Event Details
RELEASE DATE: October 29th, 2026
PRESS CONTACT: Rose Murphy, Publicity Director
publicitychair@beverlytheatreguild.org
Open Auditions Announced for Beverly Theatre Guild’s Production of To Kill a Mockingbird
Chicago, IL: The Beverly Theatre Guild (BTG) is delighted to announce auditions for its 64th season winter play, To Kill a Mockingbird. Frequently ranked within the top 10 of the American Library Association’s most-banned book list, this contentious story grapples with racial prejudice, gender-based violence, and how to raise children to be empathetic and morally courageous. The courtroom drama is scheduled to be performed on February 19th, 20th, and 21st at the Baer Theater at Morgan Park Academy, home of BTG.
To Kill a Mockingbird will be directed by Mary Lee Hoganson (Homewood), a veteran director with our friends over at The Drama Group in Chicago Heights, and debut director with BTG. Hoganson was also the first woman to serve as The Drama Group Board President. In the role of assistant director, we have Sterlin Johnson (Chicago). After shining brightly onstage for multiple BTG productions, including as Jesus in BTG’s 2024 production of Godspell, this will be Mr. Johnson’s first time serving in an artistic team role with us. We congratulate Mr. Johnson on recently earning his Master of Arts in Education with a Major in English from Northeastern Illinois University. This powerful story will be produced by highly-involved BTG members Morgan Ayres (Palos Heights) and Gail Lauryn (Beverly). Ms. Ayres was in the cast of every single one of BTG’s shows last season while also juggling the responsibilities of being the Business Manager for the guild. Mrs. Lauryn most recently assistant directed BTG’s 2024 production of Present Laughter and is no stranger to producing, having been a member of BTG for over twenty years.
Auditions are scheduled for mid-November. Children's auditions will be held on Sunday, November 15th from 5 PM to 6:30 PM. Auditions for adults will be Sunday, November 15th from 6:30 PM to 9:30 PM and Tuesday, November 17th from 7 PM to 9:30 PM at the Baer Theater at Morgan Park Academy, 2153 West 111th Street in Chicago. Callbacks will be held on Thursday, November 19th. Detailed information, character descriptions, and the sign-up schedule can be found at https://www.wejoinin.com/sheets/ksdui.
The Beverly Theatre Guild is Chicago’s longest running community theatre company. BTG shows are performed at the Baer Theater, a 425-seat venue with state-of-the-art sound and lighting, located at 2153 West 111th Street on the campus of the Morgan Park Academy. Information on BTG may be found at beverlytheatreguild.org.
To Kill a Mockingbird
Author of Novel: Harper Lee
Dramatizer of the play: Christopher Sergel
PERFORMANCES DATES:
Friday, February 19, 2027 at 7:30 pm
Saturday, February 20, 2027 at 7:30 pm
Sunday, February 21, 2027 at 2:00 pm
TICKETS:
TICKETS WILL BE ON SALE SOON!
Adults: $28, Active U.S. Military/Seniors/BTG Members: $25
Ask about Student & Group Rates
773.BTG.TIXS (284.8497)
VENUE:
THE BAER THEATER at MORGAN PARK ACADEMY
2153 W. 111TH STREET, CHICAGO 60643
To Kill a Mockingbird is produced by special arrangement with THE DRAMATIC PUBLISHING COMPANY of Woodstock, Illinois
The Beverly Theatre Guild is a registered 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation under the U.S. Internal Revenue Code. All donations are tax-deductible to the full extent of the law.