Merced Theatre, Playhouse Merced team for play

Playhouse Merced and Merced Theatre are partnering for the first time to present a performance of a classic courtroom drama.

The two arts groups present a one-weekend run of “To Kill a Mockingbird,” an adaptation of the beloved novel by Harper Lee. It premieres at 7:30 p.m. Friday, June 10, at Merced Theatre, 301 W. Main St.

The story is told from the perspective of Scout, who sees the tumultuous events after the sexual assault of a woman in a small town in the Depression-era South. Scout’s father, Atticus Finch, is the defense attorney for Tom Robinson, an African American man wrongfully accused of the crime.

The town quickly descends into racially sparked turmoil as Finch tries to help his young daughter make sense of what she sees around her. As Scout witnesses how the town’s residents react to the crime and the trial, her fascination with the people she’s grown up with turns to an understanding of why it’s sometimes necessary to fight a hopeless fight.

The stage adaptation by Christopher Sergel features performers from the Merced community and surrounding areas. It marks the first time Playhouse Merced will present a play at the Merced Theatre, a collaboration that will continue in July with a production of “1776,” according to organizers.

The play also will be performed at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, June 11, and 2 p.m. Sunday, June 12.

Tickets for “To Kill a Mockingbird” are available at the Merced Theatre box office, 301 W. Main St., by calling 209-381-0500, or at www.mercedtheatre.org. Tickets start at $20, and discounts are available for children and students, organizers said.

This story was originally published June 9, 2016 at 4:58 PM with the headline "Merced Theatre, Playhouse Merced team for play."