Infamous Commonwealth Theatre closes their 2008-09 season dedicated to the topic Nature with Frank Galati's stage adaptation of John Steinbeck's THE GRAPES OF WRATH, directed by ICT Artistic Director and Jeff Citation winner Genevieve Thompson.
NA·TURE (noun): native or inherent character: human nature; the instincts or inherent tendencies directing conduct: a man of good nature
The tale of the Joad family embodies the hardships suffered during the Great Depression and the transcendent generosity of human nature in the face of adversity. The natural world sets the events in motion during the Dust Bowl in Oklahoma and brings the journey to a hopeful end in California with massive floods. Ultimately, THE GRAPES OF WRATH is the story of a rising collective consciousness, a story of "we" instead of "I". In light of the country's current economic recession and call to action from a president newly elected on a platform of hope and change, the themes explored in THE GRAPES OF WRATH are arguably more relevant now than ever.
Based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning 1939
John Steinbeck novel and adapted for the stage by
Frank Galati, THE GRAPES OF WRATH premiered at Chicago's Steppenwolf Theatre in 1989, where it won Jeff Awards for Best Play, Best Director, Best New Adaptation and Best Sound Design. The production later transferred to London's West End and eventually Broadway, where it won Tony Awards for Best Direction and Best Play. Mr. Galati is a member of the Steppenwolf Theatre Company and an associate director at Chicago's Goodman Theatre. In 1989 he was nominated for an Academy Award for his screenplay (with Lawrence Kasdan) of The Accidental Tourist. Mr. Galati is an emeritus professor of performance studies at
Northwestern University. In 2001, he was inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
Director Genevieve Thompson is a founding member and Artistic Director of Infamous Commonwealth Theatre. Ms. Thompson received both the Jeff Citation & After Dark Award for Outstanding Direction as co-director of ICT's production of The Kentucky Cycle. Other ICT directing credits include Tetherball: A Song in Three Acts, TreeGirl, The Sign in Sidney Brustein's Window, Credo, My Thing of Love, and the Jeff-nominated and After Dark Award-winning Cloud 9.
THE GRAPES OF WRATH features the acting talents of ICT company members Joshua Atkins, Carlos Rogelio Diaz, Stephen Dunn, Clarissa Gregg, Whitney Hayes,
Paul Joseph, Jennifer Mathews, John A.J. O'Leksy, and Jenn Remke, as well as Wes Clark, Devin Collins, Jared Fernley, Glynis Gilio, Ryan Heindl, Samuel L. Johnston, Matthew Klingler, Ian Knox, Frank Murphy, Judi Schindler and Brandon J. Thompson.
THE GRAPES OF WRATH production team consists of Annie Slivinski (assistant director), Alan Donahue (scenic designer/technical director), Tramon Crofford (props designer), Cade Wenthe (stage manager), Molly Gilbert (assistant stage manager), Rachel M. Sypniewski (costume designer), Stephanette Smith (lighting designer), Tom Haigh (sound designer), Paul Dunckel (dialect coach), Sarah Luse (production manager), and Sheena L. Young (dramaturg).
THE GRAPES OF WRATH runs Thursdays, Fridays & Saturdays at 8:30pm & Sundays at 3:30pm April 25 - May 24 at the West Stage of the Raven Theatre Complex at 6157 N. Clark St. Tickets are $20 per person. (April 24th 8:30pm preview for $10.) $15 senior/industry/student tickets are available for every performance (subject to availability) with proper ID. To reserve tickets, please call 312.458.9780 or email info@infamouscommonwealth.org.
Founded in 2001, ICT's unique mission is to illuminate diverse perspectives around one centralized topic per season. ICT has received seven After Dark Awards and four
Joseph Jefferson Citations since its inception. For more information on ICT, please visit
www.infamouscommonwealth.org.
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