Harper Lee's TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD Takes the Stage at Florida Rep

Florida Repertory Theatre is pleased to announce that the timeless American classic, "To Kill a Mockingbird" will play in the Historic Arcade Theatre February 14 - March 8.

Adapted from the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel "To Kill a Mockingbird" continues to inspire hope in the face of inequality. This compelling story of racial injustice and loss of innocence is told through the eyes of six-year-old Scout, the tomboyish daughter of small-town lawyer Atticus Finch. As a tense tug of war between justice and bigotry heats up in their small town of Maycomb, Alabama, Atticus and his family must learn to temper violence and hatred with courage and compassion.

"We are honored to bring this timeless classic back to the stage for Southwest Florida Audiences," said Producing Artistic Director, Robert Cacioppo, "this play's message about empathy and walking in another man's shoes is timeless. We all know the film starring Gregory Peck, and there is something even more compelling about seeing this story and these characters live. This is a time for healing and coming together, and 'To Kill a Mockingbird' is the perfect story to help begin that in our community."

"To Kill a Mockingbird" will feature one of the largest casts to be seen in the Historic Arcade Theatre for Florida Rep favorites, ensemble members, New York and regional veterans, community members making their Florida Rep debuts, and some of Fort Myers most promising rising stars as the children at the center of the play.

Florida Rep favorite, V Craig Heidenreich, leads the cast as the iconic father and lawyer, Atticus Finch. Heidenreich was last seen as Juror #8 in last season's '"Twelve Angry Men" and directed Florida Rep's production of "Best of Enemies" this fall. Heidenreich is joined by Florida Rep ensemble members Viki Boyle ("Over the River and Through the Woods"), Patricia Idlette ("Dividing the Estate"), WilLiam McNulty ("Becky's New Car"), and Peter Thomasson ("Twelve Angry Men"). Also in the cast are Florida Rep favorites John Archie ("Dividing the Estate"), Gerritt VanderMeer (PlayLab Festival), Kevin Craig West ("To Kill a Mockingbird" in 2006), and Sarah Katherine Zanotti ("Over the River and Through the Woods"). Veterans of the New York and regional stage, John Ottavino and Barbra Wengerd make their Florida Rep debuts.

The classic coming of age story is told through the eyes of three young children, Scout Finch, her older brother Jem, and their best friend Dill, and Florida Rep conducted a months-long search for the perfect trio of young actors to bring this story to life. Liza Jayne Longenhagen is a Tropic Isles Elementary School third grader, and plays Scout in the production after numerous Camp Florida Rep appearanceS. Harvey E. Evans, a seventh grader at Oasis Middle, plays Jem after a recent appearance as the Artful Dodger in last season's "Oliver" with Florida Rep's Theatre Conservatory. St. Petersburg based young actor, William Garrabrant plays Dill after recent appearances with freeFall Theatre and others in the Tampa-St. Pete area.

Understudying Scout, Jem, and Dill are Hannah Roos, Calvin Waldau, and Chase Clark. Roos is a 6th grader at North Fort Myers Academy for the Arts and has appeared onstage in Camp Florida Rep and other educational programming. Waldau is in 9th grade at the Canterbury School and Clark in 7th grade at Gateway Charter, both were seen in last season's "A Christmas Story" and are very active in Florida Rep's Education programs.

The cast also features an ensemble of actors as townspeople to bring Harper Lee's fictional Maycomb Alabama to the stage. The ensemble includes Dick Boyd ("The Little Foxes"), Gordon Brandt (Florida Rep debut), Patrick Erhardt (Florida Rep Debut), Tom Ferguson (Florida Rep debut), Keenon Jackson (Veterans Park Academy for the Arts; Florida Rep debut), Angela Pierre (Florida Rep debut), Nate Ritsema ("The Mousetrap"), Alexis Slocum (Florida Rep inern; debut), and JohnieAnn Smith (Bayshore Elementary; Florida Rep debut).

Producing Artistic Director, Robert Cacioppo ("Over the River and Through the Woods", "The Mousetrap") directs the production, and is joined by an expert team of designers including ensemble set designer, Richard Crowell ("Becky's New Car", "Split in Three"), ensemble costume designer, Stefanie Genda ("Best of Enemies", "Twelve Angry Men"), ensemble lighting designer, Jim Hunter ("The Dingdong"), Sound Designer, John Kiselica ("Shear Madness", "Erma Bombeck: At Wit's End"), and production stage manager and ensemble member, Janine Wochna ("The House of Blue Leaves", "Over the River and Through the Woods").

"To Kill a Mockingbird" plays in the Historic Arcade Theatre February 17 - March 8 with four nearly sold-out previews February 17 at 8pm, February 19 at 2pm and 8pm, and February 20 at 8pm. Performances Tuesday-Saturday at 8pm with matinees on Wednesday, Sunday, and selected Saturdays.

Priced from $25 to $52 for regular performances and $25 to $32 for previews, single tickets are now on sale through the box office at 239-332-4488 and online at www.floridarep.org. Subscriptions for the 2016-2017 season offer the best seats and the biggest savings, and packages start as low as $125 for 3 plays.

"To Kill a Mockingbird" is generously sponsored by Allure Luxury Condos and The Lee County Library System.

Florida Repertory Theatre performs in the Historic Arcade Theatre and the ArtStage Studio Theatre on Bay St. between Jackson & Hendry with limited free parking in the Fort Myers River District. Visit Florida Rep online at FloridaRep.org, and by following the company on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Youtube.

To post a comment, you must register and login.