About To Kill A Mockingbird
Multiple awards within two years since its debut? I guess that's what results when the genius writing of Aaron Sorkin meets the seasoned acting talent of Jeff Daniels. Sorkin's To Kill A Mockingbird Broadway adaption made an official opening at the end of 2018, and has been a complete commercial success every since.
Since its opening, To Kill A Mockingbird has earned a Tony Award, a Drama Desk Award, and an Outer Critics Circle Award, not to mention a handful of different nominations.
However, those who are expecting a complete reflection of the 1960 Pulitzer Prize winning novel will be in for a surprise. Sorkin made it a point to make his play "a new conversation about the book, the story we all learned in the seventh grade and thought we knew."
In an interview with David Sims from The Atlantic, Sorkin states that his first draft was unsatisfactory. "It felt like a greatest-hits album done by a cover band- just somebody trying to imitate Harper Lee and standing up the most famous scenes from the book." In Sorkin's official adaption, fans will be met with a much more dynamic Atticus Finch, a deeper dive into the character traits of Scout, and a whole new battle to be fought.
Sorkin's ability to pay homage to the original novel while staying true to his own take of the story is clearly evident with this broadway spectacle. The story of Atticus Finch feels current even today. Though To Kill A Mockingbird has only been on Broadway for a short amount of time, it has quickly risen to its current position of being a staple show in the industry.
At the end of 2020, fans were greeted with another new twist of the play. Jeff Daniels was succeeded by Ed Harris to play Atticus Finch. Both fantastic actors, yet both have portrayed a different set of characters during their careers. To see what Ed Harris brings to the table, get To Kill A Mockingbird tickets today.
Fans should purchase To Kill A Mockingbird tickets to witness this beautiful adaption of the 1960 novel. If you thought you knew the book, think again! To Kill A Mockingbird tickets are available right now.
Legal Trouble
Before the shows debut, a lawsuit against the play's production company was filed by the Harper Lee estate, from allegations that the play is too unlike the original novel. Rudin countersued for breach of contract, and the dispute was settled in May of 2018.
A different adaptation by playwright Christopher Sergel had been available for 50 years prior to Aaron Sokin and Scott Rudin. Rudin's company of lawyers claimed worldwide exlusivity of any professional adaptions of the novel, and moved to shut down the Sergel adaption in any major city that Sorkin's adaption might be housed. Rudin made the new adaption available to regional producers to illeviate this event.