San Diego City College Dramatic Arts Program

CONTACT: Katie Rodda

619.388.3088 |

San Diego City College Drama ProgramPresents

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Adapted by Christopher Sergel

Saville Theatre | October 28, 29, 30, November 4, 5 6

SAN DIEGO—October 7, 2016—BeginningOctober 28, the San Diego City College Dramatic Arts Program will present six productions of Harper Lee’s beloved novel To Kill a Mockingbird, adapted by Christopher Sergel.Running in the Saville Theatre, tickets are availablefor Fridays and Saturdays, October 28 and 29, and November 4 and 5 at 8:00 p.m. and Sundays, October 30 and November 6at 2:00 p.m.

To Kill a Mockingbird is told through the eyes of Scout, the fiercely independent daughter of Atticus Fitch. In the summer of 1935, the sleepy town of Macomb, Alabama is abuzz with the upcoming trial of Tom Robinson, an African American man, accused of raping a white woman. While Atticus, the white lawyer assigned to defend Tom, refuses to compromise his ideals in the face of mounting community pressure, the impressionable Scout learns about tolerance and acceptance, even as racial tensions threaten to tear the town apart.

To Kill a Mockingbird is directed by Drama InstructorAshley Kobza. Her interest is not in presenting a pastoral representation of a young girl coming of agewho gets her first glimpse at racism and bigotry. Instead of staging the playas a sweet and gentle period piece about a more innocent time,Kobza’s intention with this production is to highlight the parallels between Tom Robinson’s trial and the cases that plague our current times.She finds painful similarities between Lee’s fictional Tom Robinson and contemporary African-Americans including Sandra Bland, Eric Garner, and El Cajon’s Alfred Olango who have been treated inhumanely and killed at the hands of police officers. In Kobza’s words, “Here we are in 2016, and unarmed and often innocent black men are still being killed (just like Tom) in the streets for traffic violations, selling CDs, or just walking home with some candy and soda. My focus couldn’t be on the children; it needed to be more than that. It needed to be a call to arms, not a gentle reminder that we can always hope in tomorrow. I’ve grown weary of ‘our thoughts and prayers are with.’ I’ve had it with hoping and waiting. The time is now. Change is needed now.”

Kobza has added a group of black actors who portray what she is calling the modern “Greek Chorus.” These characters dip in and out of the story: participating, commenting, and narrating as a modern day eye looking in on the action of the play. Kobza feels strongly that the black characters within Lee’s original story have no power, no voice. Kobza’s creation of the Greek Chorus makes this piece relevant to a 2016 audience as a means to make connections, ask hard questions, and offer new insights on the play.

The cast includes CholCapano (Dill), Elli Connell (Mayella Ewell), Robert Delacy (Heck Tate), Roosevelt Green (Tom Robinson), Stephen Leffler (Atticus), MobinMaalirad (Mr. Cunningham), Veronica McFarland and LatasheannaCockhren (Calpurnia [rotating]), Estefania Mendoza (Mrs. Dubose), Brett Morris (Judge Taylor),Lauren McCarthy (Miss Maudie), Tina Pakan (Miss Stephanie), Erik Pyka (Bob Ewell), Omar Ramos (Mr. Gilmer), Jeramie Smith (Rev. Sykes), Lucas Thornton (Boo Radley), Elliot Weaver (Jem), Catalina Zelles (Scout), and OlhaZimareva (Clerk). The Greek Chorus is LatasheannaCockhren, Dylan Page, Roosevelt Green, Jeramie Smith, and Veronica McFarland.

Stage Manager is Molly Tremblay. Scenic, Costume, and Sound Design are by City College Professors Duane Gardella, Elisa Benzoni, and Robert Kostlan (respectively). Lighting Design is by Robert Norberg.

TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD

Fridays, October 28 and November 4, 8:00 p.m.

Saturdays, October 29 and November 5, 8:00 p.m.

Sundays, October 30 and November 6, 2:00 p.m.

Tickets: $10 - 15 cash only, or purchase in advance: (+ handling fee).

About San Diego City College

San Diego City College serves as the educational cornerstone of downtown San Diego. With nearly 17,000 students, City College offers 200+ Associate Degrees and Certificates and 1,500 day, evening and weekend classes. City College is part of the San Diego Community College District (SDCCD), the second-largest of California’s 72 community college districts, comprised of San Diego City College, Mesa College, Miramar College and Continuing Education. For more information, visit: