A Time to Kill at Arena Stage

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2. A Time to Kill

Authors

• John Grisham
• Rupert Holmes

A Time to Kill tells the emotionally charged, incendiary story of a young, idealistic lawyer, Jake Brigance, defending a black man, Carl Lee Hailey, for taking the law into his own hands following an unspeakable crime committed against his young daughter. Their small Mississippi town is thrown into upheaval, and Jake finds himself arguing against the formidable district attorney, Rufus Buckley, and under attack from both sides of a racially divided city. This thrilling courtroom drama remains as grippingly relevant today as it was when Grisham's story was first published in 1989.

Ethan McSweeny directs.
Ages: Based on the novel by John Grisham, Adapted by Rupert Holmes

John Grisham’s stunning first novel comes to the stage in this world premiere,

pre-Broadway adaptation by Tony Award winner Rupert Holmes. After an unspeakable crime is committed against his daughter, Carl Lee Hailey takes the law into his own hands. Now on trial for murder, Carl Lee’s only hope lies with one young, idealistic lawyer who is outmatched by a formidable district attorney and under attack from both sides of a racially divided city. The first John Grisham novel adapted for the stage, A Time to Kill asks audiences to consider the true meaning of justice.