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Adapted by Octavio Solis
Directed by Jonathan Moscone
Developed in collaboration with Word for Word Performing Arts Company
A brand new play adapted by one of our country’s most talented and prolific playwrights. This richly theatrical play—commissioned especially for Cal Shakes—celebrates the art of storytelling as it depicts comic and heartbreaking characters in search of happiness in the seemingly idyllic landscape of Steinbeck’s own Salinas Valley.
Based on The Pastures of Heaven © 1934 John Steinbeck.
John Steinbeck’s The Pastures of Heaven has been selected as a National Endowment for the Arts Distinguished New American Play as part of the NEA New Play Development Program, hosted by Arena Stage.
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Highlights from John Steinbeck's The Pastures of Heaven. Video by Inti Fernandez. Watch the video |
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Patron feedback after a recent performance of John Steinbeck's The Pastures of Heaven. Watch the video |
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Director Jonathan Moscone, actors Richard Thieriot and Amy Kossow, and dramaturg Laura Hope discuss John Steinbeck, Octavio Solis, play development, community engagement, and the meaning of home at a panel that took place partway through rehearsals for John Steinbeck's The Pastures of Heaven. Watch the video |
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Visiting the Real Pastures of Heaven |
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Events
Grove Talks, 45 minutes before each performance
Led by resident Grove Talks speakers, these free, informal 20-minute talks are held on site 45 minutes before each and every performance, offering invaluable insight into the play and the production.
Tastings, Tuesdays and Wednesdays, beginning at 6pm
Taste the best of the Bay Area’s wine, beer, coffee, sweets, and savories for free on Tuesdays and Wednesdays before the performance.
Tasting Schedule:
Tue, Jun 15 - Coterie Cellars and Artisana Raw Coconut Butter
Wed, Jun 16 - Martin Ray Winery and Wallaby Yogurt
Tue, Jun 22 - Barefoot Wine & Bubbly and Wallaby Yogurt
Wed, Jun 23 - Peet's Coffee & Tea and Artisana Raw Coconut Butter
Meet the Artists, Sunday, June 6 and 20, following the 4pm performance
Audience members enjoy an opportunity to engage in a lively discussion about the production with cast members following select 4pm matinee performances.
Behind the Scenes, Thursday, June 10, 5:30pm event; 7:30pm performance
Share an intimate chat with actors from each production. The evening includes a backstage tour, hors d’oeuvres, wine, and a catered dinner beginning at 5:30pm. Cost: $45 (not including theater ticket). Call 510.548.9666 or visit calshakes.org to order.
Shindig, Friday, June 11, 6:30pm event, 8pm performance
Pre-show party for young professionals with cocktails, music, and more; event free with purchase of ticket to that night’s performance
InSight, Sunday, June 13, following the 4pm matinee
Explore the world of the play through an informal dialogue with the production’s dramaturg following select 4pm performances.
Meet the Muralists, Saturday, June 26, following the 2pm matinee A post-show presentation by and Q&A with Jose Ortiz, leader of Hijos del Sol, the Salinas-based illustrators who created the beautiful, Pastures-inspired mural currently installed above the Bruns plaza. Meet the Muralists is free and open to the public.
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Visit the press page for publicity shots and more productions photos |
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CAST
(in alphabetical order)
Catherine Castellanos* ROSA LOPEZ, JACK THE DEPUTY SHERIFF, MOLLY’S MOTHER, CLEO BANKS, ENSEMBLE
Julie Eccles* VIVIAN MUNROE, HELEN VAN DEVENTER, ALICIA WHITESIDE, ENSEMBLE
Rod Gnapp* PAT HUMBERT, SHARK WICKS, ENSEMBLE
Dan Hiatt* JOHN WHITESIDE, Allen Huenecker, PANCHO, JAKOB STUTZ, PA HUMBERT, ENSEMBLE
Emily Kitchens* MAE MUNROE, ALICE WICKS, MOLLY MORGAN, ENSEMBLE
Amy Kossow HILDA VAN DEVENTER, MISS MARTIN, MA HUMBERT, ENSEMBLE
Andy Murray* TB ALLEN, HUBERT VAN DEVENTER, FRANKLIN GOMEZ, GEORGE MORGAN, RAYMOND BANKS, ENSEMBLE
Charles Shaw Robinson* BERT MUNROE, JUNIUS MALTBY, ENSEMBLE
Richard Thieriot* RICHARD WHITESIDE, JIMMIE MUNROE, DR. PHILLIPS, BILL WHITESIDE, ENSEMBLE
Tobie Windham* MANNIE MUNROE, TULARECITO, ENSEMBLE
Joanne Winter* KATHERINE WICKS, MARIA LOPEZ, ROBBIE MALTBY, WILLA WHITESIDE, ENSEMBLE
CREATIVE TEAM
Jonathan Moscone DIRECTOR
Octavio Solis playwright
Annie Smart SET DESIGNER
Meg Neville COSTUME DESIGNER
York Kennedy LIGHTING DESIGNER
Obadiah Eaves COMPOSER/SOUND DESIGNER
Erika Chong Shuch MOVEMENT
Julie Wolf MUSIC DIRECTOR
Laura Hope DRAMATURG
Stephanie Hunt TEXT COACH
Briana J. Fahey* STAGE MANAGER
Katherine Riemann* ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER
Christina Hogan PRODUCTION ASSISTANT
Kate Jopson ASSISTANT DIRECTOR
*Member of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.
Theater review: 'Pastures of Heaven'
—San Francisco Chronicle
Review: California Shakespeare Company triumphs with epic adaptation of Steinbeck's 'Pastures of Heaven'
—San Jose Mercury News
Entering heavenly Pastures
—Chad Jones’ Theater Dogs
“Steinbeck's 'Pastures' makes for good grazing”
—San Francisco Chronicle
“Cal Shakes, Octavio Solis team up on Steinbeck’s ‘Pastures of Heaven’”
— Contra Costa Times
Profile of Octavio Solis
—KQED’s “Spark”
Summer Arts Preview with “The Do List”
—KQED’s “Forum”
“Short trips for summer theater”
—Sacramento News & Reviews
Listen to a Pastures of Heaven Grove Talk by Cal Shakes Resident Dramaturg Philippa Kelly
