To Kill a Mockingbird at the Sierra Madre Playhouse

Posted Oct. 2, 2011 – In a small town in Alabama in 1935, the steadfastly decent and honorable lawyer Atticus Finch is called upon to defend a Black field worker falsely accused of rape. Even Atticus admits that, given the time and location of the trial, he has little chance of success in defending his client. But the prisoner is innocent, a fact that Finch is determined to demonstrate by evidence in court. Finch will do it, even if he has to face down an armed and angry lynch mob determined to see young Tom Robinson swing from a rope.

Finch is also a widower and a single father, and “To Kill A Mockingbird” is also a story of how he instills his own values of decency and right conduct in the daughter and son who love him.

Based on the 1960 novel by Harper Lee, the play by Christopher Sergel (1918-1993) debuted in London in 1988. Sergel lived a life of global adventure before settling down to a commercially successful career of adapting the works of others to the stage, among them “Fame,” “Our Miss Brooks,” “Get Smart,” ”Winesburg, Ohio,” and much more.

For Sierra Madre Playhouse, Michael Cooper directs a cast that includes (in alphabetical order): Ben Bradley, Timothy Connolly, Alex Egan, Dan Ellis, Patrick Fitzsimmons, Brighid Fleming, Marvin Gay, Diane Kelber, Christian Lebano, Sarah Logan, Robert Manning Jr., Garrett Palmer, Miguel Perez, Rosina Pinchot, David Preston, Michael Andrew Stock, Tara Thomas and Lindsay Wagner.

The new production marks an opportunity to see live on stage one of the best loved stories of 20th Century American literature.

“To Kill a Mockingbird” will be at the Sierra Madre Playhouse beginning Oct. 7th and running through November 12, 2011. Fri. & Sat. at 8, Sun. at 2:30. Dark on October 9. The Gala Opening performance on Friday, October 7 is preceded by a Champagne reception and light buffet at 7:15 p.m.

ADMISSION: $25. Seniors (65+) and students (13-17), $22. Children 12 and under, $15.

RESERVATIONS: (626) 355-4318.

ONLINE TICKETING: www.sierramadreplayhouse.org