The Corn Is Green tells the story of idealistic and hardnosed school teacher Miss Moffat who moves to a small Welsh mining town to open its first school. When she discovers unexpected promise in a gifted but illiterate teenager, she guides his ascent from bully to brilliant student as the two discover the lasting impact each has on the other's life.
The play is a deeply personal one, inspired by Williams' own relationship with a transformative teacher he encountered in his rural Welsh hometown. Williams himself portrayed schoolboy Evans in the production's premiere in London, which he also directed, in 1938. The play itself enjoyed great success in London and on Broadway where it played for three years in its initial run. "This play concerns itself with and the indomitable nature of its leading character, played by the indomitable Kate Burton, and where we are in the world today and particularly in this country, I think there's a kind of symmetry between us opening this play at the same time as in Washington, there is hope, and there is fondness, and there is love," says Martin.
Prices: $5 senior and military discounts. $20 back row of the balcony (limited availability) and $15 student rush seats (available two hours before curtain time for each performance). $25 "35 Below" tickets for patrons 35 years and younger (valid I.D. required).