The Grapes of Wrath comes to life at CLC through community collaboration

This spring, the Central Lakes College Performing Arts Center, via its’ Brainerd Community Theatre series, is bringing The Grapes of Wrath to the stage – not just as a theatrical production, but as a campus- and community-wide exploration of one of America’s most enduring stories.

Frank Galati’s Tony Award-winning adaptation of The Grapes of Wrath will be performed April 30 through May 3 in the Chalberg Theatre. Set during the Great Depression, the story follows the Joad family as they leave Oklahoma in search of work and stability in California, confronting hardship, displacement, and the fragile promise of a better life.

While the narrative is rooted in the 1930s, the Central Lakes College production connects those themes to present-day issues through a wide-ranging collaboration across campus and the broader Brainerd community.

“As we started working on this story, I kept coming back to how current it feels,” said Joey Yow, Director of the CLC Performing Arts Center and director of the production. “We are living through our own period of technological, cultural, and environmental upheaval, and this story creates a deep sense of empathy for people trying to build a better life in a world that has become harder to navigate. The perseverance of the Joad family stayed with me, and I was proud to get the chance to bring this show to our stage.”

To deepen student engagement, the Performing Arts Center partnered with CLC faculty to integrate the production into coursework across multiple disciplines during the Spring 2026 semester via a cross-curricular project. Similar to the academic project audiences may remember from the 2023 CLC production of Silent Sky, CLC students explored the historical, economic, and environmental dimensions of the Great Depression, and their research has been transformed into display pieces for audiences to experience alongside the performance.

These installations will be on view in the lobbies of both the Chalberg Theatre and the Dryden Theatre before each performance. The displays draw connections between the Dust Bowl migration and its ripple effects, including how similar economic and environmental pressures have shaped communities in Minnesota.

In addition, CLC students and former CLC faculty member Cory Johnson will be offering a free pre-show presentation on The Grapes of Wrath at 1 PM on Saturday, May 2, and Sunday, May 3 before the 2 PM matinees performances of the show. This presentation offers audiences the opportunity to learn more about the history of the novel, the stage adaptation, and the research undertaken by CLC students in this cross-curricular project.

Community partnerships have also played a central role in the project. The Brainerd Public Library hosted a public book club centered on the novel, while the Crossing Arts Alliance supported a Community Art Project inviting local artists to respond to its themes. Three selected works will be displayed in the Chalberg Theatre lobby during the run of the show.

“This is a big, ambitious show,” Yow said. “It’s the kind of piece that can feel a little intimidating at first. In fact, I had approached other directors about leading the show and was turned down due to the  and challenges of the piece feeling insurmountable. There’s a large cast, live music, and the Joads’ truck to bring to life – it’s an epic and audacious show, and that’s what makes it exciting to work on. Seeing our local theatre community step up to meet that challenge has been incredible.”

He added that the collaborative spirit of the cast has been central to the production. “I always think of theatre as an ensemble art form, but this group really leaned into that,” Yow said. “People brought ideas into the room, helped solve problems, and built moments together. This show is a shared creation.”

The cast features returning and new local performers, including Amelia Mauro, Arsen Engles, Barb McColgan, Blake Lubinus, Brad Kohl, Emma Hilgart, Erin Caswell, Gus Sjostrand, Henry Hultberg, Jacob Becker, Jenny Kiffmeyer, Lorri Jager, Lynn Ellison, Mackenzie Papillon-Renford, Mark Ford, Mark Oehrlein, Marlowe Cotariu, Nicole Rothleutner, Phyl Bell, Rebecca Aanerud, Seth Sjostrand, Sharron Hartley, Tom Sjostrand, and Watson.

Behind the scenes, the production team includes stage manager Shawn Sylvester, set designer Tim Leagjeld, lighting designer Heidi Eckwall, costume designer Rebecca Aanerud, and a team of local carpenters, technicians, and students from CLC and ISD 181.

“This is one of the most technically demanding shows we’ve taken on,” Yow said. “The scale of the set, the way we’re using the space – even moments like rain on stage – it all comes together to create something immersive. I think audiences are going to be really surprised by what they see.”

This activity is made possible, in part, by the voters of Minnesota through a Minnesota State Arts Board Arts Experience and Operating Support grant, as well as a grant from the Five Wings Arts Council, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

Performances of The Grapes of Wrath will take place April 30 through May 3 in the Chalberg Theatre on the Central Lakes College Brainerd campus. Performances are held at 7 PM on April 30 through May 2, and 2 PM on May 2 and 3. Pre-show talk with Cory Johnson and CLC students will be held at 1 PM on May 2 and 3 in the Dryden Theatre. Tickets are available through the CLC Performing Arts Center box office at (218) 855-8199 or online at www.clcperformingarts.com.