The first show of Second Studio’s 2024-2025 season, “12 Angry Jurors,” will be opening on Thursday, Oct. 24 in the SUU Auditorium Black Box. The play, retitled from “12 Angry Men” to fit a mixed gender cast, is written by Reginald Rose and directed by Jessica Rose Loftus. Performances will take place on Oct. 24, 25 and 26 at 7:30 p.m. with an additional matinee performance Oct. 26 at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $5.
“12 Angry Jurors” takes place following a murder trial, as the titular jurors deliberate their verdict. It follows as each individual juror’s views, prejudices and lifestyles impact the way they approach the case.
“It’s really about the differing perspectives and how people can come together with different backgrounds and different prejudices to understand each other and make connections,” said Loftus.
At the onset of the show, only one juror, Juror 8, votes to call the defendant not guilty. This puts her in the unique position of convincing the other jurors to examine the case more closely.
“The idea of being alone comes a lot in the first act, when the other jurors are really angry and hostile towards her and accusatory,” said Ellie M. Swapp, who plays Juror 8. “All she really wants to do is talk and get to the bottom of things, but they’re so set in their ways that it really is difficult for her.”
“12 Angry Jurors” emphasizes the importance of a jury, aside from the idea of it being a person’s civic duty to serve on one.
“I think that this show really teaches us how important they are, because it gives the power back to the people, and we get a say, and we’re able to advocate for those that can’t advocate for themselves,” said Norah Steverson, who plays Juror 10.
The rehearsal process for “12 Angry Jurors” has been incredibly fast-paced. Second Studio shows are allotted less rehearsal time than mainstages since they are Southern Utah University’s student-run theatre company.
“In a college setting, you can speed things up, because everyone kind of knows how it goes, and knows all the things we need to get done,” said stage manager Laura Nelson.
Loftus managed to finish blocking the show within the first week of rehearsal and spent the remainder of the rehearsal process cleaning and ensuring that the show felt good and comfortable for the cast members and the audience.
“We’ve spent a lot of time working on how they’re connecting with the audience and on ways where the blocking is bringing the audience into the room,” said Loftus. “I think [it’s] important for the audience to feel like they’re in the room and begin to understand everybody’s perspectives.”
It was also important to ensure that the cast could disconnect from their characters and voice their own opinions, especially for those who played characters written to be bigoted.
“I just have to remind myself that I am not my character, I am portraying something, and it is to teach a lesson within the show. It has a meaning and it has importance,” said Steverson. “I don’t agree with the stuff that my character says or believes, but there are people that do think that way, and I think it’s really important to be able to share this story from the perspective of someone who doesn’t have those prejudices and does not agree with how they live their life.”
The cast and crew of “12 Angry Jurors” hope to see the show encourage people to form their own opinions and share them civilly with one another.
“We live in a very divisive and a very hostile political climate, and this show, to its core, is about looking for truth and looking inquisitively and compassionately,” said Swapp. “I think there’s a lot of lessons in it that any person would benefit from.”
Author: Tessa Cheshire
Photos courtesy of Second Studio
Copy Editor: Kayd Johanson
arts@suunews.net
