The Grapes of Wrath October 9, 2010

The University of Wisconsin, Madison Department of Theatre and Drama's producing arm, University Theatre, will present Frank Galati's award-winning adaptation of John Steinbeck's 'The Grapes of Wrath,' directed by Professor Norma Saldivar. A story of courage and endurance in the face of overwhelming hardship, Steinbeck's Nobel Prize-winning novel examines a family of sharecroppers who strive for the American dream in an environment that raises and then shatters their dreams and aspirations. Galati's adaptation premiered at Chicago's Steppenwolf Theatre and garnered him a Tony award in 1990 for best adaptation. The script combines Steinbeck's powerful language with masterful theatrical invention. Holding to the simplicity and directness of the original novel, the play uses the sparest of technical means to convey its timeless message of the persistence and strength of the human spirit as it battles against the adversities of nature and an uncaring society.