Dead Man Walking

A dying man is alone, except for the love of a Catholic sister. He is a castaway, considered untouchable and worthy of death by his society. The nun comforts him and says, “I can’t bear the thought that you would die without seeing one loving face. I will be the face of Christ for you.” She is Sister Helen Prejean, a Sister of St. Joseph of Medaille. He is one of four convicted murderers whom she has accompanied to the death chamber in Louisiana.

In 2002, Tim Robbins wrote the stage version of Dead Man Walking based on Sister Helen Prejean’s book of the same title. Part of a three-year project designed to foster discourse and discussion about the death penalty, The Dead Man Walking School Theatre Project is managed by the Death Penalty Discourse Center where Sister Prejean now bases her work. In addition to the OSU Theatre production, a symposium on the death penalty is being held in conjunction with other university units.