Harrisburg Shakespeare Company Presents TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD, 10/27-11/18

Harrisburg Shakespeare Company will kick off its 2012-2013 Mainstage Season with Harper Lee's TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD Adapted by Christopher Sergel which will run Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from October 27 – November 18 at Gamut Classic Theatre, located on the Third Floor of Strawberry Square, Downtown Harrisburg.

One of the greatest American novels, Harper Lee's TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD tells the story of Jean-Louise "Scout" Finch, a nine-year-old tomboy growing up in a sleepy town in southern Alabama during the 1930s. As Scout, her older brother Jem, and their friend Dill spend their days trying to unravel the secrets of the mysterious neighborhood recluse "Boo" Radley, Scout's father, a respected lawyer named Atticus, is preparing for a trial that will shake the community. This beloved coming-of-age story has lost none of its significance as a stage play, and examines the ugliness of persecution, the power of compassion, and the courage that it takes to consider things from someone else's point of view – to "climb into his skin and walk around in it."

TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD will be directed by Dan Burke, who recently directed HSC's spring production of ROSENCRANTZ AND GUILDENSTERN ARE DEAD. Dan previously played the role of "Boo Radley" in TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD and is now looking forward to taking on a different role and the challenges that come with it. "The challenges that this play presents are like none other; working with an age range of actors from 7 to 70+ years old, tackling subject matter that is very sensitive on many different levels, and approaching these matters in such a way to make it a comfortable working environment for the actors are challenges that I look forward to," says Burke.

When touching more on the subject matter of the play, Burke explains that TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD relates to more than just issues with race; it deals with humans opening their eyes to have a better understanding of the world around them. Dan says, "It makes the audience member take a look at themselves and the world around them, and forces the question, 'have things changed so much since 1935?'" he continues, "I feel the audience will have no choice but to 'climb into the skin' of all of these wonderful characters and come away from the theatre inspired and uplifted."

Gamut Theatre Group is led by Artistic Director Clark Nicholson and Executive Director Melissa Nicholson.

TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD will be presented at Gamut Classic Theatre in Strawberry Square from October 27 through November 18 on Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30pm and on Sundays at 2:30pm. Tickets are $27 for adults and $17 for students/seniors.

Private performances are available for school groups on October 30, 31, November 6, 9, and 13 at 9:30 a.m. Tickets for Student Matinees are $12 each.

Friday performances are Buy-One-Get-One free ticket shows; Saturday evening performances are Bottle of Wine shows, where one admission is free with purchase of a regular-priced admission and donation of a bottle of wine for HSC's annual Shakespeare's Birthday celebration; Sunday performances are Bring Your Own Price shows, where any size donation buys your admission.