Play - Mill Mountain Theatre

Mill Mountain Theatre Reprises, To Kill A Mockingbird

Mill Mountain Theatre Reprises, To Kill A Mockingbird September 25 – October 6, 2024

Roanoke, VA – Mill Mountain Theatre proudly announces the return of To Kill A Mockingbird, one of the most compelling and important American stories, to the Trinkle Main Stage this fall. The production will run from September 25 through October 6, 2024, bringing back, by popular demand, the powerful drama that last captivated audiences at MMT ten years ago.

Adapted by Christopher Sergel from Harper Lee’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, To Kill A Mockingbird is set in the racially charged atmosphere of 1930s Alabama. The play centers on the Finch family—young Scout, her brother Jem, and their father, Atticus Finch, a principled lawyer tasked with defending Tom Robinson, a Black man falsely accused of raping a white woman. The story, as seen through the innocent eyes of Scout, explores the themes of racial injustice, moral courage, and human empathy, resonating as strongly today as when it was first published in 1960.

“We are honored to bring To Kill A Mockingbird back to Mill Mountain Theatre. This story’s timeless themes of justice, integrity, and empathy are as relevant now as they were decades ago. Our production aims to provoke thought and inspire conversations within our community about the ongoing struggles for equality and justice,” said Producing Artistic Director, Ginger Poole. “This is more than just a play; it’s a call to examine our values and to engage in meaningful dialogue about the world we live in.”

“Mill Mountain Theatre’s 2024 production of To Kill A Mockingbird marks a decade since it last graced the MMT stage. The previous production was met with widespread acclaim, leaving a lasting impression on audiences. With the continued relevance of its themes, this year’s production promises to be even more impactful, with a refreshed interpretation that will resonate deeply with both new and returning audiences,” added Poole.

The production will feature a dynamic ensemble cast of MMT Alumni, local favorites, and youth members from our very own MMT Conservatory, including a significant role played by one of Mill Mountain Theatre’s own leading figures, further enhancing the depth and authenticity of this compelling narrative. The production’s set design, costumes, and lighting will transport the audience to the Depression-era South, creating an immersive experience that captures the atmosphere of Maycomb, Alabama.

This production would not be possible without the generous support of our sponsors and grantors. Mill Mountain Theatre extends its deepest gratitude to the following organizations: Davidsons Men’s Clothing, Three Notch’d Brewing Company, The Candy Store, Elk Hill Advisors, Inc., Business Solutions, Inc., Pinnacle Financial Partners, Gentry Locke Attorneys, 5Points Creative, Skyline National Bank, Brass Key Design Society, Roanoke College’s Center for Studying Structures of Race, Trane, Claytor/Wirt Associates, Fire Station One Boutique Hotel and TXTUR, Liberty Trust Hotel and Savara Hospitality, The Roanoke Star, Center in the Square, National Endowment for the Arts, The Shubert Foundation, Virginia Commission for the Arts, Actor’s Equity Association of NYC, and WVTF/Radio IQ. Their support ensures that Mill Mountain Theatre can continue to offer powerful and thought-provoking productions to the Roanoke community.

Tickets for To Kill A Mockingbird are now available and can be purchased through the Mill Mountain Theatre box office or online at https://www.millmountain.org . Early booking is recommended as this much-anticipated production is expected to draw large crowds. Group rates and Flex Pass options are available as well.

Located in the heart of Roanoke, Mill Mountain Theatre is a professional regional theater committed to producing high-quality performances, nurturing artistic talent, and fostering cultural engagement. Through its diverse programming, MMT aims to enrich the lives of the Roanoke Valley community and beyond.

For press inquiries, interview requests, or additional information, please contact:

Mill Mountain Theatre Marketing Department

Email: marketing@nullmillmountain.org or info@nullmillmountain.org

Phone: (540) 342-5740

“Join us this fall for a performance that not only entertains but also challenges and inspires.”

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Mill Mountain Theatre Presents The Diary of Anne Frank

The true story of triumph, history, hope, resilience and a legacy comes to the Trinkle MainStage.

Mill Mountain Theatre is bringing plays back to the Trinkle MainStage since 2019’s Glass Menagerie with one of the most important stories ever written, The Diary of Anne Frank. The Diary of Anne Frank was originally a part of MMT’s 2020 season, however, the show was not produced alongside the rest of the 2020 season due to COVID-19. This play was last performed nearly 60 years ago on an MMT stage.

“I still believe, in spite of everything, that people are truly good at heart.” Thirteen-year-old Anne Frank wrote in her diary to better understand herself and the horrors of being Jewish in Nazi-occupied Amsterdam. In this transcendently powerful new adaptation by Wendy Kesselman, Anne Frank emerges from the pages of history as a living, lyrical, and intensely gifted young girl. An impassioned drama about the lives of eight people hiding from the Nazis in a concealed storage attic, The Diary of Anne Frank captures the claustrophobic realities of their daily existence—their fear, their laughter, their grief, and their hope. This adaptation breathes new life into this iconic tale.

“Mill Mountain Theatre reintroduced The Diary of Anne Frank to our 2022 season due to its significance and importance.” Said Ginger Poole, the Producing Artistic Director at Mill Mountain Theatre. “This show is incredibly powerful and crucial that we tell it on our stage.”

Over the years, Mill Mountain Theatre has strived to connect theatre to literacy, telling important stories and highlighting their impacts on stage. Connecting theatre to literacy has continued to be an important part of MMT’s mission.

The Diary of Anne Frank begins performances on September 21st and runs through October 2nd on the Trinkle MainStage. Tickets can be purchased online at millmountain.org or by calling the box office at 540-342-5740. Reduced special ticket pricing for school groups for 10:00 a.m. student matinees on 9/28 and 9/29. Contact the box office for more information.

Sponsors and grantors for The Diary of Anne Frank include Business Solutions; The Candy Store; Dominion Risk Advisors; Hope of Israel Congregation; The Sam and Marion Golden Helping Hand Federation; The Liberty Trust; The W.E. McGuire Foundation; Pinnacle Financial Partners; B.J. Preas; Roanoke Jewish Foundation; Skyline National Bank; National Endowment for the Arts; Virginia Commission for the Arts; Center in the Square; Theatre Communications Group; Actors’ Equity Association; and Blue Star Theatres.

“The Diary of Anne Frank” is presented by special arrangement with Samuel French Inc., A Concord Theatricals Company.

A Christmas Story is BACK at Mill Mountain Theatre

Get your Christmas lists together and join 9-year-old Ralphie this holiday season! Returning from Mill Mountain Theatre’s 2017 season is, A Christmas Story!

Celebrate the holiday season with Mill Mountain Theatre! Based on the popular movie of the same name, A Christmas Story is the perfect way to kick off your holiday spirit!

BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND! A Christmas Story returns to the Trinkle MainStage for the 2021 holiday season. This play is a witty adaptation of the classic movie we all know and love. All 9-year-old Ralphie Parker wants for Christmas is a genuine Red Ryder BB gun. But mother, teacher, and even the Santa Claus at Higbee’s Department Store tell him the same thing: “You’ll shoot your eye out, kid.” Follow Ralphie’s quest for the gift of his dreams, all while enjoying some favorite elements from the movie: Scut Farkas, the school bully, the Bumpus hounds and the turkey, Flick’s tongue on the icy lamppost, and the Old Man’s leg lamp. Don’t miss this sensational holiday hit on the Trinkle MainStage from December 1st – 23rd.

A Christmas Story will bring back local favorites including, Timothy Booth*, Scott Watson* and Julia VanderVeen*. Additionally, filling the younger roles in this production includes Mill Mountain Theatre’s Conservatory students, Calan Johnson, Kayla Ryan Walsh, Belle McNamara, Jack Swank, Emily Mower, Drew D’Allasendro, Eve McLoney Will McLoney and Griffin Shaver.

Broadway’s Timothy Booth returns to Roanoke after Mill Mountain Theatre’s 2019 production of Mamma Mia! and reprises his role in A Christmas Story after MMT’s 2017 production. His Broadway credit includes various roles in Mamma Mia! Mr. Booth has also toured the United States of America in the national tours of Mamma Mia! and She Loves Me.

Griffin Shaver also returns from the 2017 production of A Christmas Story. This time around, he will serve as the Junior Associate Director and as the male swing for this production. Mr. Shaver is also a member of Mill Mountain Theatre’s Conservatory program, which teaches performers of all ages theatrical arts through a wide range of courses.

This cast is backed by an all-star creative team with Director and Producing Artistic Director, Ginger Poole. Junior Associate Director Griffin Shaver, Stage Management by Bill Muñoz*, Assistant Stage Management by Kailey Absher*, Scenic Design by Jimmy Ray Ward, Lighting Design by Bill Webb, Props and Technical Direction by Matt Shields, Costume Designs by Jessica Gaffney and Sound Engineering by Savannah Woodruff.

Don’t get your tongue stuck, and make sure you secure your tickets to this show the entire family will be sure to enjoy! A Christmas Story will be the final show in Mill Mountain Theatre’s 2021 season and will certainly be a show you will not want to miss!

*Appearing Courtesy of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.

Sponsors for A Christmas Story at Mill Mountain Theatre include American National Bank & Trust Company, Avis Construction, Better Sofas, Business Solutions, The Candy Story, Claytor/Wirt and Associates, Elk Hill Advisors, FreedomFirst, Gentry Locke Attorneys, Lunsford, A Trustpoint Company; Mast General Store, MemberOne, Miller, Long & Associates, Inc., Oakey’s Funeral Home, Pinnacle Financial Partners, Roanoke Animal Hospital, B.J. Preas, Roanoke Valley Orthodontics, Rutherfoord, A Marsh & Lennan Agency; Skyline National Bank and Steel Dynamics. Grantors include National Endowment for the Arts, Virginia Commission for the Arts, Center in the Square, Radio IQ WVTF, Theatre Communications Group, Actors’ Equity Association and Blue Star Theatres.

A Christmas Story will be performed in-person on the Trinkle MainStage from December 1st – 23rd. Tickets are $20-38 for performances and $15-25 for preview performances. Tickets can be purchased online at millmountain.org or by calling 540-342-5740.

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