Robert Sean Leonard to Play Atticus Finch in TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD at Regent's Park

Regent's Park Open Air Theatre has announced today that Robert Sean Leonard will play Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird, the first production of the 2013 season. The Tony award-winning American actor is best known for playing Dr. James Wilson in the Fox television series House and Neil Perry in the 1989 movie Dead Poets Society. Having frequently performed on and off Broadway since 1986, To Kill a Mockingbird will mark Robert's return to the London stage for the first time in 22 years. For a full biography, please see the 'notes to editors' section.

Robert Sean Leonard has performed in the Broadway productions of The Invention of Love (Tony Award), Long Day's Journey Into Night (Tony nomination), Born Yesterday, The Violet Hour, The Music Man, The Iceman Cometh, Arcadia, Candida (Tony nomination), Philadelphia, Here I Come!, The Speed of Darkness, Breaking the Code and Brighton Beach Memoirs. His Off Broadway credits include Fifth of July, You Never Can Tell, Pygmalion, King Lear, and When She Danced. He also appeared in the West End production of Our Town. Born in New Jersey, Mr. Leonard began acting at age 14 at The Public Theater in New York. At 19, he made his film debut in the acclaimed Dead Poets Society. His film credits include Much Ado About Nothing, The Age of Innocence, Mr. & Mrs. Bridge, Swing Kids, Tape, Chelsea Walls and Whit Stillman's The Last Days of Disco. He appeared for eight seasons on the Fox medical drama "House."

Further casting includes Richie Campbell (Tom Robinson), Simon Gregor (Bob Ewell), Hattie Ladbury (Ms Maude Atkinson), Rona Morison (Mayella Ewell), Joe Speare (Reverend Sykes) and Daniel Tuite (Boo Radley). Eleanor Worthington-Cox will share the role of Scout. Eleanor was the youngest recipient of an Olivier Award for the Royal Shakespeare Company's production of Matilda The Musical. Full casting will be announced in due course.

Artistic Director Timothy Sheader will direct Harper Lee's American classic To Kill a Mockingbird, adapted for the stage by Christopher Sergel. With designs by Jon Bausor, the play will open the 2013 season on 16 May (running until 15 June 2013).

For tickets or more information, visit: www.openairtheatre.com