The Pennsylvania Playhouse presents Harper Lees beloved classic, To Kill A Mockingbird, in a stage adaptation by Christopher Sergel, directed by George B Miller,
The production opens May 30, 2014, with additional performances on May 31, June 6-8, & June 12-15 at 8PM, 6PM on Sunday.
An unforgettable coming-of-age story of a small town, Southern childhood and the crisis of conscience that rocked it, To Kill A Mockingbird was a runaway success when it was published in 1960.
It went on to not only win the Pulitzer Prize, but to be made into a classic, Academy Award-winning film.
In the sleepy town of Maycomb, Alabama, in 1935, the most excitement one could hope for was when Scout Finch and her brother Jem tried to catch a glimpse of their mysterious neighbor, the ghostly Boo Radley. The most excitement, that is, until their father Atticus Finch agrees to defend Tom Robinson, a black man falsely accused and arrested for attacking a white woman.
The Playhouse show is directed by George Miller.
"Compassionate, dramatic, and deeply moving, Mockingbird is about choosing courage. It is about growing up, no matter what the age," says Miller, "but rather our emotional growth “ learning to stand in someone elses shoes before judging. And it is timeless, as powerful today as it was over 5o years ago."
The cast features Pat Kelly in the iconic role of Atticus Finch, with Jordyn Dauter as Scout Finch, Jonathan Krippe as Jem Finch, and Zane Child as their sidekick Dill.
Roy Shuler plays the accused man, Tom Robinson. Rounding out the cast are Sonia Aviles, Rick Bachl, Troy Brokenshire, Jerry Brucker ,William Hightower, Katherine Mayk, Phil Markley, Jeannie Olah, Kathy Patterson, Sarah Jane Pierce, Greg Rogers, Thomas W. Rush, Roy Shuler, Jim Vivian, and Steven Weed.
The set is by Michael Lavelle Schofield, co-designed and built by Brett Olivera and adapted from Kevin Depinets design. Lighting design is also by Brett Olivera, sound design is by Ginny Wilson, and Kate Scuffle is costumer for the period piece.
Stage Manager for the production is Ginny Wilson.
In addition, Playhouse audiences will be treated to a rare visit with author Harper Lee, as portrayed by seasoned actress Elizabeth McDonald, at special pre-show performances on Friday, May 30; Sunday, June 8; Thursday, June 12, and Saturday, June 14.
McDonald and George Miller have created an intimate portrait of the often reclusive author, a chance to share in her memories not only of writing Mockingbird but of her childhood in Alabama, life in New York City, her adventures with Truman Capote, and much more, all shared with Southern wit and charm.
"The story of Scout's initiation and maturing is the story of finding out who you are in the world," says author Mary McDonagh Murphy,( author of the book Scout, Atticus & Boo.).
"It's about race, it's about prejudice, it's about childhood, it's about parenting, it's about love, it's about loneliness ” there's something for everyone,"
Tickets are $22, $19 students & seniors, except Saturday and may be purchased at website www.paplayhouse.org or 610-865-6665,