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Arts & Entertainment

'Mockingbird' Author Harper Lee Comes to Life on the Lionheart Stage

The Norcross theatre company makes a special twofer offer for a Thursday performance.

It’s a big month for fans of Pulitzer Prize-winning author of “To Kill a Mockingbird,” Harper Lee, who just turned 87 on Sunday.

In addition to the play “To Kill a Mockingbird” running at Lionheart Theatre Co., Lee fans can also see a two-woman play depicting Lee opening this Thursday (May 2) for a two-performance engagement at Lionheart.

Lionheart is offering a twofer special: Patrons who purchase a ticket see “To Kill a Mockingbird” can get a free ticket to “Thus Spoke the Mockingbird.”

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“Thus Spoke the Mockingbird,” which is directed by Jason Caldwell, introduces audiences to Lee and her inspirations and intentions for “To Kill a Mockingbird.” The play also discusses Lee’s life-long relationship with Truman Capote and seeks to provide the insight to why Lee wrote only one novel in her life. Lee,  still living in Alabama, as not spoken publically about Mockingbird for decades.

Both plays are products of local playwright and director Joanie McElroy. McElroy is directing “To Kill a Mockingbird’ and is the author of “Thus Spoke the Mockingbird.” McElroy spoke to Norcross Patch about the plays. 

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Why did you want to direct “To Kill a Mockingbird”? It’s one of the greatest stories to have come out of one of America’s greatest story tellers.  Folks are already hooked before they even walk into the theatre.

What’s your favorite scene in the play? I would have to say I love the church scene.  We added this scene because of the immense talent in the cast, but also I think it represents a part of Maycomb audiences do not normally see in the play version, but is in the novel.

You have a special connection with Ms. Lee and the town. Can
you explain?
Well we’re both Bama girls!  I think we both felt misunderstood growing up, had a strong connection to our families and pretty much had reign over the neighborhood – running around barefoot, climbing trees, and stealing muscadines off of the neighbor’s arbor.  

And that led to “Thus Spoke The Mockingbird”? Yes, writing “Thus Spoke the Mockingbird” was very therapeutic for me.  My mother’s passing prompted me to reflect on my how my parents influenced my upbringing in  the 1960s and 1970s in Birmingham, Alabama. That’s when George Wallace was governor and segregation was still in place.

How did your parents shape your views?  I remember my mother’s influence on me and telling me how Bull Connor was “the devil incarnate” and spit the name George Wallace out of her mouth like it was toxic.  She also warned us that she’d never better hear the “n” word come out of our mouths.

Yet it was a turbulent time in the South. Racism and segregation was all around. Driving from one end of the town to another – it was very apparent the different way in which whites and blacks lived.  There was an unspoken “code” just as Atticus refers to in his closing speech.  Folks didn’t really talk about it, but you were very much aware of it.

That’s now a 2-woman show. What’s the the 2nd woman’s role? Who are the actresses? The two women are Amy Lucas and Jane Bass.  Amy plays a younger Nelle Harper Lee in Act I and Jane plays the more
mature, present day Nelle.  I cannot wait to see their portrayal!

“Thus Spoke the Mockingbird” runs two shows only on two Thursday evenings only, May 2 and May 9 at 7:30 p.m. at Lionheart. “To Kill a Mockingbird,” runs Fridays through Sundays through May 12. Lionheart his making a special two-fer offer. Patrons who purchase a ticket to “To Kill a Mockingbird” can get a free ticket to “Thus Spoke the Mockingbird.” Details and reservations are through the Lionheart web site at  www.lionhearttheatre.org.

See also:

  • Lionheart Theatre Spotlight: Alexis Seith as 'Scout'
  • 'To Kill a Mockingbird' Opens at Lionheart This Weekend
  • Photo Gallery: Production Company Films "A Friggin' Christmas Miracle" in Norcross

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