Inherit the Wind

Almost a century ago, in a small courtroom on a humid summer day two crusaders, giants of their time, squared off to fight a battle of wit and words whose echoes still resound in all our lives.

Stage 3 presents “Inherit the Wind” the seldom seen masterpiece of courtroom drama based on the infamous Scopes Monkey Trial. It is an edge-of-your-seat dramatization of the events in and around the historic trial where the forces of Creationism and Evolution faced each other for the first time in a court of law. The results were explosive.

“Dazzling…an electric flash of true theater.” raved the New York Times. “Brilliant…exciting and absorbing.” said the New York Post. The World –Telegram called “Inherit the Wind” “A tidal wave of drama.”

“This is thrilling theater and a true story.” enthuses Artistic Director Don Bilotti. “It’s huge in size, scope and daring. It tackles the most controversial of issues and asks the biggest questions while keeping you riveted to the action. It is filled with great humanity, tenderness and, like all great dramas, it also contains a lot of fun. We intend to deliver a delightful evening of theater. It is bursting with energy and crackles with excitement. ”

John T. Scopes was arrested for teaching Darwin’s theory of evolution to his high school class, thereby violating the Butler Act. The eyes of the nation turned anxiously towards Dayton, Tennessee when William Jennings Bryan, homespun hero to millions and presidential candidate arrived to prosecute the case. For the defense was one of the most brilliant minds of his time, celebrated criminal attorney, Clarence Darrow. The trial became a media circus. The press descended in droves to see these titans do battle. It was the first trial broadcast on radio.

Many people will remember the movie version starring Spencer Tracy. A recent hit Broadway revival featured Brian Dennehy and Christopher Plummer.

Director Bilotti has revamped the play to take advantage of Stage 3’s intimate venue. “You are not just looking at that courtroom, you are in that courtroom. You are the jury.” he says. Filled with music and high theatricality, the large cast has been trimmed to a basic fifteen with actors playing multiple roles.

The production has already become somewhat of a cause celebre. A consortium of five religious congregations have become Associate Producers of the piece. Knowing that the production may stir debate they have thrown their hats into the ring as champions of free communication of ideas. They include the Mother Lode Jewish Community, First Congregational Church of Murphys, the Unitarian-Universalists of the Mother Lode, and the Union Congregational Church of Angels Camp.

Due to the controversial nature of the material, there will be talkbacks with the cast and director each Thursday after the performance.

Playwrights Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee are best known for “Inherit the Wind” and “Auntie Mame”. Together they wrote some 39 plays, including 14 Broadway productions. During World War II, Lawrence and Lee co-founded the Armed Forces Radio Services, which provided entertainment and news to thousands of troops.

Stage 3 has assembled a top-notch cast. Doug Scott will portray Matthew Harrison Brady (as Bryan is called in this play). “He was my first call’ says Bilotti. “He’s got the power, the size and that tremendous voice.” Bilotti himself will play Henry Drummond (Clarence Darrow) in his first stage appearance since his triumphant ‘Billy Bishop goes to War’.

The top-flight cast also includes Benjamin Adriano as Bert Cates (John Scopes), Celeste Wychopen as his fiancé Rachel, John Bell as the cynical reporter based on famous columnist H. L. Mencken, Michael Crich as Rev. Brown, Hilah Elkins as Mrs. Brady, Bill Zachman, Charles Keen, Eric Owens, Harry Tomlinson, Susan Tapper, Sandy Banzet, Savannah Cerruti and Sheamus Vaughn-Warde.

Set design will be by Ron Cotnam with Lighting by Matthew Leamy.

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John Bell (Hornbeck) tempts Celeste Wychopen (Rachel)

There are 9 photos of this show in our Photo Gallery

Playwrights

Jerome Lawrence
Robert E. Lee

Cast Members

Sheamus Vaughan-Warde — Howard
Savannah Cerruti — Melinda
Celeste Wychopen — Rachel Brown
Charles Keen — Meeker, Elijah, Reporter
Benjamin Adriano — Bertram Cates
Bill Zachman — Judge, Reporter, Townsman
Sandy Banzet — Mrs. Krebs
Michael Crich — Reverend Brown
Eric Owens — Davenport, Reporter, Radioman, Townsman
Francis Lynch — Mayor, Reporter
Susan Tapper — Mrs. McBlair
John Bell — E. K. Hornbeck, Jurors
Doug Scott — Matthew Harrison Brady
Hilah Elkins — Mrs. Brady
Don Bilotti — Henry Drummond

Crew Members

Kathleen Liedlich — Stage Manager
Nathan J. Yeisley — Sound & Lighting Technician

Director

Don Bilotti

Designers

Diana Newington — Costume Design
Maryann Curmi — Costume Design
Bill Anderson — Costume Design
Ron Cotnam — Set Design
Matthew Leamy — Lighting Design
Don Bilotti — Sound Design
John Bell — Sound Design

Associate Producers

Mother Lode Jewish Community
First Congregational Church of Murphys
The Unitarian-Universalists of the Mother Lode
The Union Congregational Church of Angels Camp

Others

Ron Cotnam — Set Construction & Painting
Denny Anderson — Set Construction & Painting
Chris Sutherst — Set Construction & Painting
Brian Jackson — Set Construction & Painting