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Lewis University's Philip Lynch Theatre presents the timeless classic, "To Kill a Mockingbird"

ROMEOVILLE — Lewis University’s Philip

Lynch Theatre (PLT) presents Harper Lee’s “To Kill a Mockingbird” adapted for

the stage by Christopher Sergel. This timeless tale of the innocence of

childhood and a poignant look at justice will run for 8 performances from

November 15 through November 24.  The
drama provides a portrait of the human spirit, as told through the eyes of a
young girl growing up in fictional Maycomb, Alabama in 1935.  


"To Kill a
Mockingbird" is the only novel by Harper Lee.  An intensely private and reserved woman, who
rarely makes public appearances, Lee once stated, "The novel is a love
story pure and simple. My love of the South, a father's love for his children
and the love they give in return." The novel was published in 1960. It
quickly garnered acclaim, winning the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1961,

making Lee the first woman to win the award since 1942.  Dramatized for the stage by Christopher Sergel
in 1970, the play is continuously produced throughout the county, including an
annual production in Lee’s hometown

of Monroeville, Alabama.


          Told through the perspective of
eight-year old Scout (played by 10 year old Lauren Klump of Plainfield),
"To Kill a Mockingbird" is set in a small southern town during the
Depression. She and her brother Jem (Lauren’s real-life brother 12 year old
Conor Klump of Plainfield) are being raised by their widower father Atticus (Kamil
Borowski of Central Stickney) and by a strong-minded housekeeper Calpurnia
(Sabra Thomas of Bolingbrook).


Wide-eyed Scout is fascinated with
the people of her small town, but from the start, there's a rumble of thunder
just under the calm surface of the life there.  The black people of the community have a
special feeling for Scout's father and she doesn't know why. A few of her white
friends are inexplicably hostile and Scout doesn't understand this either.
Atticus, a lawyer, explains that he's defending a young Negro wrongfully
accused of a grave crime. Since this is causing such an upset, Scout wants to
know why he's doing it. "Because if I didn't," her father replies, "I
couldn't hold my head up." Atticus's reply to Scout underscores the
central theme of the play: the ability to put oneself in another's shoes in an
effort to recognize truth.

  
  Lewis University’s Theatre Department
chairperson Keith White of Joliet is at the helm as director, and is leading  Celeste Mackey and lighting designer Andrew
Nelsen all residing in Joliet.  Rounding
out the artistic team is student sound designer Mary Bradley of Palos Heights,
and student properties designer Alex Stewart of Orland Park. Theatre major Beth Sadler of Homer Glen is performing the duties of stage manager, and her
assistant is theatre major Rachel Tau of Wood Dale.

          The cast includes:  Briana Reidy of Darien (Miss Maudie), Victoria
Vega of Burbank (Miss Stephanie Crawford), Sylmarie Soto of Joliet (Mrs.
Dubose), Austin Hill of Naperville (Boo Radley), Annie Martello of Morris
(Dill), Ralph Scott Hegland of Plainfield (Heck Tate), Griffin Fitzsimons of
Bartlett (Judge Taylor), Shannon Flanagan of Chicago (Reverend Sykes, Jordin
Richards of Tinley Park (Mayella Ewell), Matthew Carlson of Lockport (Bob
Ewell), and Tyler Senjanin of Evergreen Park (Mr. Gilmer).


          Student performers Ross Reed of
Country Club Hills and Kawaan Panama of Chicago are sharing to role of Tom
Robinson.  They will alternate performances.  Reed will perform the role
on November 16, 20, 22 and the 8 pm show on November 23.  Panama will perform the role on November 15,
17, 21, 24 and 4 pm November 23. 
Students also performing in the production include:  Justin Anderson of Orland Park, Faith Berry
of Joliet, Allie DiMiele of New Lenox, Bryan Lochner of Essex, and Adam Ronald
Jezl Sikorski of Burbank.  

     The show is recommended for patrons 13 years old and up and
will run November 15 – 17 and November 21 – 24. Evening performances begin at 8
p.m., while Sunday matinees begin at 2:30 p.m. 
A 4 p.m. matinee will be performed on Saturday, November 23.  Advanced ticket purchases are strongly
encouraged. Tickets are $10 for adults, $9 dollars for seniors and students and
$2 for Lewis students with their student IDs. Tickets are $8 for groups of 15
or more, a savings of more than 10 % off the original ticket price. Tickets are non-refundable.

          For more information, patrons can
check out the PLT Website, www.lewisu.edu/plt Call the
PLT box office to reserve tickets at (815) 836-5500, Monday thru Friday from 1-4:30
p.m., or email boxoffice@lewisu.edu.  The Philip Lynch Theatre is located on the
main campus of Lewis University, Oremus Fine Arts Center on Route 53 in
Romeoville.





          Lewis University

is a Catholic University in the Lasallian tradition, offering

distinctive undergraduate and graduate programs to more than 6,500 traditional

and adult students. Lewis offers multiple campus locations, online degree

programs, and a variety of formats that provide accessibility and convenience

to a growing student population. Sponsored by the De La Salle Christian

Brothers, Lewis prepares intellectually engaged, ethically grounded, globally

connected, and socially responsible graduates. The seventh largest private

not-for-profit university in Illinois, Lewis has been nationally recognized by

The Princeton Review and U.S. News & World Report. Visit www.lewisu.edu for further

information.

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