Though not a part of South by Southwest, THE GRAPES OF WRATH runs during the entirety of the festival and is a folkloric, Woody Guthrie-esque musical experience sure to knock the socks off Austin visitors and locals seeking live music but trying to avoid the SXSW crowds. (ZACH is offering free, reserved parking for its patrons attending this weekends shows, too!)
Led by award-winning musician Allen Robertson, founding member of The Biscuit Brothers, THE GRAPES OF WRATH’s four-part band accompanies the play. Robertson brings to life 1930's-era hymns in a fashion that harkens Austin’s legendary independent music scene. After all, Austin is one of the few places still around where using a saw as a musical instrument is as normal today as it was in the 1930's.
ZACH Theatre Artistic Director Dave Steakley asked that the music be stripped down to reflect the time period. Ranging from accapella to harmonized vocals to simple scoring from a guitar or chiming accordion melodies, "the most powerful emotional moments come from traditional hymns like Swing Low, Sweet Chariot and Pass Me Not O Gentle Savior," Steakley said in an interview about the play. An added bonus is ZACH’s licensing of the original Steppenwolf Theatre score, including a schmaltzy comic song in which used car salesmen try to pawn off wrecked cars on “Okies” fleeing their dust-covered homes and farms for promised opportunities in California.
Music is at the core of the stage performance of THE GRAPES OF WRATH. Music aficionados will not be disappointed with the emotionally moving, well placed, period-appropriate music in ZACH's production. And during the megalithic SXSW festival, a ticket to this show at Austin’s longest running live theatre company is an independent music find that festival goers will enjoy discovering.
Tickets available at ZACHTheatre.org or at the theatre at the corner of Riverside Dr. & S. Lamar (just a few blocks from downtown).
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