.
I'm so glad you wrote this. Someone will come across this piece, just like the indie radio host found you and gave your voice to a wider audience, and get the word out even more about the remarkable Luna and Julia (and you).
Thank you, Gretchen! Fun fact: I’m so techno-phobic/illiterate, I didn’t know about putting in search terms and keywords back when I originally wrote the essays on Luna. So nobody outside Rx Nature found those posts. Now I’m a tiny bit wiser, so yes … hopefully this piece will have longer legs!
And a second fun fact: When Julia was up in Luna, I was writing features at the Times. Before you were my editor. I proposed a story where I would go out to California, climb Luna and interview Julia. One problem: I have horrible, crippling fear of heights. I wouldn't have made it more than 10 ft. off the ground. Nancy W. wisely nixed that idea. 😆
Thanks, Jeanne. I have complicated feelings about the ways that environmental activists are both marginalized as weird and relied upon to do the hard labor of resisting society’s wanton destruction. And also mythologized — even though they are real people who’ve made real sacrifices to stand up in protest. That said, I’m glad to see a mainstream production celebrating the generosity of trees.
I feel much the same, Julie. You express it well! And I too am glad to imagine that some people who didn’t think much about trees or didn’t realize their magic will think differently after seeing this play.
Thank you for telling me about this. I've got to see it.
Girls’ road (train) trip to NYC? 😁
That is such an inspiring story about Julia and the tree Luna. There is something almost magical about being in an old growth forest of those tall pines. I remember visiting similar old tall pines on a visit to Vancouver British Columbia. Stunning trees to say the least. Thanks for sharing, Jeanne.
Thank you for pointing that out, Neil … a big tree doesn’t have to be a redwood to be heart-stirring. I’d love to see those tall pines in BC!
I saw Redwood on Broadway a couple nights ago and found your article searching for reviews. I'm confused, though, because the play devoted quite a bit of time to Julia Butterfly Hill, telling the story on giant LED screens with larger-than-life images of articles and photos about her epic tree sit. It actually threw me a bit at first because there didn't seem to be a transition, all of a sudden here was this narrated display that looked like the commercials movie theaters show now. It took me a minute to realize this was part of the play, and a thorough historical recap of the famous tree sitter. The character talks about her admiration for Julia as well.
One thing I do want to mention that I wasn't prepared for, though, was those stunning visuals were equally stunning when the wildfire broke out, triggering some PTSD I didn't realize I was still harboring, since the wildfires I lived through happened several years ago. I decided now was a great time to visit the bathroom, where I stayed with a minor panic attack till the end of the play, which was almost over at that point so the timing worked out perfectly. In case anybody else lived through a wildfire and ever felt a little on edge over it, the bathroom makes a great spot to ride it out, and you can still hear well enough to know what's happening if you choose to listen.
Wow, Sienna, thanks so much for sharing your firsthand account of seeing the play! I'm really glad to hear that they indeed featured Julia in the play ... even though (as I mentioned) the NYT review did not mention her, and the preview article only mentioned Menzel's "obsession" with her. Good on them for mentioning her in the play! Thanks also for your trigger warning about the wildfire scene in the play. Having just survived a wildland fire close to my home (only extinguished a couple of days ago), I sympathize with your reaction to that in the play. Glad you survived it and thanks again for dropping in here to comment!
Thank you for fighting the good fight. Luna's Legacy is one of the most importatn books of the 20th century.
Agree, Ray!
She deserves that tribute and recognition - I hope she gets it! Thanks for making it conscious!
Thank you, Susi! Are you near redwoods? (I think so)
not near enough! it's about a three to four hour drive from me. There is reputed to be a single, rare, grove near my area but it is not easy to access.
Julia Butterfly Hill was and still is an amazing person.
I agree 100%, Jim! She’s a force of nature.