Inspired by the infamous 1927 case of Ruth Snyder, a woman condemned to the electric chair for murdering her husband, “Machinal” follows a young woman through a life that feels crushing and pre-determined, as she feels forced to assume the roles of wife and mother at the cost of her own identity. After being pressured to marry and have a baby with her boss, she is driven to rebellion, fueled by passion and desperation to break free from the overbearing weight of opression.

The play remains a landmark of American Expressionist theater nearly a century after its debut, offering powerful critiques of patriarchal capitalism and societal expectations to conform to “the machine.”

*This show is free to the public with open seating, made possible by a grant from the American Rescue Plan Act. No tickets are required for entry, and voluntary donations can be given to support the theater.

Directors:

Kimberly King

Melisa Quintence