Casting for the upcoming Warren Players production of “Inherit the Wind” has been announced by Director Mark Davis.

This powerful courtroom drama will take the stage in the intimate Mead Family Library Room of the Struthers Library Theatre. Performances are March 12, 13 and 14 at 7 p.m. and March 15 at 2 p.m. In addition to being staged in a smaller venue, this production will be interactive, encouraging audience participation into each performance.

The cast will include Kaitlyn McCracken as Rachael Brown, Dale M. Petrush as Meeker/Hot Dog Man/Mr. Goodfellow, Kyle Corbin as Bertram Cates, Amanda Wolf as Mrs. Krebs, Mark Davis as Rev. Jeremiah Brown, James Hagberg as Bannister, Chalina Abreu as Melinda, Joey Kraemer as Howard, Katherine Bowley as Mrs. Loomis, Kate Bowley as Mrs. McLain, Nyssa Brumagin as Mrs. Blair, J.D. Shaw as Elijah/Scientist Page/ Eskimo Pie Man, Nick Norrod as E.K. Hornbeck, John Eggleston as Mayor, Dave Oberg as Matthew Harrison Brady, Angela Abreu as Mrs. Brady, Marty Meddock as Tom Davenport, John Shaughnesy as Henry Drummond, Gary Brumagin as Judge, Jeremy Siliano as Dunlap, John Wortman as Sillers, Samuel Smith as Radio Man/Reporter/Photographer/Scientist Keller, Nicholas Abreu as Hurdy Gurdy Man/Scientist Aaronson and Valentina Abreu as Monkey.

The production team includes: Mark Davis, director; Nyssa Brumagin, assistant director; Megan VanOrd, production manager; Dixie Brumagin, costumes; Steve Watson and Gary Brumagin, set design and construction; Colette Bonavita, Megan VanOrd and Kate Bowley, props.

Written by Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee, “Inherit the Wind” takes place in a small town, in a time not too long ago. The drama fictionalizes the 1925 Scopes “Monkey” Trial – in which a Tennessee school teacher was tried and convicted for including Darwin’s theories of evolution in his curriculum, contrary to state law.

Originally staged on Broadway in 1955, the play has since seen several revival productions and film adaptations. “Inherit the Wind” earned Lawrence and Lee numerous awards in the year after its production, including three Tony Awards for Best Actor in a Play, Best Featured Actor in a play and Best Scenic Design.

In a 1996 interview, Lawrence explained that the drama’s purpose was to criticize the then-current state of McCarthyism. It was also intended to defend intellectual freedom. Lawrence said, “We used the teaching of evolution as a parable, a metaphor for any kind of mind control. It’s not about science versus religion. It’s about the right to think.”

For more information on the upcoming production, please visit warrenplayers.com or Facebook.com/warrenplayers. For tickets, visit the Struthers Library Theatre office at 302 W. Third Ave., Warren, or call (814) 723-7231.