The Great Tennessee Monkey Trial: A Radio Play from L.A. Theatre Works

Starring Ed Asner and Jerry Hardin

"The Great Tennessee Monkey Trial permits the voices of history to speak with clarity, distinction and, as the closing narrative notes, chilling timeliness." - The Berkshire (MA) Eagle

"L.A. Theatre Works is a national theatrical treasure." - The Philadelphia Inquirer

Appalachian State University continues its celebration of the 200th anniversary of Charles Darwin's birth and a thought-provoking exploration into the history of the theory of evolution with LA Theatre Works' staged radio play, The Great Tennessee Monkey Trial, starring Ed Asner as William Jennings Bryan and Jerry Hardin as Judge John T. Raulston.

The Great Tennessee Monkey Trial is produced by Peter Goodchild, and is based on the original transcripts of the 1925 trial of John Scopes in Dayton, Tennessee, and recounts the nationally riveting court case that championed the right to teach evolution in public schools. The radio play features unlikely heroes Clarence Darrow, William Jennings Bryan, H.L. Mencken and John Scopes, who set the stage for an ongoing national debate over the separation of Church and State in a democratic society. Although this conflict of social and intellectual values played out in a rural Tennessee courthouse nearly 80 years ago, the issues at the core of this thought-provoking performance remain unresolved even today.

LA Theatre Works is a live in-performance radio theatre series in Los Angeles, featuring leading actors in ten state-of-the-art audio productions a year. Through its weekly broadcasts, LA Theatre Works makes theatre easily accessible to audiences nationwide, with their award-winning, critically-acclaimed radio theatre series, The Play's The Thing. The company's national touring program has expanded the company's mission to provide access to significant works of theatre by audiences nationwide, employing a slightly expanded, staged version of their radio plays that includes costumes and minimal sets. Featuring first-rate casts and live sound effects, these touring productions have delighted and challenged audiences in over 125 small towns and major cities across the nation, providing audiences with an intimate, spontaneous experience rarely felt in traditional theatrical settings.

Actor/activist Edward Asner is perhaps best known for his comedic and dramatic crossover as the gruff but soft-hearted journalist 'Lou Grant,' the role he originated on the landmark TV news room comedy "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" and continued in the newspaper-set drama "Lou Grant," which earned him five Emmys and three Golden Globe Awards. His more than 100 TV credits include starring in the series "Off the Rack," "The Bronx Zoo" and "Thunder Alley." Numerous guest appearances include roles in "Curb Your Enthusiasm," "ER," "Arliss," "The Practice" and a recurring role on "Studio 60 On The Sunset Strip." Besides commercials and numerous books on tape, he has lent his voice to popular cartoon shows such as "The Simpsons," "Spiderman" and "Boondocks." Asner's dozens of motion pictures include They Call Me Mister Tibbs!, Fort Apache the Bronx, JFK, and the European production of Giovanni XXIII—the highest rated television mini-series in the history of Italian TV—as well as the box office hit Elf with Will Farrell and James Caan. Asner has done several Hallmark movies and received an Emmy nomination for The Christmas Card. Most recently he completed filming for Gigantic, slated to be in theatres Spring 2009, with John Goodman and Jane Alexander; Generation Gap for the Hallmark channel and currently is lending his voice to next years Pixar animated film, Up. Mr. Asner has been the recipient of seven Emmy Awards and 16 nominations, as well as five Golden Globe Awards and served as National President of the Screen Actors Guild for two terms.

Jerry Hardin's film credits include The Firm with Sydney Pollack, Costa Gavras' Missing, Paul Mazursky's Tempest, Warren Beatty's Reds, Milagro Beanfield War with director Robert Redford, Blaze, Hot Spot, The Associate, Saving Private Ryan and many others. Episodic television and movies of the week have included guest appearances on most of the regular shows and a starring role in the series "Filthy Rich." Guest star roles in episodic television include "X-Files, "Star Trek," "Ally McBeal," "Golden Girls," "Murphy Brown," "Nip/Tuck," "JAG," and many others spanning some 30 years in the Hollywood market. His daughter Melora is currently starring in "The Office" and his wife, Diane, is a teacher of acting.

Late seating policy applies. Cast subject to change.