John Grisham’s racially-singed 1989 debut novel, A Time To Kill, which was later made into a movie in 1996, is headed to the theatre stage.

D.C.-based Arena Stage has rounded out its 2010-2011 schedule with the world premiere of A Time to Kill, that has been adapted for the stage by Rupert Holmes. A premiere is set for May 6, 2011, and will run through June 19, before a planned Broadway move.

Surprisingly, it’s the first Grisham book adapted for the stage.

Recall that the 1996 movie starred Samuel L Jackson as a black father whose daughter is raped and killed by 2 white men, in Mississippi, and who seeks revenge by shooting and killing both men, prompting his arrest and trial for murder. He’s represented by 2 white lawyers (one’s a law student with the ACLU), played by Matthew McConaughey and Sandra Bullock. You know the rest… if not, look it up; or just watch the movie if you haven’t.

I actually haven’t seen it since I saw it in the theatre when it was released in 1996. I remember liking it at the time. Maybe I’ll give it another look, and see how I respond to it 14 years later. Something tells me I won’t be as kind, but who knows

Here’s its trailer as a reminder: