Student cast members Ray Norville, Anabel Johnson, Tom Neal, and Michael Mazzone in 'Waiting for Lefty' at Robsham Theater. (Lee Pellegrini)

One of the most celebrated and significant plays of modern American theater, Clifford Odetsā€™ ā€œWaiting for Lefty,ā€ will kick off the Robsham Theater 2016-17 season with a run October 13-16.

Associate Professor of the Practice Patricia Riggin will direct the Theatre Department production of the 1935 classic, a series of episodes blended into a powerful mosaic about a labor strike.Ā 

A collection of new short plays by contemporary female playwrights, ā€œStill Waiting,ā€ that follows the production brings the struggles of American workers and their lives into the 21st century. Featured playwrights are Sheri Wilner, Ļć½¶Šć's 2016-17 Monan Professor in Theatre Arts; Huntington Theatre Company playwright-in-residence Melinda Lopez, and Boston Playwrights Theatre Artistic Director Kate Snodgrass. The trio will take part in a ā€œStill Waiting Playwrights Panelā€ after the Oct. 14 performance.

A production of 'Waiting for Lefty' at Ļć½¶Šć's Robsham Theater
Odets' 'Waiting for Lefty' is considered to be among the most celebrated and significant plays of modern American theater. (L-R: Michael Joseph, Rahul Dey, Adrienne Vanderhoof, Lexi Auth, Michaela Dolishny. Photo by Lee Pellegrini)

Additional programming accompanying ā€œWaiting for Leftyā€ aims to elaborate on the production and link complementary themes of art, academia, and activism. Sponsored by Ļć½¶Šć's Winston Center for Leadership and Ethics, events include:

  • ā€œThe Fight for Civil Rights, Social Justice, and Labor Equality,ā€ a lecture with civil rights and labor activist Christine Chavez on Oct. 11 at 6 p.m. in Gasson 100;
  • A screening of ā€œThe Salt of the Earthā€ followed by discussion with Ļć½¶Šć faculty members John Michalczyk and Cynthia Lyerly on Oct. 12 at 5 p.m. in Devlin 101;
  • ā€œThe Labor Movement: From Yesterday to Today,ā€ a panel discussion with social, political, and historical experts Barry Bluestone of Northeastern University; Donna Blythe-McColgan of the United Steelworkers of America Union; State Senator Linda Dorcena Forry ā€™96; and Ļć½¶Šć faculty members Lynn Johnson and David Twomey. Moderated byĀ  Boston College Magazine editor Ben Birnbaum, the event will take place on Oct. 13 at 4 p.m. in Robsham Theater

For show times and ticket prices, visit the .

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