Actor Justin Mark has experienced a range of emotions since he auditioned for the touring production of To Kill a Mockingbird in late 2019. He was supposed to start his role as Jem Finch in 2020, but because of COVID, had to wait until 2022 to see his dream fulfilled.
Since then, the show has become his second home and the cast his surrogate family.
“It’s cool to have been looking forward to this for so long and also getting to do it for so long,” says Mark, who compares the experience and longevity to his time attending The Julliard School in New York. “I’m grateful to be with the same people and the same story. I get to learn so much. It’s an unforgettable experience. I try to cherish it every day.”
Mark, who has read Harper Lee’s Pulitzer Prize winning novel and seen the movie, was intrigued by the fact that this play, adapted by Aaron Sorkin, veers from both in many respects. For example, Jem is young, around the age of twelve in the book and play. In the Sorkin production, the roles of Jem and Scout are played by adults.
“I am interested in the idea of what Aaron Sorkin has written. It’s sort of a memory play of these young people looking back on that summer and trying to figure out the truth. Working with the script, I found it so insightful because it was so different from the book and the movie,” he says.”
Lee’s novel focuses on the trial of Tom Robinson, a Black man accused of rape during the 1930s in Alabama. Attorney Atticus Finch, father to Scout and Jem who represents Robinson, recognizes how racist those are in the community and the courtroom and along with Tom has to mount a defense in an effort to combat it.
To Kill a Mockingbird Plays Altria Theater Feb 27 through March 3
Sorkin’s play, which plays Altria Theater February 27 through March 3, takes a deeper dive into Atticus’ perception of justice and how it pairs with the perceptions and questions that Scout, Jem, and their friend Dill have about the mystery of Bob Ewell’s death and how Atticus handles the trial.
In the production, Jem, Scout, and Dill act as narrators. “My character knows he’s in a theater and talking to the audience,” Mark says. “It’s still the story we all know and love but there is an angle that makes it perfectly theatrical.”
Jem is at an age and in a moment where he is developing strong opinions. “He disagrees with the way his father is handling everything. He’s not always right, but he’s not always wrong. That is Jem’s main issue,” Mark says.
“The most fun for me is balancing the respect for Atticus and also the adamant feeling of disagreement,” he adds. “Atticus thinks there is goodness in everyone if you look hard enough. Jem doesn’t understand that. He thinks why look so deeply into someone who seems so bad.”
Jem sees the beauty “in what Atticus attempts to do with this trial, but in the moment sees Atticus as a coward. If only Atticus was strong, fought harder, things would be different,” Mark says. “In retrospect, Jem realizes that Atticus was ahead of his time.”
Mark loves the challenge of playing someone who is very opinionated. “I can be calculated with my thoughts, take more time to prepare my view for fear of being wrong,” he says. “I can take more time to develop an opinion. Jem shoots from the hip and says what he feels in the moment. What a great thing to do to even if you are wrong. To be so front footed has been a great exercise for me personally.”
Classic American Story Gets a Sorkin Adaptation
The play presents an American classic story, but it’s also a scary story to tell “because it involves our country,” he adds. “It’s about our society and our unconscious bias. You really watch people make decisions out of fear in this play. It’s the fear of difference, the fear of things they don’t understand. It’s heartbreaking. There are so many themes layered in there.”
It speaks to the times today. It’s relatable and relevant. “I am proud to be part of a piece of art that lets people confront this aspect of society in a collective, artistic way,” he says. “To sit in a theater all together and work through some of this and thoroughly be entertained is a real gift.”
Mark likes talking to the audience during the production. “I don’t have to pretend that I am anywhere else or act like I have been in a different place,” he says. “The best experience for the audience is to remind them they are in the city they are in and not transport them. By just acknowledging the audience wherever we are, that is a powerful piece of art.”
He feels privileged to work with Richard Thomas in the production. “He’s a great Atticus because he’s all optimism. He’s so kind and has a ton of heart. You can trust him immediately,” he says. “I have a ton of respect for Richard. His acting is beautiful to watch.”
To Kill a Mockingbird, presented by Broadway in Richmond, is showing at Altria Theater February 27 through March 3. For showtimes and tickets, visit Broadway in Richmond.
Learn more about student tickets and discounted tickets through the digital lottery.
