‘Mockingbird’ on Stage
Harper Lee’s classic revived
Tickets went on sales Feb. 18 for the Shreveport Little Theatre production of the southern classic, “To Kill a Mockingbird.”
The play is based on Harper Lee’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel published in 1960. The story is about a court case charging a black man, Tom Robinson, with the rape of a poor white girl in a small community. His defense attorney, Atticus Finch, faces the harsh criticism of the town’s predominantly racist population. He insists on taking the case because he believes his client is innocent, and his conscience won’t allow the other citizens’ opinions to sway his resolve. Finch is convinced Robinson would never get a fair trial because a white jury would never take the word of a black man over a white female. The plot is believed to be loosely based on an incident from Lee’s childhood.
Robert Darrow will direct the production that includes moments of warmth and humor while recounting racial inequality during the Depression. The show has a large cast featuring actors Robert Young as Atticus Finch; Emma Cate Dailey as Scout; Jackson Driggers, John Kerry, Jay Ward as Tom Robinson, Bill Pou and Dot Hall respectively.
Leading the large cast are Robert Young as Atticus, Emma Cate Dailey as Scout, Jackson Driggers as Jem, John Kerry as the Sheriff, Jay Ward as Tom Robinson, Bill Pou as Mr. Gilmer, and Dot Hall as Miss Maudie, the narrator.
Performances are scheduled for March 6, 7, 8 at 8 p.m. and March 9 at 2 p.m. at the 812 Margaret Place location in Shreveport.
Individual tickets are $15 for seniors, students and active military and $17 for adults. Student rush tickets are available at curtain time for $10 cash with student I.D.
For information, call 424-4439 or visit SLT’s box office at 812 Margaret Place, open noon to 4 p.m. weekdays. President of East Texas Group Turns 102
East Texas native Dorothy Craver celebrated her 102nd birthday with a large gathering of friends and family at Lions City Park in Jefferson. Because her birthday really only occurs every four years since she was a leap year (1912) baby, she laughs and said, “I’m not as old as it sounds, probably still in my 30s.”
A highlight for the birthday girl was the football she received from one of her heroes, an autographed version by former Dallas Cowboy great Emmitt Smith. Craver said she admires Smith for his athleticism as well as for his ballroom dancing ability. Smith was a former participant in “Dancing With the Stars.”
Marcia Thomas, her daughter, said as word of the party spread around the community, many of Craver’s friends drifted in to attend the festivities and left many cards, candy, flowers and other gifts. Entertainment was provided by the Jerry Payne Trio. Champagne and cake were served for attendees, and special 102nd birthday souvenirs were available for all to wear and take home. A chorus of “Happy Birthday” was also sung to Craver’s great-granddaughter, Catherine Thomas, a freshman student at the University of North Texas, who turned 19 the same week.
Craver was born Feb. 28, 1912, in the home in which she still resides. Craver and her late husband, Kenneth, restored the historic home built in 1845 by Jefferson resident and Confederate veteran Capt. Charles G. Graham.
“Dot,” as Craver prefers to be called, maintains an active lifestyle, has published several books and papers, has belonged to numerous clubs and organizations and played the organ for more than 30 years at her church. She remains the president of The Opera House Theatre Players in Jefferson, the theatrical troupe directed by her daughter.
The title of Craver’s last book sums up her attitude “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing!” So far, she hasn’t.
Joe Todaro may be reached at [email protected].
