DEAD MAN WALKING
By Tim Robbins
Based on the book DEAD MAN WALKING by Sister Helen Prejean
Directed by Patrick Pearson

DEAD MAN WALKING is Tim Robbins’ 2002 stage rendering of Sister Helen Prejean’s book by the same title. Robbins originally wrote and directed the screen version in 1995; the film starred Susan Sarandon who won an Academy Award for her performance. Prejean later asked that Robbins write a stage version, to reach a wider audience. Instead of producing the play on Broadway, Robbins decided to offer DEAD MAN WALKING to schools and universities around the nation, in order to spur discourse on the death penalty.

Based on a true story, DEAD MAN WALKING chronicles the path of Sister Helen Prejean, of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Medaille, who befriends and counsels a death-row inmate, Matthew Poncelot, on his way to lethal injection. As Sister Prejean becomes acquainted with his life, family and situation, she also becomes involved with the families of his victims, and witnesses their grief and rage. As time inexorably marches toward the date of execution, Sister Prejean finds herself pulled in many different directions, as Poncelot, a man clearly guilty of heinous crimes, faces capital punishment. A provocative and controversial production, DEAD MAN WALKING contains mature subject matter and adult themes.

Myung Hee Cho is scenic designer; Cassie Stone is costume designer; Steve Giltner is lighting designer; Sarah Miller and Lauren DeSantis are makeup designers; and sound designer is Ray Gibson.