**You can watch the full play by clicking the video at the end of this post.**

For one exciting evening in February, the Walter Reade Jr. Theatre transformed into a 1950s Manhattan courtroom for The Storm King School’s winter stage production. On Saturday, February 26, the school community enjoyed a single performance of 12 Angry Jurors courtesy of SKS’ Performing Arts Department and the show’s talented cast. The play was the first live stage performance to be held in the theater in more than two years.

An adaptation of Reginald Rose’s 1957 play 12 Angry Men featuring men only, 12 Angry Jurors contemplates the huge responsibility of 12 ordinary people as they consider the guilt or innocence of a young man accused of murdering his father.  The 12 jurors bring their own histories, prejudices, and biases to the jury room as they work through this life or death decision. It looks like an open-and-shut case until one of the jurors begins opening the others’ eyes to the facts. During the play, discussions become heated as each juror reveals their true character. As the various testimonies are re-examined, the murder is re-enacted and a new murder threat is born before the jury’s eyes.

12 Angry Jurors Cast

Guard/Judge: Dekai “Steven” X. ’23

Jurors: #1: Nina G. ’22; #2: Annie C.  ’24; #3: Theresa G. ’22; #4: Sadhika R. ’23; #5: Madison B. ’24; #6: Andria H. ’22; #7: Kaitlin B. ’23; #8: Zoe B. ’22; #9: Zainab D. ’22; #10: Elizabeth D. ’22; #11: Maria Jose C. ’24; #12: Andrea L. ’25

“It was an exhilarating experience to work with the students on 12 Angry Jurors. It was the first play performed in the Walter Reade, Jr. Theater since The Diary of Anne Frank in November 2019,” explained Performing Arts Chair Anne Fulton following the show. “One of the show’s challenges was that all 12 jurors were on stage throughout the play with a single set. We decided to do the show without an intermission to keep the tension and suspense high. Each actor had a substantial amount of dialogue and cues to memorize, and the facts of the case had to be understood to make the play believable.

There are examples of racial and economic disparity among the characters, and it was difficult at times for the actors to deliver lines that were at odds with their own beliefs. The cast handled all of the challenges very well, and gave an excellent performance in front of a full house audience of parents, faculty, and students,” continued Mrs. Fulton.

With live performances back on the schedule at the Walter Reade Jr. Theatre, Mrs. Fulton and her students are looking forward to SKS’ spring musical performance of Chicago: Teen Edition.