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Renowned first as a masterpiece of American literature, and then as a prize-winning motion picture, the story of the Joad family and their flight from the Dust Bowl of Oklahoma is a majestic and deeply affecting study of the American soul.
Adapted for the stage by Frank Galati (Ragtime, Seussical), The Grapes of Wrath premiered at the Steppenwolf Theatre in Chicago, and later transferred to Londonšs West End and Broadway, where it was nominated for eight Tony Awards, winning two for Best Direction and Best Play. This powerful stage version holds to the simplicity and directness of the original novel to convey its timeless message of strength and persistence.
The Grapes of Wrath is the closing production in TheatreZone's Actor's Revenge, a festival of actor selected plays. This fall we invited actors to submit proposals for a production they would star in, which were judged by a panel of fellow actors and audience regulars solely on the quality of the actor's past work and their passion for the production. Now, for the first time, some of the finest actors who have worked with TheatreZone over the years have a chance to call the shots! They pick the play, the director, the approach, and cast themselves in the role of their dreams.
Actress Ann Carpenter (Anger Box, House of Bernarda Alba, Poona, Blood Wedding) will perform Ma Joad in The Grapes of Wrath. After having been unsuccessfully called back for the role twice, and even seeing a director moved to tears by her reading, she decided to take matters into her own hands. Ann toured to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival last summer with TheatreZone, and was also inspired by a strong fringe-budget version of the show. She has teamed up with director Wanda Strukus, who is taking a break from directing at several area colleges. Both share a passion for the story and the relevance of the play in today's political climate.
April 14-23, 2005
Chelsea Theatre Works
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Starring: Ann Carpenter, Bob Stachel, Christopher Wrenn, Dan O'Brien, Janelle Mills, Jennifer O'Connor, John Craig, Julianna Quiroz, Kate Reilly, Kevin McCarthy, Laurence Braun, Nate Connors, Naya Chang, Nikki Kemp, Renee Miller, Rick Carpenter, Rob Fallon, Roberta Payne-Strange, Samuel Ingram, Sidney Sibley, Timothy Hoover
Original Music: Dave Wildman and Bob Pellegrino |
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