College of Saint Mary presents 12 Angry Jurors on May 4-5

OMAHA, Neb. – College of Saint Mary (CSM) students and staff are busily rehearsing for their upcoming production of 12 Angry Jurors. The three-act play, written by Sherman L. Sergel, is directed by Sarah Klocke, MFA, and will be performed by CSM students and staff members.

“The best part of the production for me is working and creating with the students,” says Sarah Klocke, director of theatre and communications at the university. “I’m blown away by the students’ drive, attention to detail, and desire for growth. Their tireless work on the production has molded the story in ways I never would have conceived before we started the process.”

12 Angry Jurors chronicles the deliberation process and final verdict of 12 jurors after they are left to decide the guilt or innocence of a 19-year-old boy who has just stood trial for murdering his father. The emotional play is set in the deliberation room after the judge has dismissed the jurors.

Klocke was very intentional about selecting this particular piece for the CSM community. “It’s a timeless story that discusses the nature of humanity and what it means to be judged by your peers. It makes us reflect on questions like who defines justice and whether that definition means the same thing to everyone,” says Klocke.

CSM student Raven Palmer, a third-year humanities major who plays the role of Juror #8, is very excited to be a part of the production.

“It’s been quite a joy bringing this script to life,” says Palmer. “We get to portray the empowerment of women. Even though each of us is different, it is that very difference that allows us to come together and make these types of important decisions.”

Since the script itself is so powerful, Klocke made some purposeful production decisions. To emphasize the text over the production elements, the play will be performed in the round and with a stark and simplistic design aesthetic.

As an actor, Palmer believes the content of this play will have a lasting impact on viewers. “Attendees should expect to walk away with a sense of urgency for seeking the truth and knowledge; that you must fight for what you believe in and look deeper than what is placed in front of you.”

Performances are scheduled for 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 4th, and 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, May 5th. Each will be held in CSM’s Warde Conference Center. Admission is free. To reserve a seat, visit the website at http://www.csm.edu/twelve-angry-jurors-performance-registration.

The purpose of the CSM theatre program is to create an appreciation for performing arts, help students achieve a work-life balance, and promote excellence by fostering leadership and the love of lifelong learning.