The 2024-2025 UMW Theatre season begins with Twelve Angry Jurors by Reginald Rose, adapted for the stage by Sherman L. Sergel. Performances will be September 19-21 & September 26-28 at 7:30 p.m., and September 22, 28, & September 29 at 2:00 p.m. in Klein Theatre, duPont Hall at the University of Mary Washington. Guests may also attend the Pay-What-You-Can Preview performance on September 18 at 7:30 p.m. The box office opens at 5:30 p.m. and tickets are available on a first-come, first-served basis. AfterWords, a post-show talkback with the cast, will take place after the matinee performance on September 22. Tickets are $30 for standard admission and $25 for students, senior citizens, and military. Groups of ten or more can receive a discount as well.
Set in the 1950’s, Twelve Angry Jurors focuses on a jury, tasked with deciding the fate of a young boy in a murder trial in which the boy is being accused of killing his father. The story takes place in the deliberation room, where the group must reach a unanimous vote of “guilty” or “not guilty.” In what seems like a cut-and-dry case to most, one juror is undecided, arguing there is reasonable doubt. With the young boy’s life in their hands, the twelve men and women must come to a fair verdict. Twelve Angry Jurors is a reflection on the American judicial system and society that portrays themes of discrimination, prejudice, stubbornness of beliefs, and justice.
Inspired by his experience as a juror in a New York City courtroom, Reginald Rose originally wrote Twelve Angry Men in 1954 as a one-hour teleplay for CBS Studio One. One year later, the show was adapted into a play and staged in San Francisco. The show was revived and made its Broadway debut on October 28, 2004, at the American Airlines Theatre, where it ran for 328 performances. The show has been adapted to include women, retitled Twelve Angry Women, Twelve Angry Men and Women, or Twelve Angry Jurors.
Twelve Angry Jurors is a multi-award-winning show that has won a Drama Desk Award, a Drama League Award, and three Tony Award nominations. Twelve Angry Jurors is directed by assistant professor Marc Williams. Scenic design is by associate professor Michael Benson and costume design is by associate professor Kevin McCluskey. Lighting and sound design are by Catherine Girardi and student sound designer Matthew Carrol, respectively. For further information, call the Klein Theatre Box Office at (540) 654-1111 or visit www.FredTix.com.