OXFORD, Miss. – Theatre arts students at the University of Mississippi bring John Steinbeck’s award-winning novel “The Grapes of Wrath” to life April 2-6 with their portrayal of the Joad family, sharecroppers who flee Oklahoma’s dust bowl for California seeking release from hardships of the Great Depression.
The theatre production is scheduled at 8 p.m. in Fulton Chapel Wednesday through Saturday, with a 2 p.m. matinee Sunday. Tickets are $10.50 for adults, $8.50 for children and seniors, and $7 for Ole Miss students. Tickets are available by visiting the UM Box Office in the Student Union or online at http://www.ticketreturns.com or by calling 662-915-7411.
Another matinee at 10 a.m. Thursday is being staged especially for middle and high school students at $2 each (free for the students’ chaperones and teachers) and at no charge for residents of the Veteran’s Home in Oxford and other area retirement homes and assisted-care facilities. Call Catherine Mayhew at 662-915-5816 for ticket information and to ensure seating space.
“It’s going to be a really good show and I think it’s very audience-oriented,” said junior Wesley McClain of Modesto, Calif., stage manager. “I think they’ll be blown away by some of the things we’re going to do.”
Dex Edwards, associate professor of theatre arts, is directing the play, which was adapted for the stage by Frank Galati. It won a Tony Award for Best Play in 1990.
The Joad family’s experience in the production is in many ways similar to that of individuals affected by Hurricane Katrina, McClain said.
“That’s kind of why we’re doing it now,” said senior Brian Tichnell of Petal, who plays several characters in the show. “Everything that every character goes through is still very relevant to the way our society is now and the plight of the human condition. It’s just a picture of what it’s actually like to go through something so devastating.”
The show’s scenery, which spans more than 10 different locations and includes a moving truck, is a highlight of the production, Edwards said. The stage is also mobile and will feature rain and a river, Tichnell said. “The tech is going to be really impressive.”
Of the production’s five songs, three feature music written by the show’s musicians and sound designers.
The theatre department’s next and final show of the season, annual “Showstoppers,” is scheduled April 22-25.
For more information on theatre arts education at Ole Miss visit
http://www.olemiss.edu/depts/theatre?arts/.
For assistance related to a disability, call 662-915-5816.