HPHS Drama Club stages 'Twelve Angry Jurors' this weekend

The Drama Department of Highland Park High School is staging the well-known drama Twelve Angry Jurors, based on the teleplay Twelve Angry Men. Reginald Rose's story of a jury that must weigh the death penalty for an inner-city teenager has a popular history back to 1954, when it first aired on television, and is most remembered as a 1957 film directed by Sidney Lumet.

Whether on television, the big screen, or live on stage, Twelve Angry Men is powerful stuff that asks a lot of its actors.

The drama begins in a claustrophobic jury room as one juror, convinced of the boy's innocence, tries to persuade the others to acquit.

Although most productions set the story in the 1950s, and with an all-male cast, this production has a more modern feel. Highland Park students who read the play in the eighth grade enjoyed it so much, they asked to perform it.

The twelve jurors are portrayed by Selina Garcia, Dyvon Nieves, Darcy Thompson, Lucia Schnetzer, Brandon Dublin, Erick Villavicencio, Rachel Kim, Justice Hehir, Elana Mischel, Thomas Garrity, Dimitra Xenopoulou, and Hannah Weaver. Lance Shopowich plays the guard. Riley Ernest is stage manager, with lighting design by Elias Bull, scenic design by Daniel Gittler and Anat Mano, and carpentry crew led by Aaron Gartenberg.

Recently drama teacher Keith Presty, director and producer of the HPHS production, answered some questions.

Who picks the plays for the Drama Club?

K.P.: I pick the shows, but always ask for the students' input of plays they would like to do. Then I narrow them down and pick the best one for the students I have that year. 'Twelve Angry Men' is a classic play that the students read as part of the curriculum in school. It makes a nice contrast to the farce we did last year, Neil Simon's 'Rumors'.

How is this production different from the film, and other stagings?

K.P.: This production is slightly different in the sense that we're using a mixed cast of male and female characters. Therefore, it was appropriate to change the name to 'Twelve Angry Jurors.' Being that we are using a mixed cast, we have moved the time period to have a more modern feel, without being too specific.

What touches have you made to the original teleplay?

K.P.: The stage play has the same basic idea as the teleplay, but reads quite differently. We are staying true to the playwright's original script.

Do the students get credit for taking this as a drama class?

K.P.: There is no official credit given to the students from the school. It is strictly an extracurricular activitity. During the run of a show the students spend an incredible amount of their free time working on the production.

Are the students doing all the staging, sets, and tech assignments?

K.P.: I work closely with the students on staging, building the sets, and all other technical aspects of the show. The students do most of the work and I enjoy facilitating their progress.

'Twelve Angry Jurors' enjoys a three-night run at the Stevens Auditorium of Highland Park High School, 102 North Fifth Avenue in Highland Park. Opening night is Thursday, December 1, with evening performances on Friday, December 2 and Saturday, December 3.

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