Inspired by the infamous 1927 murder trial of spouse killer Ruth Snyder, Machinal is the powerful tale of one woman’s isolation in a life that’s been entirely decided for her. Snyder is trapped first in a dead-end job, then forced to marry her boss and have a baby with him. But when she begins to discover her own carnal desires while having an affair with a younger man, the story takes a violent turn. Written in 1928, playwright and journalist Sophie Treadwell’s expressionistic masterpiece explores traditional gender roles and the illusion of choice in modern society. While the play is decades old, it’s still eerily relevant for today’s audiences.

 An encore for an alumnus

Director Matthew McCray has directed for Center Theatre Group, South Coast Repertory (StudioSCR), Deaf West Theatre, Theatre @ Boston Court, REDCAT, Son of Semele, and Rogue Machine, among others. He’s the recipient of an Ovation Award nomination & an LA Drama Critics Circle nomination for his 2013 direction of Our Class, an LA Weekly Award nomination for The City by Martin Crimp, and an LA Weekly Award for Multi-Media/Projections for Iphigenia. BFA, Chapman University. Member: SDC, AEA & SAG/AFTRA

April 10-12, 17-19, 2014
Machinal by Sophie Treadwell
Directed by Matthew McCray

Waltmar Theatre, Chapman University
April 10-12, 17-19 at 7:30pm, with an additional matinee performance April 19 at 2pm
$20 general admission; $15 senior citizens, non-Chapman students and alumni.

For tickets, call 714-997-6812, or visit www.chapman.edu/copa

 

Photo Credit: Morgan Lauf ’14, Delayne Mitchell ’17, Tony Tilli ’15 and Chris Gerse ’14 are office workers in the mechanized and expressionistic world of Machinal.