A Time to Kill, the first stage adaptation of a John Grisham novel, is scheduled to begin previews on Sept. 28 at New York City’s John Golden Theatre. The play is scheduled to officially open Oct. 20. (Grisham is at left.)

Tony winner Rupert Holmes—a mystery writer himself—has adapted Grisham’s novel for the stage. The play had its world premiere in May 2011 at the Arena Stage in Washington, D.C.

Ethan McSweeny, who directed the Arena Stage version, has been tapped to direct the Broadway play. The cast will be headed by Fred Dalton Thompson, John Douglas Thompson and Sebastian Arcelus, who also starred in the Arena Stage mounting. Fred Dalton Thompson, who played District Attorney Arthur Branch for five seasons on Law & Order, will be making his Broadway debut in A Time to Kill.

Information on the Broadway production will be updated on www.ATimeToKillOnBroadway.com.

A Time to Kill, Grisham’s first novel, took the courtroom drama to a new level as it explored racism and legal ethics.

Idealistic lawyer Jack Brigance agrees to defend Carl Lee Hailey, an African American, for murdering the white man who raped his daughter. The case divides the small Mississippi town and pits the young lawyer against the politically connected district attorney.

The prolific Holmes—a playwright, songwriter, and novelist—always brings his A game to any project. (Holmes is photo is at right.) He won an Edgar for best play twice—in 1991 for Accomplice and in 1986 for The Mystery of Edwin Drood.

Holmes earned the 2007 Drama Desk Award for the book of the Broadway musical Curtains, a tribute to murder mystery plots. Holmes’ mystery fiction includes the novel Swing. Mystery Scene's profile on Holmes ran in the Winter 2010 issue, No. 113. It's an excellent profile by Bill Hirschman, a writer I'd am quite fond of. (OK, he's my husband.)

A Time to Kill’s 1997 film version starred Samuel L. Jackson, Sandra Bullock, Matthew McConaughey and Kevin Spacey.

PHOTOS: John Grisham, top; Rupert Holmes, bottom.