Milwaukee Repertory Theater has been awarded a grant to host The Big Read in Milwaukee. The Big Read is an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) designed to restore reading to the center of American culture.

The NEA presents The Big Read in cooperation with Arts Midwest. Milwaukee Repertory Theater is one of 76 not-for-profits to be recommended for a grant to host a Big Read project between September 2011 and March 2012. The Big Read in Milwaukee will focus on Harper Lee's American classic "To Kill a Mockingbird."

Milwaukee Repertory Theater's production of "To Kill a Mockingbird" will run Jan. 31 through March 4, 2012 in The Rep's Quadracci Powerhouse. The play is adapted by Christopher Sergel from the novel by Harper Lee. Aaron Posner will return to The Rep to direct this production.

The selected organizations receive Big Read grant funding to promote and carry out community-based reading programs featuring activities such as read-a-thons, book discussions, lectures, movie screenings and performing arts events. Participating groups also receive high-quality, free-of-charge educational materials to supplement each title, including reader's, teacher's and audio guides.