As an actor, I've had the honor to work with some fabulous directors. One of my favorites was Trevor Nunn, who ran the Royal Shakespeare Company while I was there. When playing Poins in Henry IV, Parts 1 & 2, I thought I'd throw him a curve ball. 'What kind of underpants do you think Poins wears? Boxers or Y-fronts?' Without a pause, Trevor said, 'Neither. He's the sort of fellow who wears purple velvet g-strings ... !'

When I was working with Richard Attenborough on the film Cry Freedom with Kevin Kline and Denzel Washington, Richard said to me, 'It's all in the eyes, Miles'— and subsequently put me in a huge pair of dark glasses.

Humor and integrity are the best qualities in any creative artist, but particularly directors. I try to bring the lessons I've learned from those wonderful directors like Nunn and Attenborough into my work with the cast of Grapes.

Coming to California really was living the American dream for me, just as it was for the Joads. And just like the Joads, I came at a time of financial stress. 2008 was probably the worst economic downturn that America had seen in decades. What a time to arrive!!

I've known nothing but generosity since then, and always from those who don't have huge amounts to give themselves. Actors are used to living on the smell of an oil-rag which is why I love Ma Joad's comment that it's not CAN they take Casy with them, but WILL they— and of course they WILL. I aspire to the same ethos. Coming from Zimbabwe, I have friends who will share with me their last slice of bread, literally. Not that things are that bad at the moment! After all, my wife has a job at UC Davis! And for the moment—so do I!!

-- Miles Anderson (Granada Artist-in-Residence/Director)

Since my youth, I’ve had a close relationship with music as a drummer/guitarist in multiple 70's and 80's rock-jam bands. My music minor led me to spontaneously discover auditions for The Grapes of Wrath the day before casting.

Just one-minute into the audition, I was cast as "Man with Guitar" symbolizing a man traveling west with his guitar to create musical enjoyment for himself and others.

When I’m not busy studying at UC Davis, I devote time to working towards my private pilot's license, staying fit, and researching LED lighting at the UC Davis California Lighting and Technology Center.

-- Cole Sutliff (Musician)

My first audition was for the play Annie when I was about seven years old. My eldest sister took me to the audition and had to give me a pep talk in the parking lot because I was a nervous wreck. When my turn came to go onstage, I stood in front of the directors and opened my mouth to sing but nothing came out. Then I blurted, "I'm scared!" and RAN off stage to my sister.

I expected her to comfort me but I was so wrong. Instead she looked me straight in the eyes and forced me back to the audition. With an already defeated soul I sauntered back onstage and miraculously sang my song.

Needless to say, I was very surprised to have made the cast list. This play was my first taste of performing and I was hooked!

I performed off and on throughout elementary and high school, but stopped after graduation so I could join the work force. I then worked in property management for a decade. A few years before I resigned, my eldest sister once again lit a fire under my feet to go back to school. This was when I decided to return to the stage.

UC Davis had been my school of choice when I wanted to be a veterinarian. Unfortunately that didn't happen but once I learned that UCD had a dramatic art department, it was a no-brainer for me. I busted my butt at junior college over four years to get here. It's only my second quarter, but now I am back onstage, taking wonderful classes, and loving everyone minute of it.

-- Nakeema Brooks (Ensemble)

I was introduced to the world of theater at a very young age because my dad is a professional opera singer.

The first time I saw him perform in a big role, I couldn't believe that all of these people around me were watching him, and eventually applauding him. I felt a gust of pride and inspiration and thought to myself, I want to do that. I want to be a performer.

-- Matthew Skinnner (Ensemble)

As a UC Davis staff member joining the cast of The Grapes of Wrath and working with Miles Anderson is like attending some sort of fantasy camp.

 

I auditioned to be in the band but figured I would do whatever I could to be a part of telling this story. 

I was drawn to The Grapes of Wrath mainly because I grew up in California and lived and worked alongside migrant workers. I have picked peaches, walnuts, tomatoes and chopped wood. I have seen firsthand how even today, migrant workers are mistreated and denied justice by prejudices passed down since the time when Steinbeck penned his novel.

 

I have always found it ironic that the hardest working people, the people that harvest the manna of the earth and deliver it to our tables, are treated worse than any other group. 

 

I think Steinbeck's work really holds up a mirror to the human race. It is layered with biblical stories which highlight the hypocrisy of prejudice which the migrants faced.

-- Jason Votaw (Uncle John)

 

By the time I was 18 years old, I was already married, had a career in banking and an almost paid-off hatchback. My entire life was figured out—or so I thought.

I had wanted to act for as long as I could remember—this dream started when watching Star Wars at seven years of age and wishing I could be Princess Leia—but I always took the more 'responsible' path.

Suddenly, at 19, I plunged into the theater community and began acting in ALL of my free time, until it was hard to think about anything else. And everything changed. It became clear to me that I could not be happy with doing theater on the side—I needed it to be my career.

I also knew that the life I had planned out was not what I needed, so I left all that was safe and started over. I began formal training as an actor with the Dramatic Art program at UC Davis, diving into what it takes to tell truthful stories on stage. I hope my work in The Grapes of Wrath does just that.

-- Megan Caton (Ensemble)

Growing up, I was always shy, but acting in theater offered me an outlet and an opportunity to come out of my shell. I believed that a life in the sciences was to be the life for me, but after being recommended by a friend to join the theater tech program in high school, my love of theater ignited and I decided to do a complete 180 and focus my life on the arts.

While a theater technician at heart, I appreciate the art of acting and embrace it. I unleash my energy while acting. Upon hearing that The Grapes of Wrath was to be produced here at UCD, I was excited for the chance to land a role in the play—any role would have been fine.

I am excited to join such a wonderful cast and look forward to sharing the bittersweet story of the Joad family.

-- Kevin Chung (Al)