SELINSGROVE - In 1925, the state of Tennessee prosecuted a substitute school teacher, John Scopes, for telling students about the theory of evolution.
The case soon became known as the "Scopes Monkey Trial," and two of the country's most famous lawyers took opposing sides. Clarence Darrow defended the teacher, and William Jennings Bryan argued the prosecution's case.
Decades later, playwrights Robert Edwin Lee and Jerome Lawrence wrote a fictional drama called "Inherit The Wind," which was little more than a thinly veiled retelling of the Scopes case. Successful as a play, a movie and a television production, the drama mounts a highly charged argument in favor of freedom of thought.
"The issue remains controversial today," said Bob Taylor, artistic director of The Courtyard Theater in the Susquehanna Valley Mall. The theater will present six performances of "Inherit The Wind," which is now in rehearsal. The show dates are Aug. 21 to 23 and Aug. 28 to 30.
Taylor said that Kyle Essick has been cast as Bertram Cates, the teacher who's standing trial. The defense attorney, Henry Drummond, will be portrayed by Fred Hooper, and Taylor will play the part of Matthew Harrison Brady, the prosecuting attorney.
Playing E. K. Hornbeck, the big city newspaper writer, will be Adam Randis.
Others in the cast include Kimberly MacAlister as Rachel Brown; Jim Micklow as the Rev. Jeremiah Brown; Isaac Connor as the trial judge; Justin Moore as Tom Davenport; Jason Kriner as the mayor of Hillsboro. Joanne Lauer will play Sarah Brady.
The production will be sponsored by Garfield's Restaurant.
The Friday and Saturday shows will begin at 7 p.m., and the Sunday performances will be matinees, starting at 2 p.m. Tickets will cost $15. Call the box office for reservations at 570-374-0060 .Walk-ins are welcome. Cash and credit cards accepted.
The theater will also offer a dinner, catered by That Kitchen Witch of Lewisburg, an hour prior to each performance. The cost is $35 for dinner and show, and reservations are needed for the dinner.