The world premiere of a new play will be performed this weekend at The Blue Heron — but don’t be surprised if the show reminds you of a few stories you already know.

The play’s title, “Atticus,” refers to its main character, a dutiful father who must go on a painful journey to discover what has become of his wayward son.

The name, of course, is a nod to one of the most iconic personas in American literature and film — Atticus Finch, the heroic father in Harper Lee’s “To Kill A Mockingbird.” And the play’s plot, framed by the emotional intricacies of a troubled relationship between a man and his son, is also undeniably reminiscent of the Biblical parable of the prodigal son.

So it makes complete sense that “Atticus” — a play populated by characters who must tackle thorny spiritual and ethical dilemmas — was adapted by Marc Powell, pastor of St. John Vianney Church on Vashon, from a novel written by Ron Hansen, a best-selling author who is also known as one of the country’s foremost Catholic writers.

“I fell in love with the novel because, unlike most modern fiction, it exalts selflessly giving of ourselves for the benefit of another,” Powell wrote in an email about the play, adding that Hansen’s book also alludes to “great works of world literature like Melville’s ‘Moby Dick,’ Joseph Conrad’s ‘Heart of Darkness,’ the great work that is the Bible and an homage to old-school crime-noir a la ‘Murder She Wrote’ and ‘Columbo’ —  and he makes it all work.”

“Atticus,” penned in 1996 by Hansen, was a finalist for both the National Book Award and the PEN/Faulkner Awards and won rave reviews from critics at the time of its publication.

“(It is) at once a moving character study, a murder mystery, a portrait of expatriate life south of the border and, ultimately, an examination of the mysteries of the human heart,” a review in Publishers Weekly said.

An ensemble of local thespians and theater artists will bring Powell’s version of “Atticus” to life on the stage.

The show is directed by Charlotte Tiencken, an accomplished theater professional who currently works as managing director of Seattle’s Book-It Repertory Theatre, and the show’s set was created by Gordon Millar, Paul Wilkin and Jenna Riggs. Well-known Island singer/songwriter Kat Eggleston has contributed music for the show.

The cast features Peter Kreitner and Steve Tosterud in the roles of father and son. Lisa Breen, Antonia Greene, Robert Harkins and Fernando Luna are also in the show.

The play’s opening night will also feature a special treat for Islanders — author Ron Hansen will be in attendance and will lead a discussion after the play.

Hansen, reached by phone at his home in Cupertino, Calif., said he was excited to see what Powell and the Vashon cast had made of his book.

“I haven’t read the script,” he said. “I kind of purposefully didn’t do that, because I recognized I didn’t want to interfere and give him notes. So this will be a fresh experience for me, too.”

This is the second adaptation of “Atticus” — an earlier adaptation, called “Missing Pieces,” aired as a TV movie starring James Coburn, and is still available as a video from Hallmark Hall of Fame.

“Marc’s adaptation is much more faithful, I’m sure,” said Hansen, noting that in the movie version, “there wasn’t a line of dialogue taken from my book for the movie.”

Hanson, who was recently ordained as a deacon of the Catholic Church, said he was “flattered and honored” that Powell, a priest who also happens to be a playwright, had chosen to adapt his book.

“I’m just marveling that he has the time to do it, because most priests I know are incredibly busy,” he said. “It will be interesting to see what it sparked in him and what he decided to adapt.”

Hansen said that he hopes that the play’s audiences will come away with the same message he wanted to convey in his book.

“It shows just how much a father loves his son, a deep love that is just a pale reflection of what God has for us,” he said. “That’s what I was hoping for in the story, and I’m sure that is what Marc is hoping for in the play.”

“Atticus” will open at 7:30 p.m. Saturday and also be performed at 2 and 7:30 p.m. Sunday at Blue Heron Art Center. Ron Hansen will attend on opening night. Tickets, $12/$15, are on sale at Blue Heron, Heron’s Nest, Island book stores and www.brownpapertickets.com. Due to intense subject matter, parental guidance is suggested for children younger than 13.