By John Steinbeck
Directed by Paul Lazarus
May 2 - June 8, 2008

Once in a great while a dramatic theatrical event takes place that demands national attention. Such is the case with Pasadena Playhouse's groundbreaking revisionist production of John Steinbeck's beloved tale Of Mice and Men. Steinbeck's powerful portrait of two men's quest for the American dream is given an astounding and provocative make-over by acclaimed director Paul Lazarus.

In 1942, several years before Steinbeck's original setting for Of Mice and Men, a government sponsored program was put into place that would forever change the face of immigration in this country. It was called the Bracero Program and opened the door to thousands of Mexican immigrants who crossed the border in pursuit of dreams for a better life for their families. Not only did this program quite literally fuel the expanding American economy but it also created a wave of immigration that continues to this day. This daring and profound setting for Of Mice and Men amplifies Steinbeck's themes of loneliness and longing and provides a fresh experience for Playhouse audiences.


Starring (in alphabetical order):

Joshua Bitton as Curley

Curtis C. as Crooks

Sol Castillo as Whit

Josh Clark as Boss

Madison Dunaway as Mae

Al Espinosa as Lennie

Thomas Kopache as Candy

Alex Mendoza as Slim

Gino Montesinos as Carlson

David Noroña as George

Quotes and Reviews
Related Links
More about the creative team
     John Steinbeck
     Directed by Paul Lazarus
More about the Bracero Program

Quotes and Reviews
"Excellent performances...chemistry that makes the play hum marvelously...brings Steinbeck's story to life in powerful and refreshing ways!"
- Hoyt Hilsman, Backstage West

"A fresh take on a Steinbeck classic...worlds open without changing a line!"
- Frances Baum Nicholson, Pasadena Star-News

"IMPECCABLE!”
“You never want to see the play done any other way again!"
- Bob Verini, Variety

"The Cast is a miracle of PERFECTION!"
- Laurence Vittes, The Hollywood Reporter

"Swiftly moving, cleanly delivered!"
"DRAMATICALLY CAPTIVATING!"
- Charles McNulty, L.A.Times

Related Links*
John Steinbeck on Wikipedia

The Bracero Program on Wikipedia
Paul Lazarus’ Official Website

Thomas Kopache on Wikipedia

Gino Montesinos’ Official Website

StageSceneLA.com’s interview with Madison Dunaway

L.A. Times feature story about Of Mice and Men

Of Mice and Men on Wikipedia

Internet Movie Database page on the film Of Mice and Men
Blog

Facebook Page
MySpace Page

John Steinbeck* (author/playwright) was born in Salinas, California, on February 27, 1902 of German and Irish ancestry. His father, John Steinbeck, Sr., served as the County Treasurer while his mother, Olive (Hamilton) Steinbeck, a former school teacher, fostered Steinbeck's love of reading and the written word. During summers he worked as a hired hand on nearby ranches, nourishing his impression of the California countryside and its people.
His first novel, Cup of Gold was published in 1929, but attracted little attention. His two subsequent novels, The Pastures of Heaven and To a God Unknown, were also poorly received by the literary world. Steinbeck married his first wife, Carol Henning in 1930. They lived in Pacific Grove where much of the material for Tortilla Flat and Cannery Row was gathered. Tortilla Flat (1935) marked the turning point in Steinbeck's literary career. It received the California Commonwealth Club's Gold Medal for best novel by a California author. Steinbeck continued writing, relying upon extensive research and his personal observation of the human condition for his stories. The Grapes of Wrath (1939) won the Pulitzer Prize. During World War II, Steinbeck was a war correspondent for the New York Herald Tribune. Some of his dispatches were later collected and made into Once There Was a War. John Steinbeck was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1962 “...for his realistic as well as imaginative writings, distinguished by a sympathetic humor and a keen social perception.”

Throughout his life John Steinbeck remained a private person who shunned publicity. He died December 20, 1968, in New York City and is survived by his third wife, Elaine (Scott) Steinbeck and one son, Thomas. His ashes were placed in the Garden of Memories Cemetery in Salinas.
* Biographical information courtesy of www.Steinbeck.org.


Paul Lazarus (Director) is delighted to return to the Playhouse where he was Artistic Director in the early 90’s. Subscribers might remember his productions of Cole Porter’s You Never Know, Mark St. Germain’s Camping With Henry and Tom, Jim Wann’s The People Vs. Mona and Neil Simon’s Biloxi Blues. For the Hollywood Bowl, he produced and directed the 75th birthday tribute to Stephen Sondheim. That evening featured the LA Philharmonic, Barbara Streisand, Angela Lansbury, Warren Beatty and Carol Burnett. His new play A Tale of Charles Dickens, co-written with Janet Jones, was produced and recorded for radio by L.A. Theater Works in association with the Antaeus Theater Company. At the Coronet Theater he directed the world premiere of The 24th Day starring Noah Wyle and Peter Berg, which received six L.A. Drama-Logue Awards, including Best Director. Mr. Lazarus has directed over eighty plays and musicals in such prominent theaters as The Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center Theater, Playwrights Horizons, Manhattan Theater Club, Circle Repertory, The Actors Studio, La Mama ETC and The Goodspeed Opera House, to name a few. Highlights include receiving a Drama Desk Nomination for directing the Off-Broadway musical Personals starring Jason Alexander; directing Anouilh’s Antigone for the Lincoln Center Institute and serving as Associate Director for the celebrated concert version of Stephen Sondheim’s Follies starring Barbara Cook and Mandy Patinkin. His feature film directing debut was Seven Girlfriends starring Tim Daly and Melora Hardin. For Dreamworks SKG, he voice directed the animated musical feature Joseph starring Ben Affleck. Mr. Lazarus has directed over 25 prime time television series. Most recently he worked on Samantha Who?, Ugly Betty, Las Vegas and Psych. Past shows include Friends, Everybody Loves Raymond, Grounded For Life, Mad About You, LA Law, Melrose Place, Dream On and the pilot for MTV’s 2Gether. For over ten years, he has served on the Executive Board of the Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers. A graduate of Dartmouth College, Mr. Lazarus apprenticed with the Royal Shakespeare Company in England.

Bracero Program Timeline:

1850-1880: The expansion of fruit production in California increases the demand for foreign manual labor. 55,000 Mexican workers immigrate to the United States during this period.

1910-1920: The Mexican Revolution causes Mexicans to flee to the U.S. for safety.

1924: The U.S. Border Patrol is created for the first time, U.S. law identifies undocumented workers as fugitives. The definition “illegal alien” is born.

1941: The U.S. enters WWII and the entire labor force is committed to wartime industries, creating a shortage of agriculture laborers.

August 1942: The governments of the United States and Mexico sign the Bracero Treaty for the recruitment and employment of Mexican citizens in the U.S. agricultural sector.

1945: WWII ends and the labor force returns from the wartime industries.

1947: The Emergency Farm Labor Service works to decrease the amount of Mexican labor imported into the U.S. and the Bracero Program ends in theNorthwest.

1953: During Operation Wetback the U.S. Immigration Service deports more than 3.8 million people of Mexican heritage.

1956: Mexican immigration to the U.S. peaks at over 445,000 during the Bracero Program.

1962: Cesar Chavez organizes the National Farm Workers Association in Delano, California.

May 1963: The Bracero Program officially ends but laborers keep arriving in the U.S. until 1964.

1942-1964: 4.5 million contracts were signed between Mexican laborers and the U.S. during the 22-year Bracero Program.

Click here for information about subscriber benefits or purchase your subscription today!

* Note that the links found on this part of the website take you to pages not monitored in anyway by Pasadena Playhouse. The views and opinions expressed on this websites do not reflect that of our theatre in any way.