Dallas Theater Center presents To Kill a Mockingbird at the Dee and Charles Wyly Theatre at the AT&T Performing Arts Center Oct. 21 - Nov. 20. Wendy Dann will direct the play, which is the first ever co-production between DTC and Casa Mañana Theatre. This classic story will also be the focus of an area-wide Community Read lead by DTC in partnership with the Dallas Public Library and other organizations.
"Dallas Theater Center is committed to inspiring a meaningful dialogue with our community through live theater. Our production of To Kill a Mockingbird is a prime example of this goal," says DTC Artistic Director Kevin Moriarty. "Equally important, it demonstrates our commitment to creating collaborations within our community. We believe that arts and community organizations are strongest when we work together. With To Kill a Mockingbird, for the first time ever, DTC will partner with Fort Worth's historic Casa Mañana Theatre to produce a play in both Fort Worth and Dallas, as well as partnering with the Dallas Public Library to reach out to the community and inspire people of all ages to read Harper Lee's classic novel and discuss themes of injustice and tolerance."
The play, a moving adaptation of the novel by Harper Lee, tells two stories set in a small southern town. One of the stories follows attorney Atticus Finch and his defense of a wrongly accused man. The other follows his bright, young daughter, Scout, as she learns the realities of irrational hatred and discovers her own goodness."I've spent most of my adult life coming to terms with the inequalities based on race and class in America. This story of a young girl who comes face to face with the fears and prejudices of the adult world and discovers her own ability to do good in the world hits pretty close to home for me," says director Wendy Dann. "I recently started carrying around a copy of the novel and, upon seeing the book in my hands, many people respond that it's ‘their book.' They have an intensely personal connection to the story."
Morgan Richards, also new to DTC, will play Scout. Richards has appeared in almost 10 Casa Mañana productions, most recently played Glinda in The Wizard of Oz. Brierley Resident Acting Company members in To Kill A Mockingbird are Matthew Gray as Heck Tate (Dividing the Estate, Henry IV) and Sally Nystuen Vahle (Cabaret) as Miss Maudie. Dallas Theater Center will announce the role of Atticus Finch at a later date.Returning to the Dallas Theater Center stage are Akin Babatunde (Dividing the Estate) as Reverend Sykes; Bob Hess as Mr. Gilmer (It's a Bird... It's a Plane... It's Superman); Dawson Holder as Walter (It's a Bird... It's a Plane... It's Superman); Aiden Langford (A Christmas Carol) as Dill; Denis Lee (The Wiz) as Calpurnia and Bob Reed as Doctor/Clerk (A Christmas Carol). Others making their DTC debut are Pam Daugherty as Mrs. Dubose; Greg Dulcie as Judge/Cunningham; James Dybas as Bob Ewell; Anastasia Munoz as Mayella; David Allen Norton as Jem; Van Quattro as Boo Radley; Bob Reed as Doctor/Clerk; and Akron Watson as Tom Robinson.
Leading the artistic team is director Wendy Dann. Dann is the co-author of the acclaimed Sammy & Me and served as associate artistic director to DTC's Kevin Moriarty at Hangar Theatre for seven years. Costume designs are by DTC's Jennifer Ables, who also designed for DTC's Henry IV in the 2010-2011 season. The artistic team also includes Brian Bembridge for lighting design, Donna Marquet for scenic design and Sarah Pickett as sound designer and composer. In addition to being the first co-production between Dallas Theater Center and Casa Mañana, To Kill a Mockingbird will also be the focus of DTC's first Community Read. The Community Read, which launches Tuesday, September 6, aims to engage people of all ages from across North Texas to pick up the book, see the play and discuss the important themes of the work. The Dallas Public Library and other community partners will host literary events throughout the run of the play to encourage open dialogue about the story.
"By partnering with the Dallas Public Library and community organizations throughout the region, we hope to inspire thousands of people to read this beautiful story and then to see the play," says Moriarty. "Our hope is that they will then join together in conversations about its themes of tolerance, justice, integrity and parenthood," says Moriarty.All performances of To Kill a Mockingbird will be held in the Dee and Charles Wyly Theatre at the AT&T Performing Arts Center located at 2400 Flora St., where it runs Oct. 21 - Nov. 20. Preview performances are Oct. 21 - Oct. 27. Opening night is Friday, Oct. 28 at 8:00 p.m. Performance times are Tuesday through Thursday evenings at 7:30 p.m.; Friday and Saturday evenings at 8 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday matinees at 2 p.m.; and select Sunday evenings at 7:30 p.m. Tickets for To Kill a Mockingbird will be available by calling the box office at 214-880-0202 or by visiting www.DallasTheaterCenter.org. The Pay-What-You-Can performance of To Kill a Mockingbird will be Friday, October 21 at 8 p.m. PWYC tickets will be available online the week of the performance at www.DallasTheaterCenter.org and at the Dee and Charles Wyly Theatre Box Office beginning Friday, Oct. 21 at 6 p.m. Pay-What-You-Can allows patrons to purchase ANY seat in the house for ANY amount they choose. For as little as a penny, theatergoers can see world-class live theater created by Dallas Theater Center for North Texas residents.
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