TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD to Open 3/8 at Alabama Shakespeare Festival

Harper Lee's Pulitzer Prize-winning classic, To Kill a Mockingbird, will be staged at the Alabama Shakespeare Festival March 8-24. Four additional performances will take place May 12, 15, 17 and 18 during ASF's final week of the repertory season. Adapted for the stage by Christopher Sergel, the play is directed by Diana Van Fossen.

Ticket prices start at $30 and can be obtained by calling 800.841.4273, visiting on line at www.asf.net or at the ASF box office located at 1 Festival Drive in the heart of Montgomery's beautiful Blount Cultural Park.

To Kill a Mockingbird is a tale of courage and integrity in the face of overwhelming odds. Set in a small Alabama town during the Great Depression a young tomboy observes as her lawyer father, Atticus Finch, defends a black man unjustly accused of a heinous crime. The ensuing trial divides the town and places lives in peril.

Harper Lee's novel was published in 1960 and went on to win the Pulitzer Prize that year. In 1962, the movie version debuted featuring Gregory Peck as Atticus Finch. For his performance, Peck won the Academy Award for "best actor."

ASF's production will feature Broadway and regional theatre veteran Kurt Rhoads as Atticus Finch. Two young Montgomery area talents, Katie Cobb and Abbie Salter, will share the role of Finch's daughter, Scout.

Others in the cast include Jordan Barbour (Tom Robinson), Jennifer Barnhart (Stephanie Crawford), Ian Bedford (Bob Ewell), Brik Berkes (Boo Radley), James Bowen (Reverend Sykes), Seth Andrew Bridges (Clerk), Rodney Clark (Heck Tate), Janelle Cochrane (Mrs. Dubose), Michelle Geisler (Mayella Ewell), Logan James Hall (Townsperson), Paul Hebron (Walter Cunningham), Greta Lambert (Maudie Atkinson), Tom Lawson, Jr. (Judge Taylor), Anthony Marble (Mr. Gilmer), Jason Martin (Townsperson), Chris Pappas (Townsperson), Jim Staudt (Townsperson), David Umansky (Townsperson), Cheri Lynne Vandenheuval (Calpurnia)and Jillian Walker (Helen Robinson).

Other Montgomery area young people performing in the production are Matthew Klinger and Reese Lynch (Jem Finch) as well as Tapley Cronier and Max Zink (Dill).

Joining director Van Fossen on the artistic team are Peter Hicks (Set Design), Pamela Schofield (Costume Design), Phil Monat (Lighting Design) and Richelle Thompson (Sound Design). Scott Pegg is the stage manager and Susan Willis serves as dramaturg.

The Alabama Shakespeare Festival is among the largest Shakespeare theatres in the world. Designated as The State Theatre of Alabama, ASF has been located in Montgomery since 1985 when it moved from Anniston as a result of Mr. and Mrs. Wynton M. Blount's gift of a performing arts complex set in the 250-acre Wynton M. Blount Cultural Park. This program/project has been made possible by grants from the Alabama State Council on the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts.