Just about any compiled list of great American novels and movies will include “To Kill a Mockingbird” (the stage adaptation of which is now being staged by Ann Arbor Civic Theatre). And though most of us are introduced to Harper Lee’s story, in one form or another, when we’re young, it’s one of those rare tales that both stays with you and inspires repeat visits.

“The initial seed (for staging ‘Mockingbird’) was the 50th anniversary of the book,” said Deb Reichard, director of A2CT's production. “That first brought my attention to the project. But then I also started thinking about how one of the interesting things about ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ is that it tells a lot of different stories. It’s not just about race, justice, and integrity — though those are certainly big things.”

Indeed, Lee’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel told the story of a Southern town in the 1930s; a widower’s relationship with his children; the friendship of three children; a mystery involving a haunting, seldom-seen neighbor; a court case in which a black man is charged with the rape of a white woman; and a destitute, wildly dysfunctional white family that abuses the only power afforded them.

While Lee wholly endorsed and embraced the 1962 film version, starring Gregory Peck, she didn’t permit a stage adaptation of “Mockingbird” to be developed until Christopher Sergel’s version premiered in 1990 in Lee’s hometown, Monroeville, Alabama. (The play’s performed on the county courthouse grounds each May, with white male jury members selected from the crowd during intermission; and the courtroom scene is performed in the town’s courthouse, where the audience is racially segregated.)

“We had 76 people come out to audition for this show,” said Reichard. “I think the story just speaks to a lot of people. I would’ve loved to have interviewed them all to find out why so many came out.”

Because “Mockingbird” shifts between the world of children and the world of adults, Reichard has been working closely with a broad range of actors, in terms of age, for this show.

“The kids come at it a little differently,” said Reichard. “But these kids, all three of them, are committed to the process, and to learning how to become better actors. … It’s great for me to see the lights bulbs go on over their heads. It’s fun to do that with adults, too, but it’s really fun with kids.”

Of course, being a story about racial prejudice in the 1930s Deep South, “Mockingbird” has characters that freely use the “N” word; and hearing (and speaking) this highly-charged word often has been a shock to the cast’s system.

“The youngest cast member didn’t know what the word was — didn’t know what it meant,” said Reichard. “We’ve had a lot of courageous conversations with ourselves and with each other throughout the rehearsal process. And my hope is that with this show, people will leave having conversations about race and justice and integrity and parenting. … (‘Mockingbird’) has lessons in it that can never be taught enough.”

Jenn McKee is the entertainment digital journalist for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at jennmckee@annarbor.com or 734-623-2546, and follow her on Twitter @jennmckee.