Academy Award-Nominee Helps Pittsburgh's Prime Stage Theatre Open 20th Anniversary Season i

PITTSBURGH - Oct. 12, 2016 - PRLog -- On November 4, Prime Stage Theatre will open its 20th consecutive season with "To Kill a Mockingbird," directed by Scott P. Calhoon and adapted by Christopher Sergel from the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Harper Lee. The production continues through November 13 at the New Hazlett Theatre Center for Performing Arts on Pittsburgh's North Side.

On Saturday, November 12 at 5:30 p.m., Prime Stage will present "An Evening With Scout," a private reception with actress Mary Badham, the Academy Award nominee who co-starred opposite Gregory Peck in the classic 1962 film as Atticus Finch's daughter. The reception will take place at the Hazlett Theater on the North Side preceding the evening's performance of the play.

Immediately following the performance, Ms. Badham will present a keynote speech sharing her experiences making the film and her friendship with author Harper Lee. She will also honor Prime Stage for its two-decades-long commitment to fostering literacy in western Pennsylvania, discuss the organization's participation in the 2016 Big Read (an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts) and entertain questions from the audience.

Cost to attend the pre-show reception, performance of the play and Ms. Badham's presentation is $50 per person. Tickets are available through the organization's website at http://primestage.com.

A Classic American Story

"To Kill a Mockingbird," based on the landmark 1960 book by first-time novelist Harper Lee, tells a story loosely based on an actual incident that took place near Lee's Alabama hometown in 1936, when the author was 10 years old. The play's central figure, Atticus Finch, is widely regarded as a character who embodies morality and integrity. The story explores such themes as racial inequality, class, courage, and compassion.

The 1962 film was nominated for eight Academy Awards, winning three, and is included on the American Film Institute's list of the 100 Greatest American Films of All Time.

As its season continues into 2017, Prime Stage will present stage productions of George Orwell's provocative classic "1984" as well as "The Perks of Being a Wallflower" based on the popular New York Times bestselling coming-of-age novel by Pittsburgh native Stephen Chbosky

Twenty Years of Enriching Lives

Prime Stage, which has cultivated a well-earned reputation for profoundly enriching the lives of western Pennsylvania audiences through a unique, effective mix of innovative, literature-based theatrical, educational and outreach initiatives, was founded in 1996 by Wayne Brinda and his wife, Connie Brinda. Wayne Brinda continues to serve as the organization's artistic director.

An educator by career, Brinda has been active in Pittsburgh's theater community for more than four decades. Under his direction, in addition to its theatrical presentations, Prime Stage maintains a busy schedule of school outreach and other educational programs that have measurably improved literacy among local participants. He believes that "To Kill a Mockingbird" is an excellent selection to open the 2016-2017 season.

"We are thrilled to present this timeless story and important literary work as part of our 20th anniversary season," said Brinda. "Its themes and messages are as relevant today as they were half a century ago."

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