Wilson, the artistic director of Hartford Stage, is also the director of Foote's latest play Dividing the Estate, which concluded performances on Broadway Jan. 4. As recently reported, the critically acclaimed ensemble play will transfer to Hartford in May with much of its original cast intact.

The 7 PM conversation on Jan. 12 will celebrate the Hartford Stage production of Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird, which begins performances Feb. 19. Foote, who earned an Academy Award for the 1962 screenplay of the classic novel, will discuss his work on the film and collaborating with original author Lee.

A Pulitzer Prize winner for The Young Man from Atlanta, Foote also garnered Academy Awards for his screenplays of "To Kill a Mockingbird" and "Tender Mercies." His plays include The Carpetbagger's Children, The Trip to Bountiful, The Traveling Lady, The Chase, The Last of the Thorntons and Talking Pictures, among others.

Seating for the conversation with Foote and Wilson is free and open to the public. Seating is on a first come, first served basis. For more information visit www.hartfordstage.org.

* Again under the direction of Michael Wilson, Dividing the Estate will begin performances May 28 and run through July 5 in Hartford. The entire cast and creative team, except for Elizabeth Ashley (who joins the cast of Broadway's August: Osage County in February), will reunite for the Hartford engagement.

The Texas-set dramatic comedy, starred Ashley as the family matriarch, with Arthur French, Hallie Foote, Penny Fuller, Gerald McRaney, Devon Abner, Pat Bowie, James DeMarse, Virginia Kull, Maggie Lacey, Nicole Lowrance, Jenny Dare Paulin and Keiana Richard.

Tickets for the Hartford run of Dividing the Estate are currently available.