‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ featuring Richard Thomas (center) — Photo: Julieta Cervantes
It holds the record as the highest-grossing non-musical play in Broadway history — and in this case, that history is remarkably fresh. Of course, To Kill a Mockingbird is still best known in its original form, as Harper Lee’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel dating to 1960.
Surprisingly, the work, a tale of racial injustice and childhood innocence, has only been adapted for the screen once, and that 1962 film continues to rank as one of the greatest movies of all time.
It had only been adapted once for the stage — with the annual, only-in-Alabama production developed by Christopher Sergel — before Aaron Sorkin decided to put his stamp on the piece a few years ago.
That stamp included tinkering with the story to position Atticus Finch as the protagonist instead of the famous lawyer’s young daughter Scout.
With Jeff Daniels originating the role of Finch, the production, directed by Tony-winner Bartlett Sher with an original score by Adam Guettel, managed to overcome initial resistance as well as a major lawsuit from the Lee estate in reaction to the changes, going on to enjoy a successful run on Broadway starting in November of 2018 until the pandemic shutdown in March of 2020.
It then picked back up in October of 2021 until mid-January of this year, with a third Broadway extension planned to commence later this summer with Greg Kinnear in the role of Finch.
The national touring production of To Kill a Mockingbird is now open for a three-week run at the Kennedy Center, headlined by the great Richard Thomas, who stars as Finch opposite Melanie Moore as Scout.
The production also features Jacqueline Williams as the Finch’s housekeeper and caretaker Calpurnia, and Mary Badham, who garnered an Oscar nomination as Scout in the original film, as Mrs. Dubose.
Yaegel T. Welch as defendant Tom Robinson and Steven Lee Johnson as Dill Harris, plus Luke Smith, Liv Rooth, and Glenn Fleary all also join the touring production fresh from the revived Broadway run.
Metro Weekly magazine was barely a year and a half old when, in 1995, we were offered the chance to interview — and photograph — Broadway legend Carol Channing, then appearing at the Kennedy Center in Hello, Dolly! that fall. Two moments from that experience stand out, the first at the photo shoot with Annie Adjchavanich.
We'd set up a black velvet backdrop in the Hall of States and were waiting for Miss Channing to arrive. When she finally swept in, she looked radiant. Except… she refused to remove her enormous sunglasses. Indoors.
I begged her to take them off, but she firmly declined. "I don't have my eyelashes on," she said. "You are not seeing me without my eyelashes!" And that was that — sunglasses it would be. The result was a cover that was both thrilling (Carol Channing!) and oddly surreal (Carol Channing in giant sunglasses!).
'Tis a season for celebrating significant milestones in dance, including an amazing honor for one of the most revered names ever to be associated with the art form. The Martha Graham Dance Company, appearing in 2026 at the Kennedy Center, will be marking its 100th year sharing founder Graham's singular vision of movement.
The company's major anniversary, along with many others over the 2025-26 season, offers sweet reassurance that dance is forever and shall remain. Meanwhile, a full menu of new works on tap represents what keeps dance moving forward.
Audiences can relish revisiting beloved perennials, like some of the most exciting Nutcrackers you'll find anywhere, and catch up with companies who've been doing this for decades -- from Mark Morris Dance Group and Pilobolus, visiting twice this season, to the Washington Ballet.
The fall looks primed to be a strong season of concerts by -- and appealing to -- the LGBTQ community. Among the highlights in the category of the well-known, consider Andy Bell (Lincoln), Jane Lynch (Strathmore), Renee Rapp (Merriweather), DOECHII (Anthem), and of course All Things Go (Merriweather). In the category of merely appealing, not gay per se, consider The Queens (Capital One Arena), Deborah Cox (Bethesda Theater), and Judith Hill (The Hamilton).
That barely scratches the surface. There's a lot of new -- or perhaps new to you -- queer artists out there, just waiting for you get into them including Katie Pruitt (Union Station, Rams Head), Rio Romeo (Songbyrd), Aaron Lee Tasjan (Jammin Java), Dixon Dallas (Union Stage).
These are challenging times for news organizations. And yet it’s crucial we stay active and provide vital resources and information to both our local readers and the world. So won’t you please take a moment and consider supporting Metro Weekly with a membership? For as little as $5 a month, you can help ensure Metro Weekly magazine and MetroWeekly.com remain free, viable resources as we provide the best, most diverse, culturally-resonant LGBTQ coverage in both the D.C. region and around the world. Memberships come with exclusive perks and discounts, your own personal digital delivery of each week’s magazine (and an archive), access to our Member's Lounge when it launches this fall, and exclusive members-only items like Metro Weekly Membership Mugs and Tote Bags! Check out all our membership levels here and please join us today!
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