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12 Angry Men
Assistant Director - Judith Krogsgard JUROR # 2 - CHARLES VAUGHT JUROR # 3 - KEN RICHARD JUROR # 4 - JOSH ELDER JUROR # 5 - ANDY VAUGHT JUROR # 6 - LOU GAVIN JUROR # 7 - RONNIE POGUE JUROR # 8 - LEE JEANSONNE JUROR # 9 - RUSSELL KROGSGARD JUROR # 10 - KENNETH FAHERTY JUROR # 11 - JIM BAILEY JUROR # 12 - KEN HUDGINS THE JUDGE - JEFF SOWERWINE BAILIFF - STEPHEN TOSTERUD 
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SYNOPSIS:
A 19-year-old boy has just stood trial for the fatal stabbing
of his father. "He doesn't stand a chance," mutters
the guard as the 12 jurors are taken into the bleak jury room.
It looks like an open-and-shut case--until one of the jurors
begins opening the others' eyes to the facts. "This is a
remarkable thing about democracy," says the foreign-born
juror, "that we are notified by mail to come down to this
place--and decide on the guilt or innocence of a man, of a man
we have not known before. We have nothing to gain or lose by
our verdict. We should not make it a personal thing." But
personal it does become, with each juror revealing his or her
own character as the various testimonies are re-examined, the
murder is re-enacted and a new murder threat is born before their
own eyes! Tempers get short, arguments grow heated, and the jurors
become twelve angry people. The jurors' final verdict and how
they reach it--in tense scenes that will electrify your audience
and keep them on the edge of their seats -- --add up to a fine,
mature piece of dramatic literature.|
Your Opinion: Playmakers Theater continues to revive itself by producing the successful courtroom drama "Twelve Angry Men". This brilliantly written examination of the opposing forces of logic and emotion in a hot, summer jury room displays a challenging spectrum of humanity. With one man's life hanging in the balance, 12 men struggle with the civic responsibility of determining the guilt or innocence of the accused. The play invites us into the deliberation room filled with fallible, prejudiced and unsure men capably portrayed by a strong ensemble cast. Lee Jeansonne and Ken Richard create the core of the conflict by playing the intelligent and flexible juror with reasonable doubt versus the belligerent and frequently explosive characterization of juror #3. Other players include Kenneth Faherty as a self-poisoned bigot and frank Levy as the jury foreman determined to maintain order. Charles Vaught shares the stage with his son Andy Vaught and Josh Elder, Lou Gavin, Ronnie Pogue, Russell Krosgard, Jim Bailey and Ken Hudgins fill the remaining spectrum of white, urban males on the jury. Stephen Tosterud is the bailiff and the director, Jeff Sowerwine, provides the voice of the judge. This was a well-written, well-executed and thought-provoking play. Submitted by John Carambat |