Scott Ellis (Entertaining Mr. Sloane, The Little Dog Laughed) stages the classic Reginald Rose jury-room drama as the first touring production for the Roundabout Theatre Company.
Set in a jury room,Twelve Angry Men tells the story of a murder trial in which a youth is alleged to have killed his father. The case seems like an open-and-shut situation as eleven of the unnamed jurors believe the defendant to be guilty. Juror #8, however, is not so certain, stirring up the room and setting off a number of arguments.
The anonymous deciding dozen line up as follows George Wendt (Art) as Juror #1, Todd Cerveris (Twentieth Century) as Juror #2, Randle Mell (The Rainmaker, Noises Off) as Juror #3, Jeffrey Hayenga (The Elephant Man) as Juror #4, Jim Saltouros (Sideman - Steppenwolf Theatre) as Juror #5, Charles Borland (A Streetcar Named Desire) as Juror #6, Mark Morettini (London Suite) as Juror #7, Richard Thomas (Democracy) as Juror #8, Alan Mandell (The Beard of Avon) as Juror #9, Julian Gamble (Invention of Love) as Juror #10, David Lively (Henry IV - Chicago Shakespeare) as Juror #11 and T. Scott Cunningham (Love! Valour! Compassion!) as Juror #12. Patrick New (Time of Your Life) will perform as a guard.
The current tour lineup (subject to change) includes:
Wendt is known to television audiences for his six-time Emmy Award-nominated turn as Norm Peterson from "Cheers." The Chicago Second City veteran has appeared on stage in Art (on Broadway and in London) as well as A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum and ABC's television musical "Bye Bye Birdie."
The design team — from the original Broadway production — includes Allen Moyer (sets), Michael Krass (costumes), Paul Palazzo (lights) and Brian Ronan (sound).
The Broadway run of Twelve Angry Men — a revival, though the first time the work has been staged on Broadway — began previews Oct. 1, 2004 and opened Oct. 28 at the American Airlines Theatre for a scheduled engagement through Dec. 19. The popular show, however, extended its run seven times before finally closing May 15, 2005.
For more information and to buy tickets, visit www.12angrymentour.com.