Hershey Area Playhouse Announces Auditions For INHERIT THE WIND

Hershey Area Playhouse announces auditions for Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee's Inherit the Wind, the story about the 1925 Scopes "Monkey" Trial that dealt with the debate over evolution versus creationism.

The plot of Inherit the Wind is a fictionalized version of the actual trial that took place in 1926: the Scopes ''Monkey'' Trial. A small town science teacher, John T. Scopes, was convicted for teaching Charles Darwin's theory of evolution to his class, which was against the law at that time in Tennessee. Two famous attorneys from the time, William Jennings Bryan and Clarence Darrow, fought the court battle that is represented in this play.

The little town of Hillsboro in an unnamed Southern state is both outraged and excited about the upcoming showdown between young teacher Bert Cates (the fictionalized Scopes) and the local authorities.

The entire situation itself has been blown up into a grand show, with two famous attorneys coming to Hillsboro to battle it out in the courtroom. One is fundamentalist preacher Matthew Harrison Brady, who is treated as a celebrity in Hillsboro. The other, defending the jailed Cates, is Henry Drummond, a one-time colleague of Brady's.

Auditions for Inherit the Wind will be held on three consecutive Saturdays at the Playhouse: July 21st at 3pm, July 28th at 2pm, and August 4th at 6pm. Those auditioning will be asked to do cold readings. No monologues required.

Main Characters

The Judge

Bertram Cates - defendant, in his 20s.

Matthew Harrison Brady - prosecuting attorney

Henry Drummond - defendant's attorney

E. K. Hornbeck - cynical, grizzled journalist

Rachel Brown - Cates' girlfriend, in her 20s.

Additional casting will be done for three young actors - a young male playing a high school sophomore and two younger children playing ages 10-12; four or five lithesome movers; and an assortment of townspeople.

Performances of Inherit the Wind will be held October 4-7 and 11-14, 2018 at the Playhouse. Additional audition information is available on the Playhouse's website, www.HersheyAreaPlayhouse.com.