Harper Lee's "To Kill a Mockingbird" has become one of those literary classics that bridges generational gaps.

Most everyone from grandparents to school-aged children have mulled over the work's pages, or at the very least heard of the title.

This week, audiences will get the opportunity to see the novel come to life at The Cumming Playhouse.

"We usually have Broadway-style performances, ones that include more singing and dancing - but from time to time we like to do something a little more thought provoking," said Linda Heard, playhouse executive director.

For the uninitiated, To Kill a Mockingbird is set in the 1930s. The tale follows the lives of the Finch family. Atticus Finch is a single-father to two children - Scout and Jem. He has been charged with defending Tom Robinson - a black man that has been accused of assaulting a white woman.

Along the way, Finch teaches his family and the community about the importance of trying to see things from other people's perspectives.

"There are a lot of wonderful principles and precepts that (audiences) can learn from this production," Heard said.

The two-act play will feature all of the familiar names from the book - Atticus, Scout, Jem, Dill and of course Boo Radley.

"The (cast) has been rehearsing off and on for about six months and they do a really fine job of bringing their characters to life. Each actor really becomes their character," Heard said.

The production is directed by Colleen Quigley Green and will be presented at The Cumming Playhouse today through Sunday.