'To Kill A Mockingbird' comes to ASU

 by Sasha Malekooti
 published on Thursday, March 27, 2008

Correction Appended

In an effort to celebrate "great American stories," The Arizona Theatre Company has initiated a five-year series titled "American Plays!" that will begin Thursday with "To Kill a Mockingbird."

"To Kill a Mockingbird" will be performed at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday at the Herberger Theater Center and will continue until April 13. Student tickets may be purchased for $15 with a student ID.

The Arizona Theatre Company's adaptation of the play honors Harper Lee's original Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by concentrating more on the child characters of the story as they learn about integrity and truth in a time when racial prejudice is prevalent, said Samantha Wyre, the director of "To Kill a Mockingbird."

"Since this is the state theater of Arizona, we thought we could bring this story to life and should bring it to life for families in Arizona," Wyre said.

"To Kill a Mockingbird" is a story for all ages. Younger audience members will be able to identify with the younger characters in the play, and older audience members will be able to enjoy the mature aspects and ideas it encompasses, Wyre said.

The "American Plays!" series was created to inspire and help teachers to prepare a curriculum for their students, as well as excite members of the community about American work, Wyre said.

The series will also feature a mock trial to depict the Tom Robinson trial featured in the classic story.

To help the public better understand "To Kill a Mockingbird," the Arizona Theatre Company will collaborate with the Phoenix School of Law to put on a mock trial on April 7 to give audience members the opportunity to ask questions about the comparison of the current judicial system with the one of the 1930s.

Special public forums, readings, education programs and statewide community-based events will also be included in the series; all of these additional events will be free and open to the public.

If you go...

What: To Kill a Mockingbird
When: March 27 through April 13 7:30 p.m.
Where: Herberger Theater Center
For more information: aztheatreco.org


Correction: March 28, 2008

In Thursday's article " 'To Kill a Mockingbird' comes to ASU," Samantha Wyer's name was misspelled.

Reach the reporter at: sasha.malekooti@asu.edu.