When I was a boy, I had my fathr
gave me one of those air rifles,
an air rifle, he said.
I could shoot all the Blue Jays I want,
probably knowing I'd
never be able to hit one,
but to always remember that it was a sin.
To Kill a mockingbird,
To Kill a Mockingbird is such a classic
required reading for for most o.
Going into this, what made this production
different to you and made you want to be a
part of it? It's been a favorite
book of mine and a favorite film
of mine for most of my life.
So when the live theater
event treatment came about,
I I just was so excited.
Never imagined that that would happen.
And you really cannot miss with
Aaron Sorkin writing this and
Bartlett share directing this.
I mean I I I just so wanted to e
a part of it and what Aaron Sorn
has done this brilliant adaptat.
Is just beautiful.
For instance, my character Calpurnia,
you know in the the book, in the film,
you know she's often there,
you know, but she doesn't say m.
He has really fleshed out that character
as well as the character of Tom.
And we have more voice now and
and people really get a sense of
her relationship with the family
and with Atticus.
And and and she's a voice of the black
community for that time for him.
And it's it's a beautiful
relationship that they have.
So I I just love it.
That's
what I was going to ask is thisa
challenging role for that reason because
Calpurnia is what bonds the Finch family
to to the black community in the story.
Well, I tell you it's it's what is most
challenging every night is is tg
this journey again because thers
and a lot of people don't realize this,
but there's a lot of laughter and this
live event and there's a lot of joy in
this live event as well as you ,
coming of age and wonder, you k,
for the kids. But they're still,
they're still paying, you know,
and for the black and brown community,
we're still going through this n
a daily basis. So night to nigh,
it's it's hard to still be fighg
that fight of justice and progr,
you know, because we've made so little.
It gives me a great fulfillment,
you know, take the story around the country,
not just because people
have loved it for decades,
but to hopefully remind people and that we
still have a lot of work to do, you know,
and and I think most of us still remain
hopeful because we know we can do it.
So that's for me,
that's most challenging.
From night to night,
playing opposite Richard Thomas is pure,
pure joy and an absolute labor of love.
He makes it very easy to do because he's so
right there with me every step of the way.
You know who we have with us, r?
We have Mary. Yeah. Mary Badham, yes. Yes,
for those of you who don't know, Mary Battam,
who played Scout in the film with Mr.
Gregory Peck, is on tour with us as well.
And she is playing the despicabe
neighbor Missus Devose.
And she couldn't be a sweeter woman in life.
Come see Mary.
Come see Richard Thomas.
Come see this fantastic cast.
Of To Kill a Mockingbird
is it the typical Aaron Sorkin rapid fire?
Like, how was the script to lea?
You know, when you have a great story
and you have a brilliant writer?
For me it makes it very easy to,
you know, to learn to learn the script.
You know because they know how o
write and flow the conversation.
You know they have rhythm.
It makes sense.
You know it. You know.
So his his writing is truly a g.
He really has honored Miss Harpr
Lee's story and her message.
You know it is still 1934.
Still it make them you
know the temperature the.
The speed, the cadence,
you know of a lot of the South s
very different from rapid fire thing.
You know there's wonderful diale
and exchanges but it's it's it's
still honors the South in in 1934. My
last question for you is,
is what would you tell someone
who hasn't bought tickets yet
get out of your seat. You don't even have
to get out of the seat cuz you d
do it online. Get those tickets.
You don't want to miss this live event.
You really don't have a a frontt
and take this journey through te
story more in depth than you remember
And it is it is really a treat.
Do yourself that favor if
you have younger people
in your life you know.
Teenage and up
people. There's some adults who haven't
read the book or seen the film.
They need to come and we we reay
look forward to having you.
There's a lot of joy,
there's a lot of laughter,
there's a lot of wonder,
There's some hope and healing ad
you will really, really enjoy i.