The play was initially produced in London at the Royal Court Theatre on April 21, 1977, directed by Nancy Meckler.[3] The play was commissioned by Joseph Papp.[4]
Curse of the Starving Class premiered Off-Broadway at the New York Shakespeare Festival, on March 2, 1978, presented by Joseph Papp. The play closed on April 9, 1978.[5] The cast was as follows:
- Wesley – Ebbe Roe Smith
- Ella – Olympia Dukakis
- Emma – Pamela Reed
- Taylor – Kenneth Welsh
- Weston – James Gammon
- Ellis – Eddie Jones
- Malcolm – John Aquino
- Emerson – Michael J. Pollard
- Slater – Raymond J. Barry
- Directed by Robert Woodruff
- Setting and Costumes by Santo Loquasto
- Lighting by Martin Tudor
- Music by Bob Feldman
The play was revived Off-Broadway at the Promenade Theatre, running from July 30, 1985 to February 16, 1986. Directed by Robin Lynn Smith, the cast featured Kathy Bates (Ella) and Bradley Whitford (Wesley).[6]
The play was produced at Yale Repertory Theatre, New Haven, Connecticut, in February 2000, directed by Jim Simpson and featuring Kristine Nielsen, Guy Boyd, Mandy Siegfried, Danny Seckel, Paul Boocock, Ron Faber, Steve Mellor, Dan Moran and Chime Serra. The production had original live rock, blues, jazz, punk, and Latin-style music, composed and arranged by Steve Bargonetti and Diane Gioia.[7]
Curse of the Starving Class won the 1976–77 Obie Award for Best New American Play.[8]
