CFHS Theater Department brought the courtroom drama to life on October 17, with their riveting performance of “12 Angry Jurors.” Students captivated audiences with intense performances, exploring themes of justice, morality, and the power of persuasion.
The cast consisted of the following: Micaela Chambers (11), Blake Chastain (10), Justin Cox (12), Morgan Finley (9), Tiffany Haleski,(11), Noah Johnson (11), Layla Kimble (10), Emery Kratz (11), Miah Norwood (12), Laila Galindo Oliveras (11), Marley Pelton (11), Alexandra Terry (10), Ewan Wolf (10).
Sophomore Ewan Wolf, Juror 3, shared, “The most challenging part of acting is staying in character for the entire performance. This goes beyond simply speaking your lines well. Actors must speak, walk, and react in character at all times in order to create the convincing illusion that the audience enjoys. To prepare for a performance, I usually check on all of my props, as well as my colleagues and practice lines until showtime. My favorite part of acting is undoubtedly the people I share the stage with. The theater community comprises the kindest people I have ever met, and I count myself lucky to be among them.”
The play is about a boy who was convicted of killing his father. There is evidence stacked against him by two eyewitnesses. 12 jurors have to sit down and come to a verdict guilty or not guilty tension builds throughout the play. In the first few minutes of the play, Juror 11 voted not guilty with everyone against him. By the end of the play, the verdict was not guilty. The play is 70-minutes long with no intermission.
Director Jennifer Davis shares what it’s like preparing for a performance and the most challenging parts of it.
“Preparing for a performance can be exciting and nerve-wracking all at the same time. There are a lot of moving parts, but once everything “clicks,” the vision comes to life. We are fortunate at CFHS because we have Mr. Buck, an amazing set designer, and Mrs. Garber, who excels in costuming. Their Theatre Workshop classes do a wonderful job building and painting our sets. As the actors learn their lines and blocking, the sets are built, the costumes are worked on, the lighting is designed, and by show week, everything is ready. The cast did an outstanding job and should be incredibly proud of themselves,” shared Davis.
What is so different about this play is that the audience was actually on stage with them, which made it feel so much more real. It provides a dramatic element that is not possible with the audience out in the auditorium. The script is non-stop dialogue with all of the actors on stage. With the actors seated so close, it’s obvious if they are not focused, even for a few seconds.
Sophomore Layla Kimble, Juror 7, said, “I mainly wanted to start acting because I’ve always had an interest in it, but I really started getting into it in high school. Being on stage is absolutely amazing. Some nights, it’s like the crowd isn’t even there. At first it’s kind of nerve-wracking, but after a while, you get used to it. My favorite part about acting is performing. It’s always an amazing feeling when the show gets pulled together and you get to perform it alongside amazing cast mates.”
In conclusion, the play “12 Angry Jurors” is a fantastic play with amazing crew, directors and cast members performing it. From the detail of the set to the detail on the costumes, all of them did an amazing job. With lots of dress rehearsals and lines to remember, our, CFHS “12 Angry Jurors” cast and crew came together and put on a great show.
