By Coral Gables Gazette staff
The Jerry Herman Ring Theatre at the University of Miami will raise the stakes—and the temperature—with “Twelve Angry Jurors,” an adaptation of the iconic American courtroom drama originally penned by Reginald Rose. Performances begin Friday, September 26 and run through Saturday, October 4, offering Coral Gables audiences a powerful meditation on truth, bias, and the fragility of justice.
Set in a sweltering jury deliberation room on a summer afternoon, “Twelve Angry Jurors” opens with what appears to be an open-and-shut case: a 19-year-old boy stands accused of stabbing his father to death. The vote is nearly unanimous—11 to 1 in favor of guilt—and conviction seems inevitable. But as the lone dissenter begins to raise doubts, the jurors are forced to reexamine the evidence, their assumptions, and their own deeply rooted prejudices.
What follows is an intense moral reckoning.
From teleplay to timeless theater
Originally written as a 1954 teleplay titled “Twelve Angry Men,” Reginald Rose’s script became a cultural landmark following its 1957 film adaptation starring Henry Fonda. The story has since been reimagined in various formats, including this inclusive stage version that reframes the jury as a diverse panel of men and women, without losing any of the original drama’s urgency or emotional weight.
Each juror brings their own backstory to the table—some hardened by life, others clinging to logic or fear. As tempers flare and patience frays, the deliberation room becomes a crucible not only for the fate of the defendant, but for each juror’s beliefs about fairness, responsibility, and justice in America.
The stage version, known as “Twelve Angry Jurors,” preserves the core tensions of the original while expanding its relevance. By inviting broader representation into the room, this production offers fresh insight into how identity, background, and bias shape our decision-making—even when lives hang in the balance.
Bias, doubt and civic duty
Despite being written more than six decades ago, “Twelve Angry Jurors” remains urgently relevant. Questions of systemic bias, the role of reasonable doubt, and the responsibilities of civic duty continue to dominate public discourse—from courtrooms to kitchen tables.
This production doesn’t shy away from those tensions. Instead, it leans into them, using the intensity of the closed-room setting to explore how ordinary citizens confront extraordinary ethical dilemmas. Each character is given space to evolve—or entrench—as the hours tick by and the consequences grow heavier.
As the official synopsis states: “‘Twelve Angry Jurors’ contemplates the huge responsibility of 12 ordinary people who must decide the teen’s guilt or innocence… Each person brings their individual histories, biases and prejudices to the table as they struggle to reach a unanimous decision that will decide one youth’s fate.”
Performance dates and venue
“Twelve Angry Jurors” will be staged at the Jerry Herman Ring Theatre, located at 1312 Miller Drive on the University of Miami campus. The performance schedule includes:
- Friday, September 26 at 8 p.m.
- Saturday, September 27 at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.
- Friday, October 3 at 8 p.m.
- Saturday, October 4 at 8 p.m.
The theatre is known for its immersive productions and intimate atmosphere—an ideal venue for a play that depends on simmering tension and sharp dialogue.
Tickets and full season information are available at the University of Miami Department of Theatre Arts website. Early booking is encouraged, as the limited run and enduring popularity of the play are likely to drive strong attendance.
One vote away
In the end, “Twelve Angry Jurors” is a mirror. It asks: How do we know what we know? What happens when we slow down and really listen? And how close are we—all of us—to letting injustice pass with a shrug?
In the overheated confines of that jury room, twelve strangers are asked to decide a life-or-death verdict. But the greater verdict, perhaps, is rendered in the minds of the audience.
