In 1928, Treadwell stunned Broadway with a powerful indictment of a system that dehumanizes women. Through expressionism, she revealed the crushing forces of patriarchy in work, marriage, and the law—addressing issues like sexual harassment, unequal pay, and reproductive control. Ninety years later, the students in this cast say they still feel those same forces at work. And as we rehearsed, we watched continued attacks on institutions like Planned Parenthood, and heard hateful rhetoric from the highest levels of power. What gives me hope is the courage these young actors bring. They’ve delved into history, into family stories, and into themselves to understand the relevance of Machinal today. As they give voice to our collective past, they also point toward a future we must continue fighting for—a future where we steer the machine toward progress, not oppression. - JASON JACOBS program note