TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD Brings an American Classic to Roxy Regional Theatre

One of the most enduring pieces of American literature takes to the stage of Clarksville's oldest professional theatre this spring.

Based on Harper Lee's Pulitzer Prize-winning coming-of-age novel about a man wrongly convicted and persecuted for a crime on the basis of his skin color, TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD opens at the Roxy Regional Theatre on Friday, March 8, at 8:00pm. In keeping with the theatre's traditional pay-what-you-can opening night, all tickets not pre-sold at the full price will go on sale at 7:30pm that evening for a $5 minimum donation.

Adapted for the stage by Christopher Sergel and directed by Ryan Bowie, TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD opens in the sleepy Alabama town of Maycomb in the midst of the Great Depression, where Scout and her brother, Jem, live with their widowed father, Atticus Finch. Reminiscent of a bygone era, the play immerses viewers in a simpler time as the children play outside in the summer, act out stories and muse about their mysterious neighbor, Boo Radley.

The facade of the seemingly peaceful town begins to crack when a young black man, Tom Robinson, is accused of a terrible crime. Driven by an unshakeable moral conviction, local lawyer Atticus defends the innocent man in a trial that sends violent waves through the community. Timeless and lingering, this hard-hitting work explores prejudice, compassion and the courage to do what is right, even when it comes at great cost.

John Adkison, whom audiences may remember as Harold Hill in 2015's The Music Man and as the American men in last season's Vietnam War drama A Piece of My Heart, returns to star as Atticus Finch. Featuring Katie Stafford and Georgia Litaker sharing the role of Scout, the cast of TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD also includes Trevor Jones and Wesley Kettle sharing the role of Jem, Charlie Olita as Dill, Ian Alexander Erbe as Boo Radley, David Graham as Bob Ewell, Lyeneal Griffin as Tom Robinson, Walker Snow Harrison as Sheriff Heck Tate, Brian Best as Judge Taylor, Caitie L. Moss as Mayella Ewell, Alexandra West as Calpurnia, Vondell Richmond as Reverend Sykes, Angela Calcaterra as Stephanie Crawford, Linda Ellis Cunningham as Mrs. Dubose, and Kathy Watts as Maudie Atkinson.

TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD is presented by special arrangement with The Dramatic Publishing Company of Woodstock, Illinois, and is produced in part by Joseph & Nancye Britton, Ken Grambihler and Mary & Rick Konvalinka. Additional funding support has been provided by Andrea & Sal Herrera, Walter & Cindy Marczak, John & Cathy Stanton, Lynne & Russell Crosby and Barbara & Larry Goolsby.

Performances run March 8 through March 23 on Thursdays at 7:00pm and Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00pm, with 2:00pm matinees on Saturday, March 16 and March 23. Please note: This production contains adult subject matter and offensive language within a historically accurate context.

Tickets are $25 (adults) and $15 (ages 13 and under) and may be reserved online at www.roxyregionaltheatre.org, by phone at (931) 645-7699, or at the theatre during regular box office hours (9:00am to 2:00pm, Monday through Friday, and one hour prior to curtain). Military, APSU students and CitySaver coupon holders can receive two tickets for the price of one to Thursday performances during the run.

The Roxy Regional Theatre is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to producing professional live theatre and promoting the arts, with emphasis on education, in Clarksville, Middle Tennessee and the Southeast. The theatre is located at 100 Franklin Street in Historic Downtown Clarksville. For more information, visit www.roxyregionaltheatre.org.

Photo: "John Adkison stars as Atticus Finch alongside Katie Stafford and Georgia Litaker, sharing the role of Scout, in Harper Lee's TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD at the Roxy Regional Theatre, March 8 - March 23"