‘Inherit the Wind’

“Inherit the Wind,” a fictionalized account of the 1925 Scopes “Monkey Trial,” continues the Shawnee Little Theatre season with performances beginning Feb. 6.
This classic American drama, which has been translated into 30 languages and read and produced worldwide, will be directed by Bob Wendland. Performances are 7:30 p.m. Feb. 6, 7, 12, 13 and 14, and 2 p.m. Feb. 8.
Priority ticket sales night for patron and season ticket holders is 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday, Feb. 2. Regular box-office hours begin Tuesday, Feb. 3, from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. and continue at that time during the run of the show, except Sundays, when the box office opens at 1 p.m. General admission tickets may be reserved online at www.shawneelittletheatre.com. The box office phone is 275-2805.
The 1925 “Monkey Trial” resulted in John T. Scopes’ conviction for teaching Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution to a high school science class, contrary to a Tennessee state law that prohibited the teaching of anything except creationism. Former Vice President William Jennings Bryan prosecuted Scopes for disobeying the law, and famous intellectual Clarence Darrow served as the defense attorney. The chaotic and intense press coverage earned it the label “Monkey Trial.”
“Inherit the Wind” is not literal history; the characters have different names than the historical figures on whom they are based. But the drama remains one of the most popular American plays of all time. It opened on Broadway in 1955, and the play’s title comes from Proverbs 11:29: “He that troubleth his own house shall inherit the wind: and the fool shall be servant to the wise of heart.”
Starring in the Shawnee Little Theatre production of “Inherit the Wind” are: Weston Foote as Howard; Mackenzi Guptill as Melinda; Stephanie Smith as Rachel Brown; Justin McAfee as Meeker; Brad Curtis as Bert Cates; Joel Carmichael as Mr. Goodfellow and a Reuter’s reporter; Jessica Moore as Mrs. Krebs; Tim Morrison as Rev. Brown; Matthew Stevenson as Sillers; Charles Lee III as Bollinger; Andy Sims as Cooper, a reporter and a hot dog vendor; David Haberland as Bannister; Joe Freeman as Dunlap; Karla Kelly as Mrs. Loomis; Juston McKinnon as Krebs and Radio Man; Carolyn Whitaker as Mrs. McLain; Kelli Terry as Mrs. Blair; Jeff Foresee as Elijah; Jeff Hames as E.K. Hornbeck; Ryan Fortson as Timmy; Scott Bartley as Brady; Delinda Curtis as Mrs. Brady; Michael Mayberry as the photographer and Hawker; Mike Warwick as the mayor; David Cawthon as Tom Davenport; Steve Simpson as the judge; and Gil Guptill as Drummond.
The remaining show in the current Shawnee Little Theatre season is the Lionel Bart musical “Oliver!,” opening June 5. This season’s sponsors are BancFirst, ExxonMobil Chemical and Prudential Carolyn Harris Realty.
Shawnee Little Theatre is a nonprofit community theatre staffed totally by volunteers, celebrating it’s 42nd year in Shawnee.