The Mockingbird on Main's “To Kill a Mockingbird" at the Black Box Theatre -- May 16 through 26.
Thursday, May 16, through Sunday, May 26
The Black Box Theatre, 1623 Fifth Avenue, Moline IL
Nearly a year after the tragic collapse of the downtown-Davenport building that housed theatre venue The Mockingbird on Main, the company will fly again with an appropriate title for its return to Moline's Black Box Theatre:To Kill a Mockingbird, playwright Christopher Sergel's adaptation of the Pulitzer Prize-winning Harper Lee novel, running May 16 through 26.
As To Kill a Mockingbird begins, the year is 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, however, after Scout watches her father Atticus Finch defend the innocent black man Tom Robinson against a potential death sentence. 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 considered an American masterpiece about the power of childhood innocence, morality, and love ... though it is significant to note that author Harper Lee always defined it as a simple love story.
Directed and designed by husband-and-wife team and Mockingbird on Main founders Tristan Layne Tapscott and Savannah Bay Strandin, the cast of To Kill a Mockingbird includes: James Driscoll (Atticus Finch), Sophia Kilburg (Scout), Keenen Wilson (Tom Robinson), Doug Kutzli (Heck Tate), CJ Lomas (Calpurnia, with Luanne Fisk playing the role on Thursdays), Renaud Haymon (Reverend Sykes), Yvonne Siddique (Miss Maudie), Storm Marie Baca (Miss Stephanie), Jullian Tottan (Bob Ewell), Brenna France (Mayella Ewell), Tatum Kilburg (Jem), Will Emerle (Dill), Jayden Smith (Clerk/Townsperson), Wendy Czekalski (Mrs. Dubose), Tyler Henning (Mr. Cunningham/Judge Taylor) and Bradley Heinrichs (Mr. Gilmer/Boo Radley). Among the drama's creative team, the production design will feature the work of the Circa ‘21 Dinner Playhouse's resident costume designer Bradley Robert Jensen.
As stated in the To Kill a Mockingbird press release: "The Mockingbird on Main was founded in 2021 by husband and wife team Tristan Layne Tapscott and Savannah Bay Strandin when they converted a dress shop on the ground floor of the historic Davenport Hotel building into an intimate cabaret style theatre. The arts organization was well known for their commitment to new works, diversity initiatives and breathing life into classics. After two years of struggling and at the height of what was going to be their most successful season, everything came crashing down. Literally. Due to proven negligence on behalf of the City and past and current building management/owners, a deeply troubling and tragic event occurred on May 28, 2023 as the building partially collapsed, leaving three dead, many homeless, and forced the closure of three businesses - one of them being The Mockingbird. While 'The Bird' may never fully take flight again, they remain so very thankful for their partnership with Lora Adams and the Black Box for providing a space to continue to tell stories. The Mockingbird dedicates this performance to the memories of those lost in collapse: Branden Colvin Sr., Ryan Hitchcock, and Daniel Prien."
The Mockingbird on Main's production of To Kill a Mockingbird runs in Moline from May 16 through 26, with performances Thursdays tghrough Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. Admission is $16, tickets are available by visiting TheBlackBoxTheatre.com, and more information can be found at TheMockingbirdOnMain.com.
