Aaron Sorkin's TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD Adaptation to premiere on Broadway December 13, 2018- Page 6

[amaklo]

Posted: 5/2/18 at 8:16am

Tom5 said: "Two questions. 1. How could someone as smart as Rudin have entered into a contract which left him with such exposure? 2. The judge really doesn't know how to read a script? What is he, a producer?!"

In my career I've negotiated and written a lot of contracts.  I'm speculating here, but sometimes the two sides go back and forth and settle on ambiguous language that neither side is happy with, but agree on to get the deal done. Most times the contract is completed without incident.  Obviously Rudin isn't so fortunate here.

Can't help you with the 2nd question. I don't understand why the judge needs a performance either.

 

[Babe_Williams]

Posted: 5/2/18 at 9:28am

I can't stand Aaron Sorkin's work. Should be interesting seeing how this mess plays out.

[newintown]

Posted: 5/2/18 at 9:42am

GeorgeandDot wrote: "Sorkin's version of Atticus isn't a man entirely free of prejudice and does question what he's doing. It seems like a bit more of a realistic approach to a liberal man of that era."

I won't pretend to define "realistic" (although most people seem to think they know what is and isn't "real," generally based upon the limitations of their personal experiences), but no matter if this is or isn't "realistic," it definitely isn't "To Kill A Mockingbird."

Personally, I think that if Sorkin wants to write a narrative about a lawyer who is in touch with his racist tendencies, he should write it, and avoid taking advantage of using the famous and beloved title of someone else's significantly different work.

Updated On: 5/2/18 at 09:42 AM

[GeorgeandDot]

Posted: 5/2/18 at 10:16am

No one is free of prejudice. That's just fact and liberalism of the early 1900's is more conservative by today's standards.

That being said, the play wasn't about a lawyer dealing with his racist tendencies, it was just about a man being put in a position of doing what's right for somebody even if he doesn't fully understand it and even if it puts his family in a bad position. Really, that's what Lee's Atticus is too. Sorkin has just decided to keep him from being a white savior and instead a more complicated, flawed person. Basically, I was told that there are some minor character alterations that are used to deepen some of them for the stage, but other than that, it's very faithful to Lee's book and keeps all of her themes intact.

[HogansHero]

Posted: 5/2/18 at 10:22am

A few quick points:

1. This is all going to be moot because proceedings in SDNY only move forward if the Alabama District court dismisses the case down there and that is never going to happen. 

2. Asking for a performance is not crazy and does not mean the judge can't read the script. But theatre is a live art form and judges are not necessarily skilled at processing scripts the way actors and directors do. It should not be necessary to explain here that we have class after class in drama schools about script analysis; it is not a part of the curriculum of any law school. 

3. Asking to film it is essential because what is on film is permanent and can be objected to or appealed from. It might also be played for a jury, were there ever one. A live performance as Rudin suggested would be ephemeral and would lead to all sorts of problems down the line. 

4. There are suggestions here that Rudin is being forced to do this, and to do it in some extravagant way. That is not the case. He has the burden of proof and would logically want to do this and do it as effectively as possible to make his point.

[KathyNYC2]

Posted: 5/2/18 at 11:30am

GeorgeandDot said: "No one is free of prejudice. That's just fact and liberalism of the early 1900's is more conservative by today's standards.

That being said, the play wasn't about a lawyer dealing with his racist tendencies, it was just about a man being put in a position of doing what's right for somebody even if he doesn't fully understand it and even if it puts his family in a bad position. Really, that's what Lee's Atticus is too. Sorkin has just decided to keep him from being a white savior and instead a more complicated, flawed person. Basically, I was told that there are some minor character alterations that are used to deepen some of them for the stage, but other than that, it's very faithful to Lee's book and keeps all of her themes intact."

No one is free of prejudice. That's true. But it's not the character Lee wrote so it's not TKAM. Nor did she write the book with adults playing the children parts because "no one wants to hear children for two hours". I have zero interest in this at all. 

[BroadwayNYC2]

Posted: 5/2/18 at 11:41am

I hope this production comes to fruition. The memory aspect and more complicated Atticus would add layers to a great, if a tad problematic piece. 

[newintown]

Posted: 5/2/18 at 12:25pm

GeorgeandDot said: "No one is free of prejudice. That's just fact and liberalism of the early 1900's is more conservative by today's standards."

Both sides of that statement are absolutes, and neither is a universal truth. The first half is particularly doctrinaire,and sounds much like the Christian dogma that no one is born without original sin. Both ideas assuage a human need for guilt and self-flagellation. One is taught in church, the other in Freshman Sociology.

[GeorgeandDot]

Posted: 5/2/18 at 12:31pm

But it is true.....

[curel1]

Posted: 5/10/18 at 3:35pm

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/10/theater/to-kill-a-mockingbird-broadway-harper-lee.html

It's happening!!

[BroadwayConcierge]

Posted: 5/10/18 at 3:36pm

Phew!!!

Worth noting that piece announces the Shubert. 

Updated On: 5/10/18 at 03:36 PM

[VotePeron]

Posted: 5/10/18 at 3:41pm

Thank GOD.

Am I the only one who thinks the Shubert is a tad large for this? Not worried about the stage size, more like will they be able to sell the Shubert?

[LesWickedly]

Posted: 5/10/18 at 3:43pm

I also think this is a wrong choice of house (come to think of it, might’ve been the only choice). It could easily make high numbers in a smaller house, but I see this being one that’s hard to fill. Maybe they’ll close off the balcony?

Updated On: 5/10/18 at 03:43 PM

[IdinaBellFoster]

Posted: 5/10/18 at 3:46pm

Happy to see this was resolved. I'm excited to see Sorkin's adaption. 

[dramamama611]

Posted: 5/10/18 at 4:56pm

Yes!   Hope it doesn't dissappoint!  (My favorite novel!)

[willrolandsframes]

Posted: 5/10/18 at 7:31pm

*puts on tin foil cap*

So, is there any chance that Rudin was able to close Dolly with the sole intention of bringing in Mockingbird right behind it? Does he think that there's more money lying within a Daniels-led play than whoever would try to follow Bernadette?

[MadsonMelo]

Posted: 7/11/18 at 6:23pm

I just bought a ticket for My Fair Lady via LincTix. Does anyone knows if To Kill a Mockinbird will also have tickets available? If so, when?

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 3/8/24 at 3:27pm

Jordan Catalano said: "If this actually happens, I really hope Matthew Modine is still attached to it."

Did anyone happen to catch Matthew Modine when he was in the London production? I’m just curious how he was.

God, I wish this show was still on broadway.