James Whitmore will play Henry Drummond, the Clarence Darrow character, in the Ford's Theatre revival of Inherit the Wind, Sept. 26-Nov. 5, in Washington DC.

Tim Childs will stage the Jerome Lawrence-Robert E. Lee drama, inspired by the famous 1925 Scopes Monkey Trial, about a teacher who taught the theory of evolution in the South.

Whitmore is known for Will Rogers' USA, a one man show he retired earlier this year at Ford's Theatre, as well as Give 'Em Hell, Harry, a one-man Harry Truman portrait, which had its world premiere at Ford's.

Official opening of Inherit the Wind is Oct. 2. Additional casting will be announced in the coming weeks.

The non-profit producing organization that is Ford's Theatre will also stage A Christmas Carol Nov. 25-Dec. 31 and host a visit by political satirist Mark Russell, Jan. 16-21, 2001. Other attractions in the 2000-2001 season will be announced in the coming months. Tickets go on sale July 31. For information, call (703) 218-6500.

-- By Kenneth Jones