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The Oregon Shakespeare Festival Production of

Mother Road

  • Credits

    Written by Octavio Solis
    Directed by Bill Rauch

  • Location

    Fichandler Stage

“A rich and powerful narrative that has a compelling unity”

 Mail Tribune

The story follows the terminally ill William Joad and his quest to pass down his Oklahoma family farm to a descendant among the Joads who migrated west. When he discovers that Joads are now Mexican-American Jodes, he and his only living heir, Martín, must confront their ideas of family, legacy and America. Inspired by Steinbeck’s classic, the two men travel from California back to Oklahoma, making an epic and entertaining journey on the Mother Road all while forging an unlikely bond and coming to terms with their brutal past.

Mother Road is generously sponsored by AltriaAARP and the David Bruce Smith Foundation.

Mother Road runs approximately two hours and 40 minutes, including one 15-minute intermission.

Cast

DAVID ANZUELO

Abelardo/ Ranch Hand

NATALIE CAMUNAS

Amelia / Chorus Leader

TED DEASY

Roger / William's Father / State Trooper / Ranch Hand

DEREK GARZA

Curtis / Abelardo’s Father

CEDRIC LAMAR

James / Cook / Fight Captain

AMY LIZARDO

Mo

KATE MULLIGAN

Ivy / William’s Mother / Police Officer

MARK MURPHEY

William Joad

TONY SANCHO

Martín Jodes

Creative

OCTAVIO SOLIS

Playwright

BILL RAUCH

Director

CHRISTOPHER ACEBO

Set Designer

CAROLYN MAZUCA

Costume Designer

PABLO SANTIAGO

Lighting Designer

PAUL JAMES PRENDERGAST

Original Music and Sound Design

KAITLYN PIETRAS

Projection Designer

ANNE NESMITH

Wig Designer

KAREEM FAHMY

Associate Director

U. JONATHAN TOPPO

Fight Director

JACLYN MILLER

Movement Consultant

ANITA MAYNARD LOSH

Vocal Coach

TY DEFOE

Original Movement Director

CHERELLE GUYTON

Original Wig Designer

MICHA ESPINOSA

Original Voice and Text Coach

KURT HALL

Stage Manager

EMILY ANN MELLON

Assistant Stage Manager

Multimedia

"Mother Road" at Arena Stage
See what audiences are saying about "Mother Road."
Playwright Octavio Solis introduces "Mother Road"
Bill Rauch discusses "Mother Road"
Photo of the cast of “Mother Road” by Margot Schulman.
Photo of Mark Murphey and Tony Sancho by Margot Schulman.
Photo of the cast of “Mother Road” by Margot Schulman.
Photo of Tony Sancho by Margot Schulman.
Photo of Cedric Lamar, Amy Lizardo, Mark Murphey and Tony Sancho by Margot Schulman.
Photo of Tony Sancho and Natalie Camunas by Margot Schulman.
Photo of Tony Sancho by Margot Schulman.
Photo of Mark Murphey and Tony Sancho by Margot Schulman.
Photo of the cast of “Mother Road” by Margot Schulman.
Photo of Kate Mulligan and Mark Murphey by Margot Schulman.
Photo of Kate Mulligan, Amy Lizardo, Mark Murphey and Tony Sancho by Margot Schulman.
Photo of Tony Sancho and Mark Murphey by Margot Schulman.
Photo of Mark Murphey, Amy Lizardo and Tony Sancho by Margot Schulman.
Photo of Mark Murphey and Ted Deasy by Margot Schulman.
Photo of cast of “Mother Road” by Margot Schulman.
Photo of Tony Sancho and Natalie Camunas by Margot Schulman.

In The News

The Writers Haven

Octavio Solis talks about bringing Mother Road across the country

AFRO

Mother Road Offers a Way Out

Washington Blade

Out Latinx actress savors role in Grapes of Wrath sequel at Arena

The Tide

Mother Road, an inclusive modern spin on an American classic

La Vanguardia

Mother Road: A Modern Story Inspired by Steinbeck's Classic Novel

Broadway World

BWW Interview: Tony Sancho of Mother Road at Arena Stage

NBC4

Tony Sancho and Natalie Camunas talk about Mother Road

WPFW - Union City Radio

Tony Sancho talks about the inspiration behind Mother Road

MD Theatre Guide

‘A Quick 5’ with Kaitlyn Pietras, Projection Designer for Mother Road

Broadway World

Photo Flash: Mother Road Celebrates Opening Night at Arena Stage

On Tap Magazine

Playwright Octavio Solis Expands American Narrative With Mother Road

The Rogers Revue

On the Mother Road with Tony Sancho

Washingtonian

Mother Road Shares a Modern Take of Steinbeck’s Migrant Tale

WONK-FM

Mark Murphey chats about timeliness of Mother Road

Front Mezz Junkies

Driving Down Arena’s Mother Road with Cedric Lamar

Broadway World

Photo Flash: Inside First Rehearsal For Mother Road at Arena Stage

Broadway World

Cast and Creative Team Announced for Mother Road at Arena Stage

American Theatre Magazine

Octavio Solis’s Journey to Mother Road

Accessible Performances

Closed Captioning
GalaPro Begins Friday, February 14. Learn more about Gala Pro

Open Captioning
Thursday, March 5 at 8 p.m.

Audio Described
Saturday, February 22 at 2 p.m.

Events

Post-Show Discussions
Wednesday, February 19 at 12 p.m.
Thursday, February 20 at 8 p.m.
Tuesday, February 25 at 12 p.m.
Tuesday, March 3 at 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday, March 4 at 12 p.m.

Southwest Night
Sunday, February 16 at 7:30 p.m. Purchase

Program PDF

Mother Road program

Also in this Season

Celia and Fidel

October 8 - November 21, 2021
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August Wilson's Seven Guitars

November 26 - December 26, 2021
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