Elizabeth Craven. Executive Director. 6th St. Playhouse

The Grapes of Wrath
By Frank Galati
Directed by Elizabeth Craven

The Grapes of Wrath is a majestic and deeply affecting study of the American soul. First renowned as a masterpiece of American literature by John Steinbeck, and then as a prize-winning motion picture directed by John Ford, and finally as an award winning play, it is the story of the Joad family and their flight from the Dust Bowl of Oklahoma to the fertile valley of California in 1938.

Adapted for the stage by Frank Galati (Ragtime, Seussical), The Grapes of Wrath premiered at the Steppenwolf Theatre in Chicago in 1988, and later transferred to London's 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 play adaptation debuted in September 1988 at the Steppenwolf Theatre in Chicago, was followed by a May 1989 production at the La Jolla Playhouse in San Diego and a June 1989 production at the Royal National Theatre in London. The Broadway production, directed by Galati, opened on March 22, 1990 at the Cort Theatre, where it ran for 188 performances. The cast of 30+ actors included Gary Sinise (as Tom Joad), Lois Smith (as Ma), Kathryn Erbe, Terry Kinney, Francis Guinan, and Stephen Bogardus.

Website: www.6thstreetplayhouse.com