(Front and center) Ashley Sherman as older “Jean Louise Finch;” (back, from left) Mark Jackson, Mary Garner, Kent Phillips, Amy Buell, Mike Sosnowski, Jeanne Lewis, Austin Uebelhor, Jackson Stollings, Drake Smith, Rylee Odle, and Jada Moon. (Photo provided)
Posted By: The Reporter September 8, 2025
Carmel Community Players (CCP) kicks off its theatrical season with a production of the highly acclaimed To Kill a Mockingbird. This classic story, based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, will grace the stage at The Cat, 254 Veterans Way, Carmel, starting Friday, Sept. 12.
Set during the Great Depression in a quiet Alabama town, the story unfolds through the eyes of young Jean Louise “Scout” Finch. When a young black man is accused of a crime, the town’s peaceful façade shatters. Scout’s widowed father, Atticus, is driven by moral conviction to defend the young man in a controversial trial.
Harper Lee’s original novel recently marked its 65th anniversary. The play, adapted for the stage by Christopher Sergel, remains faithful to the book; it also offers a creative narrative approach by portraying both the young “Scout” and her older self, “Jean Louise,” to tell the story.
(From left) Drake Smith as “Jem Finch,” Rylee Odle as young “Scout Finch,” and Kent Phillips as “Atticus Finch. (Photo provided)
Director Andrea Odle has taken on the challenge of presenting this powerful story, along with a talented cast of 20 local actors. Though Odle is no stranger to theatre directing, To Kill a Mockingbird will mark her CCP debut.
The cast includes Ashley Sherman as “Jean Louise” Finch, Rylee Odle as her younger self, “Scout” Finch, Drake Smith as brother Jem Finch, Kent Phillips as Atticus Finch, and Jada Moon as Calpurnia. A full cast of over 20 actors will bring the story and its message to life.
To Kill a Mockingbird performances will run on Sept. 12, 13, 18, and 19 at 7:30 p.m., and Sept. 14, 20, and 21 at 2:30 p.m., at The Cat. Tickets can be purchased by calling (317) 815-9387 or at carmelplayers.org.
This production contains mature language and themes, including racial discrimination, slurs, and depictions of violence. Recommended for ages 12 and up.
