He composed original incidental music for the stage adaptation of John Steinbeck's novel, "The Grapes of Wrath," at the Steppenwolf Theatre Company in Chicago, Illinois with Lois Smith and Terry Kinney in the cast. The crew included Kevin Rigdon (scenic & lighting designer), Rob Milburn (sound designer), and Frank Galati (director and stage adaptation).
He was nominated for a 1989 Joseph Jefferson Award for Original Incidental Music for "The Grapes of Wrath" at the Steppenwolf Theatre Company in Chicago, Illinois.