LOS ANGELES — Published in 1960 and set in the 1930s, “To Kill a Mockingbird” is an American classic that became a beloved film. Writer Aaron Sorkin (“The West Wing,” “The Newsroom,” “The Social Network”) feared adapting it to the stage was going to be “a suicide mission.” People have strong feelings about the story — for and against. The feelings are so strong that it’s still being banned from classrooms in some cities.

“The left thinks it’s a white savior story. And the right thinks that it makes racism look bad,” Sorkin said. “I think that those are both interesting things to talk about. And I think that they should be talked about in classrooms instead of school board meetings.”

In this North American tour, Richard Thomas takes on the role of idealistic lawyer Atticus Finch. He calls the play a “cocktail of empathy and outrage” that serves as both a call to action and a call for healing. 

“The big question at the end of the play is, do we keep fighting or do we give up or become cynical?” Thomas said. “I think this is a question that Americans are asking themselves every day right now.”

“To Kill a Mockingbird” is playing at the Hollywood Pantages Theatre though Nov. 27. The show returns to SoCal and will run at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa from Dec. 27 to Jan. 8.