Reverend Sykes: The good Reverend Sykes is played by Jerry Bowie, who will make his stage debut in Mockingbird. Jerry has served on the Board of Directors of the Sugar Creek Players for the last three years, and a year ago co-produced the Vanity Theater's amazing production of The Women. By day, Jerry works at Wabash College, where he wears many hats as the coordinator of activities for the Center of Academic Enrichment. He also has a strange habit of wearing a new hat every time he visits the Vanity Theater's costume or prop rooms, but that's a whole other story. In addition to playing Reverend Sykes, Jerry is co-producing Mockingbird with Nancy Rodenbeck.
Helen Robinson: The young woman playing Helen Robinson in our production is Crawfordsville High School student Rebekah Kirts. She's very busy as a member of the award-winning Blue Illusions Dance Team, and has appeared in Peter Pan and The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. We're very excited to welcome her to our cast, fresh off a national dance competition.
Calpurnia: This important role in Mockingbird will be played by Debbie Reed, who will make her acting debut in the show. Recently married, she answered the call to come read for the part, and we immediately liked what she brought to the stage. Her poise, posture, and pace under the lights were all impressive, especially considering that when she read for the part, she was literally standing on a stage for the very first time. We're excited to watch her develop throughout our production.
Court Clerk and "Big Man": It was a no-brainer to cast mighty Rick James in the part of the "Big Man' in the lynch mob, which tries to storm past Atticus Finch to lynch Tom Robinson on the eve of his trial. In addition to that role, Rick will also swear in all of the witnesses in the riveting courtroom scene. Rick has a fine acting background and tells us that he was in the second play ever performed at the Vanity back in the late 1980s, and returned last month for The Wizard of Oz. While living in Jackson County, he was also involved in community theater, including roles in Dracula, Rainmaker, Spirit, Our Town, and a few others. Rick brings a warm heart and kind spirit to our cast.
Lynch Mob Member and Taunting Boy: Matthew Clark might just have the most Vanity acting credits of any actor in our cast of Mockingbird. While only 16, Matthew has been a part of 14 Vanity productions and acted in seven. Normally, he works backstage, in the light booth, or where ever he might be needed. This director would love to have a dozen actors like Matthew — willing to do anything to make a show successful.
Link Deas and Lynch Mob Member: Mahlon Nevitt is a 17-year-old, North Montgomery High School junior who appears to have gotten the acting bug in the super-successful production of The Wizard of Oz. In Mockingbird, Mahlon will play a dual role — as Link Deas in our courtroom scene and as another of the angry lynch mob members. We're excited to have him in the show.
Maycomb Citizens: Two lovely women agreed to join our production as citizens of Maycomb, Alabama, who stroll on stage and appear in our courtroom scenes — Barbara Walden and Sharyn Adams. We love having Barb in the cast because of her good humor. At some point well into her senior years, Barb decided to begin acting with the Sugar Creek Players. Her credits include Music Man, The Women, Arsenic and Old Lace, It's a Wonderful Life, and — as a swinging grandma — The Wedding Singer. Also starring is Sharyn Adams, a nurse in real life, who has an impressive acting resume that includes It's a Wonderful Life, Oklahoma, The Sound of Music, and Music Man.
Reggie Steele, a Wabash College student, was simply thrilled to be a part of To Kill a Mockingbird. He will play a Negro citizen of Maycomb, but throughout rehearsals, he's stepped up to do what ever we've asked him to do. And that comes as no surprise because he's one of the most active students on the Wabash campus, and is the chairman of the College's Malcolm X Institute of Black Studies. He last appeared on the Vanity Theater stage in The Wedding Singer. He's also a talented musician and singer, and has agreed to work with us on music for our show.
Stage Manager and Co-Producer: I would be remiss if I didn't also introduce co-producer Nancy Rodenbeck, who brings a wealth of experience to this production. Nancy has impressive Vanity Theater directing credits, which include excellent productions of Tom Sawyer, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, and The Somewhat True Tale of Robin Hood, as well as scores of church and home-school productions. She's been acting since she could walk, but I especially enjoyed her in last year's SCP production of The Women. As the former Managing Director of the Vanity Theater, she answers most of my questions before I can ask them. Nancy will also serve as our Stage Manager.
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