The Grapes of Wrath

he Grapes of Wrath is a 1988 play adapted by Frank Galati from the classic John Steinbeck novel of the same name , with incidental music by Michael Smith . The play debuted at the Steppenwolf Theatre in Chicago , followed by a May 1989 production at the La Jolla Playhouse in San Diego and a June 1989 production at the Royal National Theatre in London . After eleven previews , the Broadway production, directed by Galati, opened on March 22, 1990 at the Cort Theatre , where it ran for 188 performances. The cast included Gary Sinise , Kathryn Erbe , Terry Kinney , Jeff Perry , Lois Smith , Francis Guinan , and Stephen Bogardus .