Dead Man Walking (play) - History of The Play

History of The Play

Sister Helen Prejean, who had become an internationally known human rights activist as a result of writing "Dead Man Walking," first conceived the idea of a stage version of her work in 1998 after reading a New Yorker magazine article that said Arthur Miller's play, "Death of a Salesman," had been performed a million times, and was performed every day somewhere in the world. Sister Helen realized that if "Dead Man Walking" could be made into a play its impact would be expanded..

Sister Helen had previously worked with Tim Robbins on the film version of this story, and invited him to write a stage play of her story. Tim accepted the invitation to crafting a stage adaptation.

Tim Robbins chose to not take the play to Broadway but instead to "use the play as a tool to create deeper reflections on the death penalty in our nation's high schools and colleges." The performance requirements are that any school mounting a production must also involve at least 2 academic departments to offer courses pertaining to the death penalty.

According to the Catholic Mobilizing Network and the play's website.

Since the launch of the project in the fall of 2003, more than 200 high schools and colleges across the country have produced the play, conducted academic courses on the death penalty, and brought the issue to life on their campuses through art, music, and public education and action events.