MASON CITY – Harper Lee’s Pulitzer Prize winning novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, will come to life onstage in November. Mason City High School will present Christopher Sergel’s dramatization on November 9 and 10 at 7:30 pm and Sunday, November 11 at 2:00 pm. Performances are at Stebens Children’s Theatre, 616 Delaware, Mason City. Tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for students. Tickets will be available at the theater, but prior to performances tickets can be purchased at the high school in either office (MCHS or JAMS). Telephone 641-421-4436 for more information.
To Kill a Mockingbird was published in 1960. The book was immediately successful and two years later it was made into the classic Academy Award winning film starring Gregory Peck. Mason City High School students honor both the original book by Harper Lee and the film’s 50th anniversary with their production. The original motion picture score by composer, Elmer Bernstein, is utilized throughout the Mason City production.
The plot and characters of To Kill a Mockingbird are loosely based on Harper Lee’s observations of her hometown. The production deals with the serious issues of rape and racial inequality in the Deep South during the Great Depression. The dramatization by Christopher Sergel successfully adheres to Harper Lee’s novel with narration by the adult character observing and reflecting on her childhood.
Mason City High School’s production features Jean Louise Finch, an adult Scout portrayed by Erin Palmer, who narrates and reflects upon the events from the book. Lyndie Best portrays the young Scout, Drake Davis is her brother, Jem, and Michael Martin is their father, Atticus Finch. Friend of the Finch children is Dill, played by Trevor Trousdale, and the family housekeeper, Calpurnia, is played by Vanessa Johnson. The book and play concern the trial of the wrongly accused, Tom Robinson, portrayed by Elijah Warfield. Sheriff Heck Tate is Ryan Casey and prosecuting attorney Gilmer is Colin Hubbard. Other members of the cast are Emily Dodd, Jacqueline Congello, Daniella Debrah, Callie Ginapp, Tyler Nestvedt, Leslie Rossler, Avery Hubbard, Cody Siefken, MaRyah Woolery, Dylan McLaughlin, Keegan Kropf, Zach Bartolo, Juan Gudino, Timothy Hoffmann, Kayla Alexander, Anna Corsello, Lauren Dunlay, Katelyn Ficken, Briar Jensen, Haley Kavaya, Ashley Lapointe, Haley Muyskens, Lauren Smith, Katy Wilson, and Dakota Oulman. Assistant Directors are Lauren Dunlay, Katelyn Ficken and Katie Keenan. Katie Keenan is also Stage Manager. Sound and light direction is by Sahan Jayawardena and James Graham. Rehearsal assistants are Sydney Baker, Kailyn Bettle and Molly McCann. Set design is by Jan Kostka and set construction supervisor is Rohn Luker. To Kill a Mockingbird is produced by special arrangement with The Dramatic Publishing Company and directed by Mary Alexander.
