Deliberations to begin soon: Spring play is ‘12 Angry Jurors’
Guilty or not guilty? That is the question. Based on the 1957 film called “Twelve Angry Men”, Minneota's Spring Play will be called “Twelve Angry Jurors”. The play will be held at 7:30 p.m. on April 26 and 27, and a 2 p.m. matinee performance on April 28.
“I chose this play because I thought a serious drama would be a new and interesting challenge for the kids,” said Director Aubree Cheadle. “It's very different than any show they've done before.
“There is a lot of opportunity for character development and other acting techniques, so I thought this would be a good learning exercise for the kids.”
The two main characters in this show are Juror 8 played by Cecilia Rabaey, and Juror 3 played by Tara Thooft. “The premise of the show is that 12 jurors are deliberating following a trial of an 18-year-old boy accused of stabbing his father,” Cheadle explained.
“Initially, all the jurors except Juror 8 vote guilty.” “It is then up to Juror 8 to persuade her fellow jurors that there is, in fact, a reasonable doubt in the boy's case. All the other jurors oppose her for various reasons.
However, Juror 3 tends to be the main adversary in the show.” Jackson Jeremiason plays the foreman of the jury. Others performers are Katie Landrus, Juror 2; Jacob Haen, Juror 4; Liz Voit, Juror 5; Hannah Brewers, Juror 6; Ryan Vlaminck, Juror 7; Ben Engels, Juror 9; Emma Lipinski, Juror 10; Terese Speltz, Juror 11; Autumn Dovre, Juror 12; Samantha Landrus, a guard; and Joseph Verschelde, a clerk.
“This show is also an important play shedding light on issues such as justice, mercy, guilt, innocence, prejudice, and our criminal system,” Cheadle said. This is the third show that Cheadle has directed in Minneota, including last year's spring play “Anne of Green Gables”, as well as the fall musical “High School Musical”.
Auditions began in early February. The initial plan was to rehearse three nights a week, although the inclement weather and basketball playoffs limited rehearsals to one or two nights a week in February. Dress rehearsals will begin the week of the show dates. “Twelve Angry Men” was written by Reginald Rose and made into a 1957 movie starring Henry Fonda.
It became a remake in 1997 starring Jack Lemmon and George C. Scott. Both movies received high marks from critics.
In 2007, the film was selected by a preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.”
“I’m so excited for the public to get to see this show,” said Cheadle. “The kids have done a phenomenal job with it and I've really seen their growth as actors throughout the show.”
This is an intense and compelling story that gives viewers a look into what sometimes goes on during deliberations in a trial case.
“I hope this show will be impacting and will give viewers things to think about and maybe start discussions long after the show is done,” Cheadle concluded.