The Workshop Players, 44820 Middle Ridge Road, in Amherst, a nonprofit community theater group, will hold auditions for the production “12 Angry Jurors.”
The auditions will take place at 5 p.m., Jan 5, and 1 p.m., Jan 7, at the Workshop Players.
Inspired by his experience on jury duty, author Reginald Rose set “12 Angry Men” in 1957 and takes viewers through the experience of a jury deliberating the case of a teenage boy who killed his father.
Dave MacKeigan, director of the production, said auditions for “12 Angry Jurors” will include cold readings from the script.
Anyone interested must either be 21 years of age or look 21, MacKeigan said.
“Back in 1957, you had to be 21 to vote, so you would only be on a jury if you were 21 or older,” he said.
MacKeigan said he is looking for 12 people to perform in the production.
Experience or not, anyone interested in auditioning, is encouraged to attend, he said.
“I don’t have any fear of bringing new people into the theater, bringing new people on stage,” MacKeigan said. “I’ve done it numerous times as a director.”
The story follows the jury deliberating and coming to an 11-1 vote in favor of a guilty verdict, according to MacKeigan.
The one opposing juror tries to persuade the others, who are from all different backgrounds, to change their votes while they reflect on their own experiences.
The focus is on that single juror who is “openly bitter and prejudiced” and it goes through the process of changing the minds of the other jurors, MacKeigan said.
“It kind of stands out today, with all of the different prejudices and stereotypes,” he said. “I personally would like to see people walk away with ‘we shouldn’t judge people based on no background knowledge.’ ”
Although times have not yet been announced, dates for the production are March 14-17 and March 22-24.
As the oldest theater-in-the-round in Ohio, Workshop Players board member Pat Price said the facility once was a one-room schoolhouse built in the late 1800s.
The group has performed there since 1951, Price said.
“We’re in a former one-room schoolhouse, so the experience at workshop is different than most other theaters,” she said. “The actors are literally inches away from the audience.”
Founded by teacher Valerie Jenkins Gertzenberger, Workshop Players is in its 75th year of performing.
The Workshop Players started off performing in Grange Hall, churches and homes to provide entertainment for the community, according to Price.
Jenkins Gertzenberger, who frequently had organized plays at Clearview High School, started the group when a student suggested putting on shows outside of school, Price said.
“It’s community theater, and we do have some people that we would consider regulars who come often because they consider it their home theater,” she said. “We have had people who have been coming regularly since the 60s.”
In the early 2000s, Price said the group signed a 100-year lease to keep productions going for decades.
“We plan to keep going”, she said. “We want to provide quality theater, fine entertainment.”
In addition to dramas, the theater group produces comedies and shows for children, as well as some seasonal events, Price said.
For more information on auditions and Workshop Players, visit workshopplayers.org.
