BTG Casting Adult And Children In Stage Adaptation Of 'To Kill A Mockingbird'

CHICAGO—The Beverly Theatre Guild will hold auditions for its winter play, “To Kill A Mockingbird,” Sunday, Nov. 15 and Tuesday, Nov. 17. BTG will be casting adult and children’s roles.

Children's auditions will be held Sunday from 5 to 6:30 p.m. and adult auditions from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. and from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Tuesday, in the Baer Theater at Morgan Park Academy, 2153 W. 111th St., Chicago. Callbacks will be held on Thursday, Nov. 19. Detailed information, character descriptions, and the sign-up schedule can be found at WeJoin BTG.

Often described as a courtroom drama or coming of age story, Harper Lee’s classic 1960 novel “To Kill A Mockingbird” and the original stage adaptation by Christopher Sergel, takes place in sleepy Alabama town in the midst of the Great Depression, where Scout and her brother, Jem, live with their widowed father, Atticus Finch. The story grapples with racial inequality, sexual assault, class, courage, compassion and loss of innocence, while Jem and Scout’s attorney father, Atticus, prepares to defend a Black man wrongfully accused of sexually assaulting a white woman in the Jim Crow South.

The show is being directed by Mary Lee Hoganson, of Homewood, a veteran director with The Drama Group in Chicago Heights, and debut director with Beverly Theatre Guild.

Other stage adaptations of the novel have been touring the country, with such stars at Richard Thomas (“The Waltons”), and Jeff Daniels (“Terms of Endearment”) in the role of Atticus Finch.

More audition information from BTG:

“Auditions will consist of prepared monologues and readings from the script. If possible, bring a photo we may keep.

“Adults: Please prepare one contemporary dramatic monologue, approximately 1–2 minutes in length. Memorization is optional. A monologue from the play is permissible. Since a southern dialect is required of all actors, appropriate monologues might demonstrate dialect proficiency. You may be asked to do additional cold readings from the script. Although auditioners are asked to sign up for a time slot, please be prepared to stay later for reading in groups if requested by the director.

“Child actors should be prepared to attend callbacks on Thursday November 19 if called. Portions of the script which children may choose to review prior to auditions can be found here.

Performances will take place Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 19, Feb. 20 and Feb. 21, in the Baer Theater at Morgan Park Academy, home of the BTG, at 2153 W. 111th St., Chicago. Tickets will go on sale soon.

The Beverly Theatre Guild is Chicago’s longest running community theatre company and draws actors from throughout the Chicago-area.