Broadway previews begin today, Sept. 28, at the John Golden Theater for the courtroom drama, “A Time to Kill.” Veteran actor Tom Skerritt, who won an Emmy for his years on “Picket Fences” and whose credits range from “Ice Castles” to “Alien” to “Top Gun,” plays the mentor of show lead Sebastian Arcelus, who plays an idealistic lawyer defending a black man accused of murder in a small Mississippi town.

Arcelus’ Broadway credits include "Elf" and "Jersey Boys," and he also appears on the cable series "House of Cards." Judge Noose will be played by actor-politician Fred Dalton Thompson, best known for his five years as a judge on TV's "Law & Order."

An expert at writing twisty mystery-thrillers, such as “Accomplice” and the book for the Broadway musical “Curtains,” Rupert Holmes has adapted John Grisham’s novel, with Ethan McSweeny directing – as he did when “A Time to Kill” premiered in 2011 at Washington DC’s Arena Stage.

Perhaps the most surprising thing about the Broadway mounting is that in this age of two dozen producers listed above the title of nearly every show, "A Time to Kill" has just two main producers, Daryl Roth and Eva Price.

Three-time Tony nominee Tonya Pinkins also stars in the play, which opens for a limited run Oct. 20.

More info: www.atimetokillonbroadway.com

- by David Lefkowitz