Photo Flash: First Look at Serenbe Playhouse's OF MICE AND MEN

In a story about friendship, fate and fortitude, two farmhands wander through California's Salinas Valley, leaning on each other to find their way in this powerful adaptation of John Steinbeck's quintessential novel, OF MICE AND MEN. The esteemed Jenny Lord of The Juilliard School will direct Serenbe favorites Daniel Parvis and Blake Burgess, cast as George and Lennie, the iconic duo of witty small guy and loafing giant. View lush Serenbe, transformed to a working farm of the depression-era dustbowl, with live horses wandering about the rustic barn and stark minimalism artfully at play. The bucolic barn setting lends itself to an interpretation that is all about relationships - stripped of material means and in the direst of circumstances, watch as two men overcome seemingly impossible odds to reach their destinies.

The ensemble, led by Parvis (A Streetcar Named Desire ) and Burgess (The Sleepy Hollow Experience ), includes Atlanta favorites Jonathan Horne as Carlson, Bryan Brendle (Ten Mile Lake ) as Slim, and Daviorr Snipes as Crooks. The cast also features Broadway vet Michael Rudko as Candy. The rest of the ensemble is rounded out by Brad Brinkley as The Boss, Andy Terwilliger as Curley, Nicole Carpenter as Curley's Wife, and Erik Abrahamsen as Whit.

The ensemble will also feature two four legged actors! The Playhouse is honored to be partnering with LifeLine Animal Project, manager of Fulton County Animal Services, to work with recently rescued dogs Hector and Autumn for this production. Hector and Autumn are being fostered in the Serenbe community and will both be making their stage debuts with the Playhouse. Beyond adding an incredible touch of realism and heart that only Serenbe Playhouse can provide, we hope to raise awareness of dogs, both young and old, in need of homes across Atlanta, and to help promote the LifeLine principle: adopt, don't shop!

Lord leads a creative team that includes costume design from Jamie Bullins, lighting design from Joseph Monahan III, properties design from Stephanie Polhemus, fight choreography from Christen Orr, whip choreography Jonathan Horne, and vocal coaching from Daniel Burns.