Productions

The Grapes of Wrath

The Justice Theater Project began a year-long exploration of displacement and migration by presenting Frank Galati’s Tony Award-winning adaptation of the Steinbeck classic, "The Grapes of Wrath".

John Steinbeck’s tale of Tom Joad’s reunion with his family takes place just as they are being forcibly displaced from their land. The story depicts the plight of farmers during the Dust Bowl migration of the 1930’s, in an America that consisted of the “Have’s” and the “Have-Not’s”.

“Tom Joad’s story transcends history,” said Artistic Director Deb Royals Mizerk, “When you think of migrant workers traveling with their families in search of work and the American Dream, or people scattered across the country by Hurricane Katrina, you can relate to the Joad family and their search for a better life. The Grapes of Wrath shows the strength and spirit of the ‘common man’ throughout the world.”

The cast consisted of local theater professionals combined with student actors, featuring Sean A. Brosnahan as Tom Joad, Kevin Ferguson as Jim Casey, Susannah Hough as Ma Joad, Geof Shuford as Pa Joad, Dawn Gum as Grandma, John Honeycutt as Grandpa, Larry Evans as Uncle John, and high school student Jaclyn Amanna as Rose of Sharon.

Under the direction of Thomas Mauney, the creative team included scenic designer Miyuki Su, costume designer LeGrande Smith, with additional set and lighting design by Thomas Mauney.

The abstract set represented natural settings through earth-driven texture and color with simplified lines. No lace or trim are used in costuming to further depict the families who are stripped of everything they own when they lose their land and are forced to migrate to California in search of work. Jewelry would have been sold off before any farm equipment, making Ma’s gift of earrings to Rose of Sharon a precious sacrifice.

The Justice Theater Project (JTP) is an advocacy and activist theater company whose mission is to use the dramatic arts to bring to the fore of public attention the needs of the poor, the marginalized, and the oppressed. Each year JTP presents a diverse combination of original works, main stage productions, and community outreach events focusing on issues of social justice.

This unique approach employs the arts to engage audiences and expose them to issues of social concern, which firmly cements JTP as the only theater company of its kind in Wake County. During the coming year JTP will develop programming including discourse, original writings, and performances that highlight immigration - these works speak to immigration from the perspective of the Latina/o Immigrant community in North Carolina, looking to both their struggle and isolation.

Read the book, see the play! A facilitator’s guide to John Steinbeck’s novel can be accessed at www.NeaBigRead.org/Books/GrapesofWrath.

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Press

Orla Swift on the Best in Theater: Saturday, September 01

You'd think that after almost 70 years, the ills of this nation that John Steinbeck described so eloquently in "The Grapes of Wrath" might be behind us. But we are not that wise a nation.
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