Credit Scopes Festival The trial at the Rhea County Courthouse drew national attention - and lured national names of the time to Dayton: William Jennings Bryan, Clarence Darrow and H.L. Mencken. Last year, the Scopes Festival - which in the past featured a play reenacting the trial in the same courtroom where the actual trial took place - was canceled due to the pandemic. This year’s festival - on Saturday in Dayton - will present a new play in that courtroom: “How It Started.”
Rick Dye has been involved with the Festival for some 26 years - and this will be his eighth year portraying Clarence Darrow.