Scopes Monkey Trial to be ‘retried’ at Merced Courthouse Museum

For the first time in Merced County’s modern history, the 1925 Scopes Monkey Trial will be “retried” in the historic courtroom at the Courthouse Museum in a play, “Inherit the Wind,” on Feb. 28.

Directed by Heike Hambley and produced by Jim Johnson of Modesto’s Gallo Center for the Arts, “Inherit the Wind” is a fictionalized account of the trial, which resulted in John T. Scopes’ conviction for teaching Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution to a high school science class, contrary to Tennessee state law. It was famously adapted for the film of the same name starring Spencer Tracy and Frederic March.

The play depicts the interaction of statesman William Jennings Bryan, attorney Clarence Darrow, Scopes, and writer/reporter H. L. Mencken. The cast members of the play are from the Merced-Modesto area.

Tickets are on sale for a one-time performance of “Inherit the Wind” at 4 p.m. on Feb. 28 in the historic courtroom of the Merced County Courthouse Museum, at 21st and N streets. Tickets are $15 and on sale in the museum office. There are only 70 seats for the show. For more information, call 209-723-2401 or go to www.mercedmuseum.org.

This story was originally published February 12, 2016 at 10:58 AM with the headline "Scopes Monkey Trial to be ‘retried’ at Merced Courthouse Museum."