kind of the same thing for harper lee. she was still alive, i didn't get to interview -- >> did you try? >> did i try? yes. i was one of the many reporters who went to meadows only to be turned away by the armed guard who had con spinning ifously taken up his post there. i did get to know friends and family of hers, and that was meaningful and useful. but the coincidence of timing was some of those folks were alarmed by watchman and worried about her in that sense. after she died in 2016, kind of another wave of folks decided to talk to me because they felt the omerta of harper lee ended with her death. and they wanted to talk about their friend and to make sure there was a rich and complicated version of her in the world even if that meant revealing things that might have been embarrassing to her during her lifetime. >> fascinating. and there's a great malcolm quote that you have here about how between the process of reporting and writing is, i think what malcolm calls an abyss. so you're there, you're doing the reporting

laughs and you should probably read harper lee's 'to kill a mockingbird.' not going to tell you when, but someday." >> kroft: is this the highest profile role you've ever had? >> daniels: by far. well, excluding "dumb and dumber." ( laughs ) >> kroft: got to get that in. >> daniels: it's part of the-- it's part of the mosaic. >> kroft: to prepare for the role, daniels re-read the novel, the biographies of harper lee... >> daniels: tom, the very last thing i want in the world is to be your lawyer right now. negro man, white teenage girl, i wouldn't be going in with a winning hand. >> kroft: ...and histories about the jim crow south, all to make sure he knew as much or more about the subject than the critics. >> daniels: so, all these people who love this book, all these people who loved gregory peck, delete, delete, delete, delete, delete, delete. i'm originating the role, as far as i'm concerned. there is no movie. there's a book that we're basing it on, and part of our job is to say, "welcome. put the book down. put the movie away. we're going to do the sa

another special stage version of harper lee's novel just finished a limited run.d morning. >> good morning, anthony. harper lee set "to kill a mockingbird" in a slightly vicksalized version of her hometown of monroeville, alabama. it's a long way from broadway, hours away from the airport, but fans flock there each year to skpaerps her work in truly novel ways. to make it all the way to monroeville, alabama, you have to really want to be there. the county seat of monroe county home to 6,500 is not exactly on the map of the average tourist, but signs of its favorite daughter, harper lee, are everywhere. >> to bible to come in and just experience the rural community feel here and be able to walk the town square mean as lot. >> reporter: will ruzic is the executive director of development for the region. people come here for a live performance of "to kill a mockingbird." the play, based on lee's 1960 novel, is put on by people from the community. >> this is something we rely on. it's a tremendous tourist attraction, always has been for years. >> did you ever see your

soledad: harper lee's novel "to kill a mockingbird" is a timeless american classic since release in throwng more than 50 million copies ander hard-pressed to typhoon somebody who doesn't know atticus finch his daughter scout or tom robinson, a black handyman who is falsely accused of raping a white woman. it is taught in countless classrooms and provoked conversations about race and social justice. it won a pulse certify price and -- pulse sr. prize and is the highest grossing american play on broadway the been ben is tom -- gbenga akinnagbe is tom robinson. why say yes? i'm sure an agent called there's this play and it is a classic. what was it that appealed to you? >> i think the fact that this book speaks to so many ame americans. as an artist i try to do things that people can empathize with and help get people across to the other side as far as another person's point of view and of course the people involved, aaron sorkin, scott rudin. soledad: the bold face names of pulling off production. >> yes. soledad: now it is the highest grossing broadway play. no pressure. >> yeah. soledad: a

irfrom "to kill a mockin" and adaptation of harper lee's classic novel, to "tootsie," inspired by the2 movie, to "ain't too proud," the sheer diversity of broadway is a big box office draw. today we have something for everyone. we are having an historical increase in attendance on. broadw this season we saw almost 15 million theatergoers attbrd a dway show, as compared to 11 million just 10 years ago. tom: "the ferryman," a british import, won the best play tony award. it is an epic drama involving a former ira man in 1981 during the troubles. an ambitious three-hour play set in a farmhouse that includes a live goose and rabbit in its cast. other plays making impact included the almost one-woman show "what the constitution ans to me." it is her rumination on the u.s. constitution and the experiences of women in her family. >> when i wa15 years old, i uld travel around the country giving speeches about the constitution. tom: there is a sense that theth tergoers are being lured by plays relevant to the world today. >> all of the plays, many of the musicals, too, areery much in conversat

aaron sorkin adapted harper lee's novel aboutacial injustice in the american south. he has been spking to nick bryant. nick: a classic of american literature has become a box-office sensation of american theater. aaron sorkin's adaptation of "to kill a mockingbird," a story set in the american south of racial injustice, where a black man is accused of raping a young white woman. >> let's begin with justice! you know what happened on november 21, you know it! don't do this! nick: the central character, heroic lawyer atticus finch, is played by jeff daniels, who has received a tony award nomination for the role. though the play itself has been controversially overlooked for the top award, it is popular with audiences. aaron: the play at its heart is about decency, and that is a story we are thirsti for right now, all over the world, but especially in this country. nick: the play is set in the days of jim crow, this is -- the system of racial aphatheidwas not dismantled until the 1960's. but the theme ofivacialion resonates still today. aaron: why in the world show the

from to kill a mockingbird, an adaptation of harper lee's classic 1969 novel, to tootsie, inspired bylay set in a farmhouse that even includes a live goose and a live rabbit in its cast. other plays in made an impact include an impact include an almost one—woman show, what the constitution means to me starring heidi schreck. it's her rumination on the us constitution and the experiences of women in herfamily. when i was 15 years old i would travel the country giving speeches about the constitution at american legion halls for prize money. the sense that theatregoers are being lured by plays relevant today. these are all very much in conversation with what is going on in our country right now. and they are asking the important questions. but one key reason why broadway is booming is tourism. it's estimated that tourists constitute 63% of broadway audiences and the number of tourists coming to new york is breaking records. perhaps more than anything else, broadway is proving that wife entertainment still has currency. the more that we as people live on our phones and on tablets and scre