The Sheboygan Theatre Company presents “Twelve Angry Men.” The seventy-sixth season is sponsored by Acuity for the Arts and the Stefanie H. Weill Charitable Fund. The show opens February 5 and is sponsored by Community Bank and Trust.

“Twelve Angry Men” has been around for over 50 years. The original was part of a CBS television series called, “Studio One,” a weekly one-hour show dedicated to presenting live television plays. According to the Museum of Broadcast Communications, many of the plays featured were adapted from the stage to television. In 1954, Reginald Rose was an adapter for the show when he wrote his script for “Twelve Angry Men,” specifically written for television. Rose would later adapt his own work for the 1957 feature film, starring the likes of Henry Fonda and Jack Klugman.

When Rose wrote the original stage version, he purposely wrote a female version to allow anyone to participate and not feel constricted to use just one gender. While the script makes suggestions, no character is clearly defined by their gender. The Sheboygan Theatre Company’s production will have a cast of men and women. “Every cast member fits their roles perfectly, and the script is exciting,” said Frank Weidner, cast member, Juror 12, and UW-Madison Theatre alumni.

The characters all have a certain amount of anonymity because their names are never given or said. It allows the audience to look at each characters personality, stereotypes and the overall nature of each person. It is why “Twelve Angry Men” is considered a real actor’s play. Each juror is distinct. Jeff Kelm, who plays the overbearing bigot, Juror 10, explained how playing such a distasteful character is a stretch for his own personality but feels, “It’s always interesting to try and develop a character that is so opposite of yours.” The Theatre Company will be performing the show up close, among the audience. The show is full of heightened emotions, subtlety and interplay between characters and among individuals. While the play will be set in the 1950’s the themes, ideas and prejudices are still present.

“I suppose (the show) would be an opportunity to talk about the characters and the interactions of the varying personalities or the educational aspect of the show,” said cast member and protagonist Mike Roehl. “However, what I would truly and simply like is that the audience leaves the theatre happy they saw the show. As people vary, so will their reflections and reasons.”    

"Twelve Angry Men” will open Friday, February 5, with subsequent performances on February 6, 10, 11, 12 and 13 at 7:30 p.m. and a matinee on Sunday, February 7 at 2 p.m. The production will be presented at the Leslie W. Johnson Theatre, 2820 Union Avenue, Sheboygan.

Admission is $20 for adults, $16 for seniors sixty and over and $10 for students through college age. Tickets are available at the Theatre Company office in the Community Recreation Department, 607 S. Water Street, or at the theatre box office 45 minutes before curtain of each performance. To learn more visit www.sheboygantheatercompany.org and then call 920/459-3779 to reserve tickets or for further information.