About the Play:

East Of Eden is a full-length drama adapted for the stage by Frank Galati, from the classic John Steinbeck novel of the same name. Renowned first as a celebrated 1952 novel, and then as a prize-winning motion picture that starred James Dean, this is a powerful and deeply affecting stage version of one of the masterpieces of American literature. Set in the early 20th century, East Of Eden is a modern take on the story of Adam, Eve, Cain, and Abel examining whether "good versus evil" is our great choice or our unavoidable fate.

East Of Eden is a sprawling and unflinching story about legacy, loyalty and love that sets the saga of Adam and Eve, and their sons Cain and Abel in the years leading up to World War One. Is it possible to avoid the mistakes of our forefathers? Escaping a turbulent past, Adam Trask is determined to make a new start in Central California's Salinas Valley. Adam and his wife, Cathy, settle on a beautiful farm, and soon Cathy gives birth to to twin boys Caleb and Aron, names similar to those of Adam and Eve's first two sons in the Book of Genesis. But a dark family history, sibling rivalry, the seemingly inescapable sins of man (and woman), and the impending danger of World War I threaten their little corner of paradise. East Of Eden is an American epic, grand in scope yet deeply personal, that asks if it is possible to escape the mistakes of previous generations and choose your own course. Do genetics determine a man's nature? Or is it defined by the choices he makes?

East Of Eden premiered in 2015 at Chicago's Steppenwolf Theatre. Since then the play has been successfully staged at regional theatres and performed in college theatre productions as a showcase of student talent.

Cast: 3 female, 7 male

What people say:

"Rich in symbolism and substance…a significant achievement…." — Chicago Tribune

"Steinbeck’s novel, in [an] adaptation by Frank Galati, is an intriguing combination of Old Testament severity and new-fangled Freudian analysis, with a nature-versus-nurture overlay. A story of the catastrophic relationship between a man who loved blindly, and a woman incapable of loving anyone…." — Chicago Sun-Times

"Galati brilliantly emphasizes sibling rivalry, family secrets and the struggle to be good…[He] indulges us with short scenes that are engrossing, well-paced and captivating." — Northwest Herald

About the Playwright:

Frank Galati (1943-2023) was an American director, writer, actor, and teacher. A long-time member of the legendary Steppenwolf Theatre Company in Chicago, he was winner of Tony Awards for the adaptation and direction of The Grapes of Wrath in 1990, and was nominated for an Oscar for co-adapting The Accidental Tourist for the screen. His long career also included teaching performance study at Northwestern University for nearly 40 years.