“Seeing it meant to me that I really understood the play and could form my own view of the famous story,” said 8th grader Dani Garcia. The play is a reworking of Harper Lee’s Pulitzer award-winning novel.

Kerstin Rao

“Seeing it meant to me that I really understood the play and could form my own view of the famous story,” said 8th grader Dani Garcia. The play is a reworking of Harper Lee’s Pulitzer award-winning novel.

The 8th grade class of 2019 traveled into New York City to see the Tony-winning Broadway production of “To Kill a Mockingbird” at the Sam S. Shubert Theatre.

Based on the critically acclaimed novel by Harper Lee, “Mockingbird” tells the story of Atticus Finch, an Alabama lawyer, trying to defend Tom Robinson, a black man, from being convicted of a crime he didn’t commit.

The cast features Jeff Daniels, as Atticus Finch, Gbenga Akinnagbe, Celia Keenan-Bolger, Will Pullen, and Gideon Glick, among others. Celia Keenan-Bolger won this year’s Tony for best featured actress.

Directed by Bartlett Sher, “Mockingbird” is sure to wow audiences old or young. The show is recommended for ages 12 and up. The play is an adaptation written by writer Aaron Sorkin.

This play was picked, in part, because all 8th graders read the book in class, and it isn’t often a reworking of such a famous book makes its way to Broadway.

One of the producers of the show, Eric Falkenstein, came to talk to the 8th grade to tell them what being a producer is like. This was a really unique experience and a great way to wrap up the year.