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L.A. Theatre Works presents The Great Tennessee Monkey Trial

Very interesting Utah public radio interview on this show

Famous Trials: complete background/history on Scopes Trial

LA Theatre Works Study Guide for this production

L.A. Theatre Works' Web Site

Susan Albert Loewenberg, Producing Director

adapted from the Scopes Trial transcripts by Peter Goodchild

February 12-13, 2009
8:00pm

In 1925, the eyes of the nation were turned to Dayton, Tennessee, where debates over Darwinism played out in Tennessee vs. John Thomas Scopes. The case came to be known as the "Monkey Trial," and nearly 80 years later, how we teach evolution in schools still remains controversial.

Travel back in time to a sweltering, tension-filled courtroom to experience first-hand the dramatic “monkey” trial as it took place over 80 years ago. This riveting production is based entirely on original transcripts of the famous 1925 Tennessee v. John Scopes “Monkey Trial”, which challenged the newly passed Tennessee legislature’s “Butler Act” banning the teaching of evolution in the state’s public schools. The trial set the stage for an ongoing national debate over the freedom of inquiry and the separation of Church and State, issues that remain unresolved even today.

The L.A. Theatre Works performance features the well known and respected actors*: Edward Asner (countless TV roles i.e. his Emmy-winning role as Lou Grant on The Mary Tyler Moore Show and its spin-off series, Lou Grant) playing William Jennings Bryan, three-time Presidential candidate and former Secretary of State turned religious speaker; Arye Gross (over 80 movie and TV roles including the nerd Willie in Just One of the Guys, Howard Marks in Minority Report, and appearances on CSI, West Wing, and The Practice) playing Arthur Garfield Hayes, a prominent free speech advocate; Jerry Hardin (over 200 TV and movie roles incl. Deep Throat in the series The X-Files and numerous roles in Star Trek: The Next Generation) playing Judge John Raulston; and James Gleason playing H.L. Mencken, famed satirical reporter who coined the moniker “Monkey Trial” for the famous 1925 Tennessee v. John Scopes trial.

* Cast subject to change.

Pre-show discussion: To enhance patrons' understanding and enjoyment of L.A. Theatre Works' Asheville performances, pre-show discussions are held in The Forum at Pack Place 7:00pm each evening prior to the performances. Free for ticket holders.

The February 12 pre-performance discussion includes a panel hosted by the 28th Judicial District Bar: Frank Goldsmith, J.D., Goldsmith, Goldsmith & Dews, P.A.; Kathy Meacham, Ph.D., Professor of Religion, Mars Hill College; Dean Shatley, J.D., Education Law Attorney, Roberts & Stevens, P.A.; and Rabbi Rob Cabelli, Ph.D.

The February 13 pre-performance discussion, "Why Fundamentalists Love Bacon: Science and Religion in the Scopes Trial," will be led by Rodger Payne, Director of Religious Studies at UNC Asheville.

Special Interest Film at UNC Asheville: On Tuesday Feb. 10 and Wednesday Feb. 11, UNC Asheville will host screenings of the documentary film Flock of Dodos: The Evolution-Intelligent Design Circus at 7:00 p.m. in the Humanities Lecture Hall. Free and open to the public. Panel discussion will follow.