This weekend, the TWHS Theatre department kicks off its 24-25 season with 12 Angry Jurors. Originally an all-male show titled 12 Angry Men, the courtroom drama follows a jury as they decide if someone is guilty of a murder. Though seventy years old, it can be guaranteed that this high school’s latest cast will bring unique portrayals to the story. The cast consists of thirteen people, with twelve jury members and a guard. Due to the Cardinal Theatre’s destruction in 2023 followed by the Hottenroth’s destruction earlier this year, the show will be performed at Kilbourne Middle School, as will the following three plays this fall and winter.

At the head of the cast is Carleigh Traverse as the Foreman of the Jury, who played Lavender in Matilda last year. Traverse describes her character as having “some patience and slowly losing it” over the course of the show. Some of the other actors include Anna Markwardt as Juror 4, Presley Pingue as Juror 6, and Joelle Majors as Juror 7. The other jurors clearly won’t be making the trial easy for Traverse’s character, as 4 is “irritated when others lose their decorum” and 7 is “mean, sarcastic, and flashy” and just wants the trial to end. However, for Pingue, these “heated moments” are her favorite parts of the show.  Some of the others shared similar favorite moments, with Markwardt enjoying how it’s “primarily conversational” and director Mrs. J favoring  “watching the students/actors really start to embody their character and understand the connections they have with each other and how it plays into the story.”

Unlike most shows, every single actor will have to stay on stage for the whole show. This is the hardest part of Pingue’s role, as she has to stay in character throughout the whole ninety minute play even though she doesn’t have a lot of lines. Sometimes, staying in character can be hard for those undergoing a role unlike those they’re used to. Traverse plays a leader “for the first time” and has to yell which she doesn’t do often. Majors has a unique experience as someone who hasn’t been in a show since 2022. She has had to “re-adjust to the environment” as well as learn how to play her character like everyone else. But despite these challenges, everyone had fun and “all try to do what [they] can to better each other.”

12 Angry Jurors premieres this Thursday, September 10th at 7:30 p.m. It will also be performed on the 11th and 12th. “Come see it,” says Mrs. J. “We have some very organic moments that feel very real and natural and it’s a great show to leave questioning how you would respond.”