Little Theatre presents: Inherit the Wind

By: Brendan Hammond, Contributing Writer

The Canisius University Little Theatre is proud to announce its first show of the year, “Inherit the Wind”. Written by Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee, it was first produced in 1955. The play fictionalizes the 1925 Scopes Monkey Trial, in which Tennessee teacher John Scopes was prosecuted for teaching human evolution in violation of state law. 

Rather than simply dramatizing the historical trial, Lawrence and Lee use it as a vehicle to explore the tension between intellectual freedom and social conformity. Written during the height of the McCarthy era, when Americans could face severe professional and social consequences for holding politically unpopular beliefs, “Inherit the Wind” transforms the Scopes controversy into a broader warning about what can happen when communities punish people for questioning accepted ideas.

Set in the fictional small southern town of Hillsboro, the story follows high school biology teacher Bertram Cates, who is arrested after teaching Darwin’s theory of evolution to his students in violation of local law. His prosecution quickly becomes far more than a dispute over a biology lesson, drawing national attention and dividing the town over questions of religion, science, education and individual conscience. At the center of the conflict is a tense courtroom showdown between celebrated fundamentalist prosecutor Matthew Harrison Brady and progressive defense attorney Henry Drummond. Their battle forces the people of Hillsboro, and ultimately the audience, to confront a larger question at the heart of the play: whether a society can remain free if its people are denied the right to think, question and disagree.

“Inherit the Wind” is directed by Jamie Kosten and produced by Mo Hill. The show dates are Oct. 8th, 9th and 10th at 8 p.m., with an additional show on the 10th at 2 p.m. Doors open 30 minutes before each show. Performances will be in the Black Box Theatre, located on the second floor of the Richard E. Winter Student Center above the Dining Hall. Admission is free and we would love to welcome students, their families, friends and strangers. Seating is limited and can be reserved following the QR Codes on our flyers around campus or on our Instagram page (@culittletheatre). 

Starring:

• Henry Drummond - Adam McCrossan

• Matthew Harrison Brady - Aedan McGann

• E. K. Hornbeck - Noah Devito

• Bertram Cates - Brendan Hammond

• Rachel Brown - Elaina Carrillio 

• Rev. Jeremiah Brown - Zachary Rozler 

• Meeker - Aselgis Gomez

• Judge - Georgia Baier

• Mayor - Phylicia Martin

• Tom Davenport - Matthew Killian

• Mrs. Brady - Amelia Kuhn

• Mrs. Krebs - Saniya Weekes

• Howard Blair - Chris Tolliver

• Melinda Loomis - Madison Washy-Singer

• Sillers - Milo Benedetti 

• Bannister - Charles Fleming

• Dunlap - Sophia Vaillancourt

Production Staff:

• Stage Manager - Vinny Gelsomino

• Assistant Stage Managers - Jack Kalenik, Faith Mingle

• Costumes - Brendan Hammond

• Assistant Costumes - Georgia Baier

• Props - Mia Sorrentino

• Assistant Props - Benny Bosch-Krug, Sophia Vaillancourt 

• Hair and Makeup - Gracie Preston

• Assistant Hair and Makeup - Sienna Stepien

• Lighting Design - Lindsay Caltabiano

• Sound Design - Charles Fleming

• Assistant Sound Design - David Imuruaye

• House Manager - Madison Howard

• Assistant House Manager - David Imuruaye

• Stage Crew - Marilu Newcomb, Cooper Hillman, Carmella Salvatori