Theatre News

To Kill A Mockingbird & Sound of Music lead 2013 Open Air season

| London's West End |

15 August 2012

Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre has announced its new season, which will feature a new stage adaptation of To Kill A Mockingbird and a revival of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s The Sound of Music.

Artistic director Timothy Sheader will take the reins to direct To Kill A Mockingbird, which has been adapted for the stage by Christopher Sergel.

Harper Lee’s story of a court case in the US marred by racism won a Pulitzer Prize in 1960 and is widely regarded as a classic of American literature. The production runs at the Open Air from 16 May to 15 June 2013.

It’s followed, from 25 July to 7 September 2013, by a new production of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s much-loved musical The Sound of Music – the first time one of the legendary writing team’s musicals has been staged at the Open Air.

The Sound of Music premiered on Broadway in 1959, when it won six Tony Awards,
including Best Musical. The show first opened in London in 1961 and its
last London revival was in 2006 when it starred How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria? winner Connie Fisher as Maria – the role immortalised on screen in 1965 by Julie Andrews.

Two more shows will also be announced in the autumn – one of which has been rumoured to be Cats – to complete the Open Air season.

Booking for To Kill A Mockingbird and The Sound of Music opens to members on 9 October 2012 and the public on 20 November 2012. The theatre has pledged to continue to provide over 700 preview tickets for £10 to those aged 18-25.