Twelve Angry Jurors Written by Sherman L. Sergel from the teleplay by Reginald Rose Synopsis and Setting
This three-act play begins with a jury deliberating an open-and-shut case of murder and soon becomes a detective story, revealing a succession of clues hinting that the truth may not be as obvious as it first seems. In searching for the truth, each of the jurors is forced to confront their prejudices and preconceptions about the trial, the accused, and each other.
The action takes place in a Jury Room in a New York City Courthouse, mid-1950’s There will be one 15-minute intermission
Cast of Characters
Foreman...... Karen Hochman Brown Two...... Earl Turner Three...... John Carlton Four...... Lori McKenna Five...... Norm Gold Six...... Joanne Karr Seven...... Jacob Bash Eight...... Mary Gatter Nine...... Phyllis Shissell Ten...... Joe Rooks Eleven...... Michael DiRosa Twelve...... Neil Brown Judge...... Frank Jones Guard...... Lew Snow Clerk...... Joey AngelField
Production Staff
Producer...... Cantor Judy Sofer Director...... Linda Jones Assistant Director...... Susan Cohen-Rooks Assistant Director...... Lew Snow Set Design & Construction, Stage Manager...... Frank Jones Lights/Sound...... Sam McRoberts Graphic Design...... Karen Hochman Brown Publicity...... Lori McKenna Stage Crew...... Joey AngelField Director's Notes
The play concerns the deliberations of the jury in a homicide trial. At the beginning, they are nearly unanimous in believing the defendant, a young boy, is guilty of killing his father. There is a single dissenter, who throughout the play sows a seed of reasonable doubt. First written by Reginald Rose as a teleplay titled Twelve Angry Men, it was presented live on the Studio One anthology television series on September 20, 1954. The drama was rewritten for the stage in 1955 under the same title. In 1957, it was made into a movie starring Henry Fonda. Rose and Sergel wrote several later stage adaptations of the story, including the version we are presenting here. In 2000, the movie Twelve Angry Men was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.” It was selected as the second best courtroom drama ever by the American Film Institute. Twelve Angry Jurors is as relevant today as it was when it was first presented on television 62 years ago. Our American justice system mandates that a person is innocent until proven guilty, and the burden is on the government to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. The jury, consisting of twelve ordinary citizens, decides whether the government has sustained that burden. One room, twelve jurors, twelve different life-styles, twelve different personalities, charged in this case with deciding whether a young man must face the death penalty or be set free. The personalities involved in Twelve Angry Jurors include a cross-section of the American population in the mid-1950s. Although the play was originally written for an all-male cast, the JFed Players has chosen to present a later version with a blend of male and female characters. DOUBT is the main theme weaving throughout the play. Each and every juror wrestles with the concept of ‘REASONABLE DOUBT.’ Doubt generates questioning. It is the tool used to chip away assumptions, unconscious prejudice, and conscious bias, winnowing out that which is false or unproven, leaving that which is true and certain. The play is a study in consensus building. Twelve very different personalities come together. They doubt, they discuss, they examine and reexamine the evidence. They reach conclusions through the prisms of their different backgrounds. Some reach those conclusions with great emotion; some with hard logic and analysis, some relying on a belief that others know better; some from great strength and compassion; some from insecurities; some from quiet observation and reflection. This is the stuff of life. The JFed Players are proud to bring this dramatic production of Twelve Angry Jurors to you, our audience. I am very proud to have the honor to direct this dedicated group. I wish to thank each and every one involved in helping to bring this production to the stage. The JFed Players and supporters are hopeful that this will open up many conversations regarding, justice, bigotry, prejudice, consensus building, the importance of DOUBT and respect for the opinions of others.
—Linda Jones, Director Who's Who Karen Hochman Brown Lori McKenna (Foreman) (Four) Ms. Hochman Brown is a Lori always enjoys performing charter member of the JFed with this fun and talented Players, having appeared in group of actors - fellow seven of its productions, most thespians and good friends. recently as Sister Miller in Twelve Angry Jurors marks Damn Yankees. Other appearances with the her eighth appearance in a JFed Players' JFed Players include: Play On! (Polly/‘Lady production. Her on stage credits include: Margaret’). Woody Allen’s Don’t Drink the Water Queen Aggravain in Once Upon a Mattress, (Marion Hollander), You Can’t Take It With You, Cassie Cooper in Rumors, Lydia in In the Mame (Vera Charles), In e Beginning (Mavis) Beginning, and Violet/‘Diana Lassiter’ in Play and e Pajama Game (Mae). She enjoys the On! Lori is especially honored to be a part of friends she has made through theater and this production: the rst drama the JFed Players doubly cherishes the time she gets to spend with has tackled, the theme of which is as relevant her husband and fellow thespian, Neil. When today as when it was rst written. not on stage, she is a visual artist working with kaleidoscopic photographic imagery. Norm Gold (Five) Earl Turner I am very excited to be a part (Two) of the JFed Players' rst drama! Earl graduated from Newtown Previous JFed performances High School in Queens, include In the Beginning New York City (as did Zoe (Zeke), Don’t Drink e Water Saldana and Gene Simmons) (Krojak), Damn Yankees (Rocky) and Once and is presently working on a Upon a Mattress (Dauntless). I have performed screenplay based on his alma mater. “Hurricane” with other Community eatre groups, Earl has performed Stand-up Comedy in shows appearing in Our Town (Editor Webb), Annie hosted by Rick Dees and Tim Conway Jr., and (Roosevelt), Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor has appeared as Lenny Ganz (Rumors). e Dreamcoat (Potiphar), e Wizard of Oz Sultan of Bashir (Don’t Drink e Water) and (Wizard), Fiddler on the Roof (Nachum), and A Saul/‘Dr. Rex Forbes’ (Play On!) with the JFed Christmas Carol (Ghost of Christmas Present). Players. He loves teaching SAT Prep and English I also do voiceover work and live announcing Language Development in Arcadia. for Western University of Health Sciences. I am extremely grateful to Linda and Lew and the John Carlton rest of my fellow actors and crew for everything ( ree) they continue to teach me and for their ongoing John is a veteran of many JFed support. And thank you, as always, Sharon for Players productions, experiences your encouragement and patience! which have immeasurably enriched his life. He is grateful Joanne Karr for the opportunity to participate (Six) now in our rst drama, and to share this challenge Joanne Karr is a recently retired with such a wonderful group of talented artists and long time high school theatre friends. director. She spent twenty years teaching at various schools in Los Angeles and then een years at Walnut High School. Joanne is a two- time Fulbright Exchange teacher to the UK and a member of the Director’s Guild of America. She has won various education awards and fellowships throughout her career, and is now serving on Who's Who boards for several non-pro t groups as well as family, and she feels privileged to be part of this consulting for the California Alliance for Arts special group. Education and Center eatre Group Education Division. Her work with JFed Players includes Joe Rooks directing Play On! and providing technical (Ten) assistance for several other shows. She is a member Joe's returned to the JFED of the JFed Players Steering Committee. Players a couple of years and a few plays a er portraying Jacob Bash Henry in Damn Yankees. (Seven) I'm honored and humbled is is Jacob's rst show with to be in JFed's rst drama production. We're the JFed players and he is very all discovering new boundaries here. We excited to be a part of this are changing as the world becomes more amazing production. He is challenging. e timing couldn't be more thankful for being welcomed appropriate. with open arms and lots of laughs. His previous credits include Hannibal in e Curious Savage Michael DiRosa and Trufaldino in Servant Of Two Masters at (Eleven) Glendora High School. He is looking forward to Once again taking on another a great show and being involved in many more role with the JFed Players as productions. Juror Eleven, a very dierent type role, he really knows the Mary Gatter challenges this will bring. Last (Eight) seen in Once Upon A Mattress as King Sextimus, Mary has appeared with the Lord Dudley in Play On, Mr. Applegate in JFed Players in e Music Man, Damn Yankees, the Chef in Don't Drink e Pajama Game, Mame, In the Water, Ernie Cusack in Rumors and Kolenkov in Beginning and Dame Yankees. You Can't Take It With You, it is an honor to be She has appeared with other part of this new venture into drama. A er many community theatre groups in Boston and minor roles in movies and a part in Days Of Connecticut and enjoyed being the Assistant Our Lives, the stage is what he prefers. Nothing Director on several JFed productions. O stage like it, especially two favorite past roles, George she is a semi-retired Gynecologist. She would in Of Mice And Men and McMurphy in One like to thank Linda Jones and the rest of our Flew Over e Cuckoos Nest. He says his years wonderful cast for the opportunity to have such of stage work have been his passion and thanks fun playing Juror Eight. to JFed Players for allowing him to sharpen his cra and make new friends like family. Phyllis Schissell (Nine) Neil Brown Phyllis has been a member of (Twelve) the JFed Players since its initial Neil is a veteran of all the JFed production of Working, and is Players theatre productions, happy to be in the cast of Once having played Bellomy in e Upon a Mattress, as it gives her Fantastiks, the Fireman in another opportunity to sing and dance as well Working, Mr. Paul Sycamore in as act. She has appeared in Play On!, Damn You Can’t Take it With You, Sid Sorokin in e Yankees, In the Beginning, Don’t Drink the Water, Pajama Game, M. Lindsay Woolsey in Mame, Pajama Game, Rumors, Mame, Once Upon a Ben in In the Beginning, Kilroy in Don’t Drink the Mattress and was Stage Manager for You Can’t Water, Van Buren in Damn Yankees, Billy/‘Stephen Take it With You. It’s been a wonderful ride with Sellers’ in Play On!, and e Mistral in Once an amazing group of talented people who love Upon a Mattress. He also co-directed Neil Simon’s what they do and support one another like a Rumors with this talented company. Who's Who Lew Snow Linda Jones (Guard) Director Assistant Director Linda Jones has been directing A veteran of seven JFed Players for 40 years. Some of her show productions, Twelve Angry prior to joining the JFED Jurors is Lew's rst directorial Players include: On Golden eort. He was typecast as Sir Pond; Romantic Comedy; Studley in Once Upon a Mattress, worked lights Cuckoo’s Nest; Noises O ; Wait Until Dark; and understudied in Play On!, was Sohovik in 15 years of Children’s plays include: Alice in Damn Yankees, Rat Vendor and ensemble in In Wonderland; Wizard of Oz; Winnie the Pooh; the Beginning, Max the salesman in e Pajama and Charlotte’s Web. Linda joined the JFED Game, and ensemble (plus stage design/props) Players 5 years ago. She co directed; Working in e Music Man. Recently unretired, Lew is and Rumors; She Directed; You Can’t Take It a substitute teacher in the Alhambra Uni ed With You; and Don’t Drink the Water. She School District. He is also the drama volunteer assisted on In the Beginning, Play On, and at Alhambra High School, this year assisting costumes for Once Upon a Mattress. with the Fall production of Blithe Spirit and Susan Cohen Rooks the Spring production of Kiss Me Kate. Lew is grateful to his daughter, Rachel, for rekindling Assistant Director his acting spirit. In the last several years I have had the honor and pleasure Frank Jones of working with a group of (Judge) terri c, talented people, the Set Design & Carpenter Jewish Federation’s JFed Players. Stage Manager I played the Mill Worker in Working, the easily Frank Jones has worked as a rattled Mrs. Kirby in You Can’t Take It With You, Master carpenter and set painter and Vera, the irascible drunk, in Mame. I was part at Claremont’s Candlelight of the ensemble for In the Beginning and Damn Pavilion for the last eleven years. His most recent Yankees and had great fun playing a Russian spy sets include In the Heights, Guys and Dolls and in Don’t Drink the Water. In one of the last JFed Candlelight’s’ 30 celebration. Among his acting productions, Play On! I had the role of Louise and credits are; the Rabbi in Fiddler on the Roof; Joe in most recently played the wacky Wizard in Once G-d’s Favorite; Martin Jones in Right Bed Wrong Upon A Mattress. For our current production I Husband; the Sergeant in A Soldier’s Story; Mark am an Assistant Director, enjoying watching my Twain, in Big River; Towns person , Seven Brides friends and my husband embody the amazing for Seven Brothers; Joe in Working in Rancho characters in Twelve Angry Jurors. Cucamonga. Frank designed and was the master carpenter for JFed Players’ Working; e Pajama Sam McRoberts Game; You Can’t Take It With You, Mame, Rumors, Sound and Lighting In the Beginning, Don’t Drink the Water and Once My interest in experimenting Upon A Mattress. Frank worked with Walnut in making and recording High School theatre students, teaching them Set sound led to working on school Construction and built the set for their production plays, dance performances and of Curtains and Oliver. Frank also taught the concerts. Clarke Center students Set Construction. He College brought me some live sound mixing designed and built Clark Centers e Rope, e and roadie work for rock and bluegrass bands Meiser and their upcoming production Go Ask including e Toasters, e Cache Valley Alice. Frank is honored to be included in the Dri ers and coee house performances by Jewish Federation’s Cultural Arts program. Weird Al Yankovich. I enjoyed a career as an Engineer developing sound and vibration systems for aircra applications. My nerdly skills with computers and electronics led me to Who's Who do special lighting eects for Sweet Charity at in 1985, Sofer completed her Master’s Degree the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion and developing in Directing at California State University, stage motion controls for Center eater Group. Fullerton, and received the Award for Excellence Recently, I had a lot of fun assisting San Rafael in Children’s eater for her play, A Journey Elementary in Pasadena with sound and to Noteland, which was performed in seventy lighting for their performances of Seussical, elementary schools. In 1994 she graduated Peter Pan, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, from the Los Angeles Hebrew Union College and Alice in Wonderland. Cantorial Program receiving her Cantorial Commission in 1999. She has also performed in Cantor Judy Sofer many locations around Southern California as Producer Soloist and Director/Musical Director. And, she Cantor Judy Sofer currently has conducted both the Adult and Teen Choirs, serves as the Cantor and and produced and directed various concerts and Educator at Temple Beth shows in the San Gabriel, Orange, and Greater Shalom of Long Beach as well Los Angeles areas. Sofer has served as either as coordinating the Cultural Director or Producer in all of the JFed Players Arts Program of the Greater San Gabriel and productions. Pomona Valleys Jewish Federation. She began her Music and eatre studies at the University Jason Moss of California, Irvine. A er making aliyah in Executive Producer 1974, Sofer completed her degree—along with Jason has dedicated his life a teaching credential—at Hebrew University to working within the Jewish in Jerusalem. While in Israel, she performed at community helping people the Cameri eater in Tel Aviv and appeared in strengthen their connection a number of programs for Israeli educational to their Jewish identity. He is television. Sofer also toured the country with excited that this show, as well as her own children’s theater and taught music and other cultural arts programs, is one more way to piano. Upon returning to Southern California let people connect with the Jewish community.
Cast and Directors Seated: Linda Jones, Karen Hochman Brown, John Carlton, Lori McKenna, Joanne Karr, Phyllis Shissell. Standing: Lew Snow, Neil Brown, Michael DiRosa, Mary Gatter, Jacob Bash, Joe Rooks, Susan Cohen Rooks. Missing: Earl Turner, Norm Gold, Frank Jones, Joey AngelField A note from the Producer
As part of the Cultural Arts Program of the Jewish Federation of the San Gabriel and Pomona Valleys, the JFed Players’ mission is to stage productions that increase awareness of Jewish contributions to American theatrical and musical culture. We present works by Jewish authors and composers or that reect Jewish themes. Until now, our productions have alternated between comedies and musicals. Twelve Angry Jurors is our rst dramatic production. Its themes are as relevant now as they were when the production was rst performed in 1954. Prejudice, bias and intolerance are all traits intrinsic to human nature since the dawn of mankind. e environment in which each of us grows up also has a strong inuence on who we are and how we think about other people, whether based upon fact or not. e struggle to build a more open, honest and tolerant society, one in which dierences can be resolved without violence, never ends. What we see in Twelve Angry Jurors is a microcosm of American society during the 1950s. In this case, we are told that the accused boy is one of “them,” although we are never told exactly who “they” are. But there is always a “them,” someone who is dierent from us and whom we don’t really know or understand. As they deliberate the fate of the accused, it is clear that each juror, irrespective of educational level or socioeconomic class, has an opinion of the guilt or innocence of the boy, based upon his or her view of “them.” is drama is really about us and how we deal with situations in which our preconceptions and identity may be challenged. Do we actually look rationally at those situations? Do we really want to solve the issues? Are we willing to spend the time looking at the facts to come to the truth of what may or may not have happened? Are we willing to acknowledge and subsequently disregard our own personal bias in order to nd the truth? What would you do? —Cantor Judy Sofer
Special anks To...
...Temple Beth David for allowing us to use their social hall for rehearsals.
...Cal Poly Pomona eatre Department for their loan of the twelve chairs.
... Candlelight Pavilion for their continued support. Jewish Federation of the Greater San Gabriel and Pomona Valleys' Cultural Arts Program
2016/17 Calendar
October 2016 • Starting October 23 – Jewish Youth Orchestra Rehearsals We meet on Sundays at the Federation office in Monrovia: 2:30-3:30 PM, small ensemble; 3:30-5:00 PM, orchestra
• Resuming October 19 – 7:00 PM—Kol HaEmek rehearsals The Kol HaEmek Jewish Community Chorale meets Wednesday nights at the Federation office. New members welcome!
December 2016 • December 17 – 7:00 PM—Festival of Jewish Music, Pasadena Jewish Temple & Center. Featuring Mostly Kosher and Bill Burnett & Jubilation Musical Society, with performances by Kol HaEmek and the Jewish Youth Orchestra.
• December 18, 19, 20 and 22 – 7:00 PM Auditions for our Spring Musical Curtains. Be part of the JFed Players’ next musical! All auditions will be held at the Jewish Federation Office.
February 2017 • February 25 – 6:30 PM—An Evening with Jewish Story Teller Scott Davies Dinner with a professional Jewish Story teller at Temple Beth David.
March 2017 • The JFed production of Curtains – March 18, 19, 23, 25, and 26. Performances at The Clarke Center.
June 2017 • June 4 - Shir Delights 8 Concert The Kol HaEmek Jewish Community Chorale and the Jewish Youth Orchestra present their annual concert. Time and location to be announced.
— • — You are invited to attend, participate, audition and volunteer to help out at our events. Contact the Federation office for more information. 626.445.0810 • [email protected] Raise your voice in song e Kol HaEmek (Voice of the Valley) Jewish Community Chorale operates independently under the auspices of the Jewish Federation of the Greater San Gabriel and Pomona Valleys and celebrates Jewish music of all types and styles: liturgical and secular, traditional and contemporary. We are comprised of singers from all across our community, including unaliated and synagogue aliated. We are the only Jewish community choir in Southern California. Each year we present at least two concerts. In addition, we regularly sing at Shabbat services throughout our community, at Cantors’ concerts and other performances of Jewish music throughout the SGPV and SoCal.
Unique Experience for Young Musicians e Jewish Youth Orchestra is a community-based ensemble of musicians ages 8-15 dedicated to the study and performance of Jewish music, liturgical and secular, as well as music inuenced and connected to Jewish culture. e orchestra is under the leadership of Los Angeles area musicians and music educators Janice Mautner Markham and Leeav Sofer. Our mission is to oer a unique experience to young musicians, including classical music training along with a Jewish cultural education which draws from numerous time periods and locations throughout the world.
Explore the timeless core values of Judaism PJ Library sends Jewish children's books and music very month to families with children ages 6 months through 8 years. Each book, geared towards a speci c age, helps you create your own family's connection to Jewish traditions, holidays, and values. PJ Library reaches more than 375,000 children and their families around the world and is growing every month. Connect with families just like yours PJ Library isn't just about the books. We support hundreds of local programs, most of which are free of cost. Whether you are looking to meet people, want to learn something new, or just need to get out of the house, there are PJ Library events for your family happening in nearly every community across the United States and Canada. Go to http://www.jewishsgpv.org/pj-library/ to nd out more and to sign up! Take the challenge to support the Cultural Arts Program and the JFed Players
We have recently received a challenge grant from two of our generous donors in support of the Jewish Federation’s Cultural Arts Program, of which the JFed Players is a part. Our donors have thrown down the gauntlet by donating a total of $100,000 over three years, challenging others to donate as well.
WE NEED YOUR HELP!
Your generous donation will: ➢ Sustain the JFed Players and other important programs that further Jewish cultural connection and awareness ➢ Support our youth in their musical endeavors and discovery of Jewish music ➢ Continue our mission to weave a tapestry of Jewish culture, in its many forms, throughout the greater San Gabriel and Pomona Valleys. ➢ Provide a place for those who have a passion for Jewish music and theater to come together.
Accept the Challenge and Donate Now! Please help us sustain our popular and important Cultural Arts activities. Many ways to donate: • Call the Federation o ce — 626.445.0810 • Send a check to: Jewish Federation c/o Cultural Arts Challenge 114A W. Lime Avenue, Monrovia, CA 91016 • Donate online at www.jewishsgpv.org/donate. Cultural Arts Sponsors Please consider becoming a sponsor of the Cultural Arts Program of the Jewish Federation of the Greater San Gabriel and Pomona Valleys. Your tax-deductible gi enables us to provide our local Jewish population with community-building activities though creative endeavors such as the JFed Players and the Jewish Youth Orchestra as well as cooking classes, visual art exhibits and more. Sponsorship also includes perks such as complementary tickets to some of our activities and events. Contact the Jewish Federation o ce to become a sponsor. We cherish your support! Pillar of the Arts Supporter of the Arts Fan Francine Katz John & Nancy Carlton Mitch & Leslie Aiken Jerry & Terri Kohl Mark & Sandra Esensten Adrienne Bass Mary Gatter Hava Ben-Zvi Crusader of the Arts Arthur & Rosalind Lane Michael & Mary Ann Bernath Neil H. & Karen Hochman Brown James & Denise Schaefer Stephen & Janet Edberg Harvey & Ellen Knell Jack & Debby Singer Davida Feder David & Ina Labowitz Angel of the Arts Contributor George Bardwil Stuart & Stacy Miller Pasadena Jewish Temple and Brad & Julie Miller Patron of the Arts Center Brotherhood Josh & Janice Pais Ruth Blosser (z’) Bob & Lori McKenna Larry & Annie Sharfstein Brian & Edeena Gordon Phyllis Schissell Arnold Siegel & Susan Futterman Howard & Athalia Rotter Alice Shulman Edith Taylor Lew & Victoria Snow Edwin & Mae Varon Vance & Pearl Tyree Jewish Federation Board of Governors Marcia Alper – President John Carlton – Vice President George Roegler – Chief Financial Ocer Dr. Diane Schuster – Secretary Dr. Stuart Miller – Past-President David Levy • Julie Miller • Oran Reznik • Julie Solberg • Mark Strunin
Jewish Federation Sta Jason Moss – Executive Director Marilyn Weintraub – Associate Director Cantor Judy Sofer – Cultural Arts Program Coordinator Debby Singer – PJ Library Program Coordinator Aaren Heller – Director of Youth and Camp Programs Karen Galeana – Oce Manager 114 A W. Lime Avenue, Monrovia, CA 91016 626.445.0810 • FAX 626.445.5977 [email protected] • www.jewishsgpv.org It’s Curtains for the JFed Players Our Spring 2017 Musical, that is!
e JFed Players’ Spring Musical for 2017 will be Curtains, directed by Cantor Judy Sofer, with creative input by Joanne Karr. Auditions will take place the week of December 18. e show is scheduled to open on March 18 with performances through March 26. Written by Rupert Holmes (“ e Pina Colada Song”), with music and lyrics by Kander and Ebb (known for, among other things, Chicago and Cabaret), the original production opened at the Ahmanson theater in 2006 before opening on Broadway the following year. In the original production, David Hyde Pierce starred as Lieutenant Frank Cio, a lover of musical theatre who comes in to solve the crime and, hopefully, save the show. Nominated for 8 Tony Awards in 2007, including Best Musical, Best Book of a Musical and Best Original Score, this show is best characterized as a musical satire of backstage murder mystery plots; a play within a play. As the company is performing their out of town try-out of "Robbin' Hood Of e Old West," their star is murdered. Quarantined in the theatre during the murder investigation, rehearsals continue with a new star, romances kindle and re-bloom, and it is "curtains" for more company members. is is a romp through the world of old-fashioned musicals while also giving the audience a convincing “who-dun-it.” ere are roles of many sizes and of various ages, along with an important ensemble. is is a show to look forward to, both for actors and audience members alike. We hope to see you at auditions in December!
Jurors One, Eleven, ree, Four, Six, Eight, Nine, and Ten in the background at rehearsal with the Director and Assistant Directors.