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Overview
Synopsis
It’s 1935, and racial tensions are high in Maycomb, Alabama. Nonetheless, young Jean Louise Finch -- or Scout, as she is fondly called -- manages to live a rather carefree, privileged existence, insulated from issues of race. All that changes when Scout watches her father, Atticus Finch, defend an innocent man, Tom Robinson, against a potential death sentence, which looms threateningly against him because of prejudice due to race. Scout begins to realize that just because society portrays something as being true doesn’t mean that it actually is fact. With the the help of Atticus, and her older brother Jem, Scout learns that “growing up” often means doing what is right, even when it comes at great cost. To Kill A Mockingbird is now considered an American masterpiece about the power of childhood innocence, morality, and love. However, it is important to note that the author, Harper Lee always defined it as a simple love story.
Show Information
- Book
- Christopher Sergel
- Based On Book By
- Harper Lee
- Category
- Play
- Age Guidance
- Thirteen Plus (PG-13)
- Number of Acts
- 2
- First Produced
- 1990
- Genres
- Drama
- Settings
- Period, Multiple Settings
- Time & Place
- maycomb, alabama, maycomb alabama 1935 as remembered by an adult jean louise finch now in her mid-30s
- Cast Size
- large
- Orchestra Size
- None
- Dancing
- None
- Licensor
- Dramatic Publishing Co.
- Ideal For
- College/University, Community Theatre, Diverse Cast, Professional Theatre, Regional Theatre, Large Cast, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Child, Early Teen, Adult, Mature Adult, Elderly, Young Adult, Late Teen Characters
Context
To Kill a Mockingbird is a stage adaptation of Harper Lee’s landmark 1960 novel of the same name. Based on Lee’s childhood in Monroeville, Alabama, the novel takes place between 1933 and 1935 in the fictional Maycomb, Alabama. Narrator Jean Louise “Scout” Finch, six years old at the beginning of the book, describes her summers with her brother, Jem, and friend, Dill. Scout and Jem’s father, Atticus, is a respected lawyer in Maycomb. When Tom Robinson, a black man, is accused of raping a young
to read the context for To Kill a Mockingbird and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Plot
Act One
A grown woman, Jean Louise Finch, tells the audience about her childhood in Maycomb, Alabama with her older brother, Jeremy “Jem” Finch, and her father, esteemed lawyer Atticus Finch. We see a girl named Scout, Jean Louise as a young girl, playing on a tire swing. Miss Maudie, the Finch’s elderly neighbor, appears and explains to Scout that it is a sin to kill a mockingbird because they don’t hurt anyone, they just make music. The family maid, Calpurnia, calls Scout inside to wash
to read the plot for To Kill a Mockingbird and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
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Lead |
Male |
Non-singer |
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Lead |
Female |
Non-singer |
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Lead |
Male |
Spoken |
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Lead |
Male |
Non-singer |
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Lead |
Female |
Non-singer |
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Lead |
Male |
Non-singer |
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Supporting |
Female |
Non-singer |
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Supporting |
Female |
Spoken |
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Supporting |
Female |
Non-singer |
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Supporting |
Male |
Non-singer |
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Supporting |
Male |
Spoken |
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Supporting |
Male |
Non-singer |
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Supporting |
Male |
Spoken |
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Supporting |
Male |
Non-singer |
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Featured |
Male |
Non-singer |
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Featured |
Female |
Non-singer |
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Featured |
Female |
Non-singer |
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Featured |
Male |
Non-singer |
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Featured |
Male |
Non-singer |
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Featured |
Female |
Spoken |
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Ensemble |
Male |
Non-singer |
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|
Ensemble |
Male |
Spoken |
Songs
A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.
Monologues
Scenes
Key Terms
A version of a work modified from another medium or language, making it suitable for a new performance context.
A narrative genre focusing on growth and maturation, often used in drama to explore identity and self-discovery.
A cultural region of the United States often explored in theatre for its historical legacies of race, class, and tradition.
A performance technique where an actor speaks directly to the audience, breaking the fourth wall for dramatic or comedic effect.
The imaginary wall separating the audience from the actors onstage, often 'broken' for direct address. This term plays a vital role in understanding theatrical structure and is commonly encountered in stagecraft or performance settings.
A dramatic form where a character recalls past events, often blurring reality with subjective perception.
Morality refers to the principles and values that guide a person’s sense of right and wrong behavior. It shapes decisions, actions, and judgments based on cultural, personal, or societal standards. In drama, morality often drives character motivations and conflicts, revealing deeper themes about ethics and human nature.
A theme in modern theatre addressing equity, civil rights, and systemic reform through powerful narrative and activism.
Videos
Quizzes
Themes, Symbols & Motifs
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