By By Lydia Grimes
The Greater Escambia Council of the Arts (GECA) is preparing for its next production, “Twelve Angry Jurors,” which will be performed in February of next year. Auditions will be held Sunday, Dec. 13, in the new Greater Escambia Center for the Arts Building (formerly the Bateson Building) on the corner of Trammell and Nashville in Atmore.
The play is based on the tele-play, “Twelve Angry Men” written in 1954 by Reginald Rose. It was later adapted into a play by Rose for CBS Studio One. In 1957, the play was turned into a film directed by Sidney Lumet, and again in 1997 for a film directed by William Friedkin.
The production to be portrayed by the local theater group, has been adapted by Sherman Sergel, from the previous all-male cast to include women and the title has changed to “Twelve Angry Jurors.”
It centers around a 19-year-old man who has just stood trial for the fatal stabbing of his father. It seems as if the verdict will be decided in a matter of moments, but one lone juror holds out. As the deliberation continues, the trial becomes very personal to each member of the jury. The climax of the play comes when the final verdict is reached, keeping the audience on the edge of their seats.
This performance will be directed by Jerry Janes, who is the president of GECA. It is a drama that requires a combination of 15 males and females (Jurors three and eight must be male.)
Janes said it also includes two more cast members who are never seen, but their voices are heard.