Cast, Creatives Announced for INHERIT THE WIND at Ocean State Theatre Company

Ocean State Theatre Company (OSTC), currently celebrating its fifth season in its comfortable stadium-style theatre in Warwick, is proud to announce casting for its production of Inherit the Wind by Jerome Lawrence and Robert Edwin Lee, which will run at Ocean State Theatre from March 29 - April 16.

The debate over evolution versus creationism is at the center of the thrilling Tony Award-winning courtroom drama, Inherit the Wind. The play, by Jerome Lawrence and Robert Edwin Lee, which debuted in 1955, is still just as relevant today. The story fictionalizes the 1925 "Scopes Monkey Trial," in which Tennessee schoolteacher John Scopes was arrested for teaching Darwin's theory of evolution in violation of state law. The play centers around two titans of the courtroom based on William Jennings Bryan and Clarence Darrow, who, before they were legal adversaries, were childhood friends. The two master attorneys square off in the courtroom, while the teacher's fate hangs in the balance. This moving, riveting drama also takes a look at the way different journeys in life can lead to vastly divergent paths and, ultimately, philosophies.

Trinity Repertory Company's FrEd Sullivan, Jr., who won rave reviews for his direction of last season's production of Breaking Legs, returns to direct, with scenic design by OSTC's Production Manager and Resident Scenic Designer, Erik D. Diaz, costume design by Elisabetta Polito and lighting design by Chris Wood.

The production features Tom Gleadow and BranDon Whitehead as the opposing attorneys Henry Drummond and Matthew Harrison Brady, Steven Liebhauser as journalist and critic, E. K. Hornbeck, Marc Dante Mancini as the defendant, Bertram Cates, Chris Perrotti as Reverend Jeremiah Brown, Nora Eschenheimer as his daughter, Rachel Brown, Mark S. Cartier as the judge, Karen Gail Kessler as Mrs. Brady and Frank O'Donnell as the bailiff, Sam Meeker. Rounding out the cast are Julia Bartoletti (Melinda Loomis) Joan Batting (Mrs. Krebs) Lenny Contaxes (Mr. Bannister), Rachel Dulude (Mrs. Loomis), Zach Gibb (Mr. Siller), Ben Grills (Tom Davenport), Jason Loete (Jesse H. Dunlop), Gunnar Manchester (Tommy Stebbins), Miley Massey (Mrs. Blair), Jonathan Olivera (Howard), Tobias Wilson (Harry Y. Esterbrook) and Cleo Zani (Mayor).

Inherit the Wind will be presented at Ocean State Theatre from March 29 - April 16. Previews are scheduled for Wednesday, March 29 at 7:30 pm and Thursday, March 30 at 2:00 and 7:30 pm. All other performances will be held Wednesday (except April 5), Thursday (except April 13), Friday, and Saturday evenings at 7:30 pm, with matinees on Thursdays (except April 13), Saturdays (except April 1 and 8) and Sundays at 2:00 pm. Conducting Conversations Live!, a free post-show discussion hosted by WCRI's Mike Maino, will follow the 2pm performance on Sunday, April 2.

The theatre is located at 1245 Jefferson Boulevard, Warwick, RI. Tickets are $34 for preview performances, $34-$49 for all other performances except Thrifty Thursday (April 6) when all tickets are priced at a $10 discount ($24-$39). $25 "Rush" tickets are available on a limited basis one hour prior to curtain on the day of the performance. Additional discounted rates may be available for groups of 10 or more by calling (401) 921-1777 x112. Tickets are on sale at the box office Monday through Friday from 12 noon - 6:00 pm, Saturdays from 12 noon - 4:00 pm, and from 12 noon until curtain time on performance days. Tickets are also available online 24 hours a day at www.OceanStateTheatre.org and via telephone during normal box office hours by calling (401) 921-6800.

Ocean State Theatre Company (OSTC) is a professional not-for-profit regional theatre whose mission is to preserve and pass on the tradition of live, professional theatre - including the American musical - and to pursue avenues of enrichment and education for the benefit of the state of Rhode Island and the surrounding region through the theatre arts. OSTC, which re-opened and ran the historic Theatre By The Sea in Matunuck, RI from 2007-2012 and began producing shows in Warwick, RI in 2012, is an IRS designated not-for-profit 501(c)(3) corporation.

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