A retelling of Harper Lee’s classic novel “To Kill A Mockingbird” comes to Le Chat Noir for two weekends beginning Feb. 14.
“This has been on our list for a while,” said Krys Baley, of Le Chat Noir “One of our favorite actors – Duane Brown – this is his ‘Hamlet.’ He named his son, Atticus, and he’s always wanted to do it,”
“To Kill a Mockingbird” is the story of Atticus Finch, a lawyer practicing in 1930s Alabama, as he defends Tom Robinson, a black man falsely accused of rape.
The production of Christopher Sergel’s adaptation, which is scheduled for Feb. 14-15 and 20-22, brings together a “rock star” Augusta cast plus a few newcomers, he said. Raheema Donnelly plays Calpurnia; Antonio Scales plays Reverend Sykes. Both Nicole and Mark Swanson have roles of Miss Crawford and Heck Tate, respectively.
“We have a lot of veterans from our first year. We’re heading into our 20th season next year,” he said.
But there are also some new faces on Le Chat’s stage including 10-year-old Maisie Bailey who plays the role of Scout. To prepare for the role, the C.T. Walker Traditional Magnet School student read “To Kill a Mockingbird,” according to her dad Krys Bailey.
Playing the role of the narrator and the adult version of Scout is Maisie’s mom and Krys’ wife, Jessica Bailey.
The 1960 novel received a Pulitzer Prize in 1961. It was adapted into a film starring Gregory Peck in 1962 and won three Academy Awards. The novel with its depiction of racism in the Depression Era South has come under fire over the years making the American Library Association’s top 10 list of most challenged books in 2009, 2011, 2017 and 2020.
Tickets for opening night are sold out but are available for other performances, said Bailey. Get tickets here.
Charmain Z. Brackett, the publisher of Augusta Good News and Inspiring: Women of Augusta, has covered Augusta’s news for more than 35 years. Reach her at charmain@augustagoodnews.com. Sign up for the newsletter here.
