Innovation Theatre Works announces the first production of its 2011-2012 Season will be an adaptation of the book Hard Times by Studs Terkel.  Using an all community cast, Hard Times will be the kick-off of a community wide series of events ITW is orchestrating in conjunction with Redmond High School focusing on the theme Triumph of the Human Spirit.
Terkel interviewed hundreds of people across the United States to compile his compelling oral history of the years comprising the Great Depression in America. Hard Times looks at those years through the eyes of the people who lived it demonstrates how our spirit brings us together, neighbor helping neighbor, allows us to persevere through the most difficult of times.  
The cast will work closely with director Brad Hills to embody many of the characters from the book deliver those stories interwoven with music images from the period.
Redmond High School will culminate the three month long look at the Depression in November with its production of the Frank Galati stage adaptation of John Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath.  In between the two organizations will work with community partners such as The Deschutes County Library, the City Club of Central Oregon, The Deschutes County Historical Society Atelier 6000 to offer additional events providing information discussion opportunities about the Great Depression its parallels in today’s economy.
Included in these events will be a panel discussion on the effects of poverty in America, an open-mic storytelling program for people wishing to share their own Depression Era stories, a concert featuring music of the 1930s, a film series featuring films about the depression or from the era, a Table Talk Forum to discuss the effectiveness of measures meant to bring about recovery from economic disasters much more.