Trinity Rep to Host Two Panel Discussions in Conjunction with THE GRAPES OF WRATH

Trinity Repertory Company invites the public to join in the conversation sparked by their current production of The Grapes of Wrath, at two upcoming panel discussions. The first, The Ghost of Tom Joad: The Relevancy of The Grapes of Wrath, will take place Monday, September 30, 6:30-8:30pm in Trinity Rep's Dowling Theater, and the second The Times They Should Be A-Changin': Are Today's Labor Struggles Stuck on Repeat? will be a post-show talkback after the 7:30PM performance on Sunday October 6. Both events are free and open to the public.

The public panels further Trinity Rep's mission to reinvent the public square and nurture dialogue among the community. "The Grapes of Wrath, a classic American text, still stirs the inherent sense of responsibility we have toward each other, while exposing anxieties we currently face as a society now more than ever: hunger, poverty, economic inequality, the dissolution of labor unions, immigration and the ability to house and provide a future for ourselves and our family. Hosting these public discussions creates a space for people to express their own points of view and connect with individuals working to make a difference on these issues," articulates Tyler Dobrowsky, Trinity Rep's associate artistic director.

Moderated by Tyler Dobrowsky, The Ghost of Tom Joad: The Relevancy of The Grapes of Wrath, focuses on the historical context of The Grapes of Wrath, as well as the production's themes that ring true today, including homelessness, foreclosures, joblessness and immigration. Panelists include Richard Godfrey,Executive Director of Rhode Island Housing; Lukas Rieppel an Assistant Professor of History at Brown University; Naoko Shibusawa, Associate Professor of History and American Studies, Brown University and Eric Hirsch, Professor of Sociology at Providence College and Vice President on the board of the Rhode Island Coalition for the Homeless. Monday, September 30, 6:30-8:30 pm in Trinity Rep's Dowling Theater. A moderated discussion followed by questions from the audience. Free and open to the public. RSVP to events@trinityrep.com.

The second panel, The Times They Should Be A-Changin': Are Today's Labor Struggles Stuck on Repeat?, discusses the labor and union issues presented inThe Grapes of Wrath, as panelists illuminate the parallel challenges labor advocacy faces today. Participants include George H. Nee, president of the Rhode Island AFL-CIO and former United Farm Workers of America Field Organizer; Maureen Martin, director of political activities RI Federation of Teachers and Health Professionals union, RI AFL-CIO secretary-treasurer; Scott Duhamel, District Council Vice President, Labor Management Cooperation Initiative Trustee, and Health and Welfare Trustee for IUPAT, Secretary-Treasurer of the Rhode Island Building and Construction Trades Council, RISCA Board member; Richard Donelly, The Grapes of Wrath cast member, Actors' Equity Association member and Master Plumber; Joe Wilson, Jr. Trinity Rep Resident Acting Company Member, Actors' Equity Association member and political advocate and. The discussion follows the 7:30 pm performance of The Grapes of Wrath on Sunday October 6 in place of the regular post show talkback. Free and open to the public.

Adapted for the stage by Frank Galati, this evocative and deeply affecting stage version of The Grapes of Wrath lifts Steinbeck's novel to new heights of theatrical urgency when married with director Brian McEleney's visceral storytelling style. Part naturalistic epic, part road novel, part inspirational gospel, The Grapes of Wrath boasts a 17 member cast and original folk-rock music from the show's band, 3pile. Tickets for The Grapes of Wrath are available at the Trinity Rep box office, 201 Washington St.; by phone at (401) 351-4242; and online at www.trinityrep.com

To post a comment, you must register and login.