Inherit the Wind is a fictional version of the 1925 Scopes Trial. Scopes was convicted for teaching evolution to a high school class. In Tennessee, state law prohibited teaching evolution.
Play title: Inherit the Wind
Author (s): Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee
Publisher: Random House Inc.
Publication Date: 1955
Genre: Drama
Primary Discipline: Evolutionary Theory
Secondary Discipline: Biology
Scientist (s): Fictional
Source Texts: On the Origin of Species by Charles Darwin
Character Breakdown: 23 Men, 7 Women, Ensemble
Rachel Brown, Meeker, Bertram Cates, Mr. Goodfellow, Mrs. Krebs, Rev. Jeremiah Brown, Corkin, Bollinger, Platt, Mr. Bannister, Melinda, Howard, Mrs, Looms, Hot Dog Man, Mrs. McClain, Mrs, Blair, Elijah, E. K. Hornbeck, Hurdy Gurdy Man, Timmy, Mayor, Matthew Harrison Brady, Mrs, Brady, Tom Davenport, Henry Drummond, Judge, Dunlap, Sillers, Reuter’s Man, Harry Y. Esterbrook, Townspeople, hawkers, reporters, jurors, spectators
Setting: Small Town
Time Period: Varies
Synopsis of Play: Inherit the Wind is a fictional version of the 1925 Scopes Trial. Scopes was convicted for teaching evolution to a high school class. In Tennessee, state law prohibited teaching evolution. The play is meant to criticize the anti-Communist investigations that took place in the U.S. The authors used the Scope’s trial as a platform to explore threats to learning and intellectual freedom. https://stageagent.com/shows/play/1925/inherit-the-wind
First Performance Date: January 10th, 1955
First Producer: Dallas Theatre ‘55
Performance History: Inherit the Wind by Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee was first presented at the Dallas Theatre ‘55 on January 10th, 1955 and was directed by Margo Jones. Later, the play was presented by Herman Shumlin in association with Margo Jones, at the National Theatre, New York City, April 21st, 1955, with the setting by Peter Larkin, lighting design by Feder, costume design by Ruth Morley, and the assistant director was Terese Hayden.
Links:
https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2009/oct/02/inherit-the-wind-theatre-review
https://dcmetrotheaterarts.com/2017/10/30/review-inherit-wind-compass-rose-theater/
https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/reviews/inherit-the-wind
http://www.chicagotribune.com/ct-ent-0620-inherit-wind-review-20120619-story.html
https://variety.com/2009/legit/reviews/inherit-the-wind-4-1200477062/
Entered by: Meaghan Yesford
Photo/Visual Research with citations
The Old Globe Theatre The Old Globe Theatre
Kevin Spacey and David Troughton in
Inherit the Wind. Photograph: Tristram Kenton
