And while the film featuring Gregory Peck as Atticus Finch and the book by Harper Lee have always been two of my favorites, I had never seen the play and certainly never thought I would be part of its production.

Somehow I memorized my lines, learned how to "get into character," had some help with costumes and makeup and … well, participated in a play that continues to remind us that one person can make a difference in the battle against the "isms" of the world - in this case, racism.

Directed by Mike Beecham, the story is set in Maycomb, Alabama in 1935 and tells the tragic story of Tom Robinson (Gerald Kemp), a Black man falsely accused of raping a White woman. But it is also a coming-of-age tale of several precocious children, Scout (Laurie Ray), Jem (Logan Spencer) and Dill (Marcus Beard McCleary) who learn a valuable lesson in what it feels like to "walk in another person's shoes."

Beecham has directed for professional theaters and theme parks across the country and has provided his directorial skills in several other St. Mark productions including: Godspell, The Music Man, The Diary of Anne Frank, Big River and The Wizard of Oz. He is also known in the Atlanta community for directing a popular cabaret production, Seasons of Love - an annual fund raising venture for CHRIS Kids.

"I first read To Kill a Mockingbird when I was 11-years-old," he said. "The story gripped me then and has every time since, whether I was reading the book again, watching the movie, seeing it on stage, directing the stage production, or hearing it as the basis for a sermon.

It's a story of social injustice - the kind of situation St. Mark has stood against throughout its history. In this era we have come so far in our struggle for human rights; we have won many battles but the war is far from over."

I didn't care what role I played - I just wanted to make sure this story was presented. I love the line, "One thing does not abide by majority rule, a person's conscience. Before I can live with other folks, I've got to live with myself."

Atticus taught me about courage and standing up for what you believe in, even when it is not popular. And as for community theater, it is just as important as the air we breathe and the water we drink.

Sharon Smith, assistant director and a longtime member of St. Mark, echoed Vaughn's sentiments in terms of the importance of community theater.

"I have been involved in community theater since the early 1990s and believe it brings powerful ideas through an equally powerful medium," she said. "Theater can empower people, whether that is the audience, cast or crew.

People who might never see a professional production may be reached - some may become converts - even those who thought theater to be stuffy."

"Community theater brings the community together and provides an opportunity for persons with acting experience, would-be actors and for those who want to be creative and involved," said Phil Hulst [Walter Cunningham].

For this production, the audience ranged from the Indigo Girl's Amy Ray, whose niece played Scout, to an out-of-town visitor who was walking down Peachtree Street and upon seeing the sign for the play, extended his Atlanta visit one extra night to see the play.

I have been totally amazed, not at how powerful the production was, but at the number of audience members who have gone out of their way to verbalize that either in conversation or e-mails.

One insight is that we, as Americans, still have a long way to go in valuing our fellow human beings, no matter what their gender, race or sexual orientation."

The show is over and now the actors, cast and crew have returned to their day jobs, their educational pursuits or … their personal journeys of self-realization.