GENESEO, N.Y. —Geneseo Community Players is proud to announce its upcoming February production of the classic courtroom drama, “12 Angry Jurors,” a gripping exploration of the complexities of the justice system and the power of individual conviction. Twelve jurors must reach a unanimous verdict in the trial of a young man accused of murder as they grapple with their own biases and personal experiences within the confines of a jury room. When one juror casts doubt on the seemingly open-and-shut case, the group re-examines the evidence, leading to heated debate and a deep dive into reasonable doubt. If this sounds like the classic film “12 Angry Men,” it is. The premise hasn't changed, but the gender of the jurors has. Written by Reginald Rose, Sherman L. Sergel adapted the film script to cast a bold new look on this classic and timely criticism of race and xenophobia.
Deftly directed by Artistic Director James Morrison, this production boasts a talented cast of actors from Livingston and Monroe County, including Ingrid Alvarez, Kurt Fletcher, Gina George, Joan Hamer, Stan Janczak, Seth Kramer, Dylan Miller, Frank Parsons, Gene Scherline, Randy Terho, Felicity Thomas, Erin Weingaertner and Casey Whittel. Producers for “Twelve Angry Jurors” are Chuck Nesbitt and Frank Parsons. Katie Kemp serves as the production stage manager.
Director Morrison was drawn to helm the production as a fan of the original 1950s movie and because “the inclusion of more than just one gender changes the underlying tension in the script.” Performers Joan Hamer of Livonia, Ingrid Alvarez of Caledonia, and Geneseo's Erin Weingaertner returned to audition for GCP because of the opportunity for women's roles and the specific shift to include women in telling this story. Felicity Thomas, who portrays the pivotal role of Juror Eight, made famous by Henry Fonda in the film, found the play “12 Angry Men” compelling since middle school. “Though it was written in the mid-1950s, much of the ignorance, classism and outright bigotry that appears in certain characters within this story reflects our contemporary American society with dizzying clarity. Offering a window through which we can view our justice system, this play shows us that, sometimes, the course of a person's life can lie completely in the hands of a stranger,” said Thomas. “The kindness and cruelty of a group of strangers are imprinted on the responsibility of judgment when a jury is formed. Justice and the justice system often take hold in my thoughts, so the opportunity to perform this piece has been an absolute challenge and pleasure.”
“This cast is one of the more talented groups I've had the pleasure of working with. They were as eager as me to get to work, with some cast members being fully off script weeks before that due date, freeing them up to dive deeper into the characters they're presenting. I cannot wait to show our audiences the fruits of these actors' labors, as they leave me speechless nearly nightly as we rehearse,” said director James Morrison. Casey Whittel, who portrays Juror Three, concurs with Morrison's view of his collective castmates, sharing that the talented cast is putting their “full heart” into the production. Whittel, an Elementary school principal from Livonia, shared that it is also great to see a former student step into the director role, having previously taught and directed James as a student in Livonia.
“12 Angry Jurors” examines a jury's deliberations that must result in a unanimous decision in a murder case. The cast of Geneseo Community Players' production invites audiences to attend this new look at a classic play that stands the test of time. Performances are on Friday, Feb. 21, at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, Feb. 22, at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. at Geneseo Central School, 4050 Avon Road in Geneseo. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for senior citizens and students. They can be purchased online at geneseocommunityplayers.org/tickets and at the theatre box office during performances. Geneseo Community Players would like to thank the Genesee Valley Council on the Arts for funding provided through the Aids to Localities Program.
Event Contact Email: geneseocommunityplayers@gmail.com