Kennedy Center to Stage MOCKINGBIRD in the Family Theater in 2015

The Kennedy Center and VSA present the world premiere production of Mockingbird from January 17 to February 1, 2015 in the Family Theater. Commissioned by the Kennedy Center and VSA, the production is based on the National Book Award-winning novel by Kathryn Erskine, adapted by Julie Jensen and features direction by Tracy Callahan. The press opening performance is Saturday, January 17, 2015 at 4 p.m. This production for young audiences and their families is recommended for ages 10 and up.

The cast features Maboud Ebrahimzadeh as Dad, Gabriela Fernandez-Coffey as Mrs. Brook, Susan Lynskey as Mrs. Johnson, and Dylan Silver as Caitlin, as well as Aaron Bliden, Rex Daugherty, Thony Mena, Tia Shearer, Kathryn Tkel in multiple roles.

Caitlin's world has always been black and white. As an 11-year-old on the autism spectrum, she used to rely on her older brother to help make sense of things beyond dictionaries, schedules, and the facial expressions chart at school. But now that he's gone, she's all on her own. With the support of her advisor, father, and a new reading buddy, Caitlin begins to understand how to get close to people again, embrace the "messiness" of emotions, and use her burgeoning artistic talents to move on. Kathryn Erskine's 2010 National Book Award-winning young adult novel Mockingbird has been adapted for the stage by Julie Jensen, a recipient of the Kennedy Center Award for New American Plays. Directed by Tracy Callahan, this moving, vibrant, and surprisingly humorous world premiere play shows how the perseverance of one girl can change a community - and how black and white can always be complemented by a kaleidoscope of colors.

Sensory-Friendly performances for Mockingbird are available on Saturday, January 24 at 1:30 p.m. and Saturday, January 31 at 11 a.m. Sensory-Friendly performances are designed to create a theater experience that is welcoming to all families with children on the autism spectrum or with other disabilities that create sensory sensitivities. Further information on Sensory-Friendly performances can be found here.

The creative team includes set design by Misha Kachman, costume design by Deb Sivigny, lighting design by Andrew Cissna, sound design by Christopher Baine, and projections design by Lauren Joy, with music composed by Ryan MacKenzie Lewis.