A Time to Kill: Grisham's 1st novel coming to Broadway

The Washington based Arena Stage (temporarily based at Arlington, VA) have announced that they will present the pre-Broadway world premiere of John Grisham's first novel A Time to Kill as part of their 2010/11 season, playing at their new permanent home, The Mead Center for American Theater, from 6 May - 19 Jun 2010.

There has been no announcement as to when the play will arrive on Broadway.

Grisham's 1989 novel has been adapted for the stage by Tony Award-winner Rupert Holmes (Drood) and presented by special arrangement with New York producer Daryl Roth.

The Arena's sysnopsis for A Time to Kill says, "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 two young, idealistic lawyers who are outmatched by a formidable district attorney and under attack from both sides of a racially divided city. A Time to Kill asks audiences to consider the true meaning of justice."

Grisham is a popular author of legal thrillers: 'TheTestament,' 'The Lawyer,' 'Pelican Brief' etc, and his books have sold over 250 million copies worldwide. His novels are regularly adapted into screen plays - but 'A Time to Kill' will be the first stage-adaptation of one of the acclaimed author's works. The 1996 film adaptation of 'A Time to Kill,' adapted by Akiva Goldsman and directed by Joel Schumacher, starred Sandra Bullock, Matthew McConaughey, Samuel L. Jackson, Kevin Spacey, Ashley Judd and Kiefer Sutherland. The film was a commercial success and raised $110 million at the box office.

Rupert Holmes won Tony Award's for his musical 'The Mystery of Edwin Drood' (score, lyrics and book), and 'Curtains' (Book).