"WHY DO A MUSICAL ABOUT THE DONNER PARTY?"

Thousands of pioneers had travelled from the East Coast and Midwest to California in search of their dreams of a new life in the uncharted virgin territory West of the Mississippi River.

In 1846, the 87 ill-fated pioneers known as The Donner Party began their long and slow journey from Springfield, Illinois to Sacramento, California. With a side-trip to a living hell.

Based on the actual writings of Virginia Reed, "FORLORN HOPE" recreates the real drama of the Donner Party's hardships travelling the infamous Hastings Shortcut, and their three months of isolation at "Starved Camp" in the Sierra Nevada Mountains.

"FORLORN HOPE" focuses on the Reed family as they struggle to stay alive without resorting to cannibalism before the rescue party, lead by James Reed, finally came over the mountain summit in February 1847.

But why write a musical about the Donner Party? The story is true, and like Lewis and Clark, Pocahontas, and the Wright Brothers, the members of the Donner Party were explorers. And their sad saga will finally stand out as a part
of American history.

In loving memory of these 87 brave pioneers of the Donner Party, we dedicate
"FORLORN HOPE: THE DONNER PARTY MUSICAL."

LINKS TO OTHER DONNER PARTY SITES:

THE DONNER PARTY-DAN ROSEN  

NEW LIGHT ON THE DONNER PARTY-KRISTEN JOHNSON