

Twelve Angry Men
Reginald Rose


What readers are saying
Readers find 'Twelve Angry Men' to be a timeless and powerful exploration of justice and human nature. Many appreciate its gripping dialogue and the deep character study within a short format, making it a must-read for fans of thought-provoking drama. The play's relevance and emotional impact resonate strongly with audiences, who often describe their experience as captivating and unforgettable.
Over the course of a steamy and tense afternoon, twelve jurors deliberate the fate of a 19 year-old boy alleged to have murdered his own father.
A seemingly open and shut case turns complicated, igniting passions and hidden prejudices.
"Brims with tension... Adopting the musical vocabulary of modern jazz of the 1950s (in which the story is set), it offers intriguing enhancements to Reginald Rose’s original script."
— Pioneer Press
"A must-see musical... Twelve Angry Men is faithful to the seven-decade-old Reginald Rose teleplay on which it’s based, but to watch it is to experience the thrill of the new... Michael Holland’s jazzy, vocalese score feels like it’s about to step up to a bar and order a Tom Collins... David Simpatico’s canny book finds its way into the hearts and minds of each character, half of them white and half people of color."
— Minneapolis Star Tribune
"A serious story given more depth and made more compelling with the infusion of song... In a word: phenomenal."
— Talkin’ Broadway
"This adaptation very much reflects and speaks to the current time, while still staying true to the original story. The music is added thoughtfully in a way that enhances the emotions and themes of the story. In short, it’s adaptation done right."
— Cherry and Spoon
| Character |
|---|
Juror 2A2-A4(opt.C#5 20-30s; bank teller; excited about the jury process; Caucasian (Range: A2-A4(opt.C#5)) |
Juror 3G#2-Bb4 40-50s; bullish, gruff, passionate; a bulwark of a man; owns a messenger service; very excitable; high voice/short fuse; Caucasian (Range: G#2-Bb4) |
Juror 4Ab2-B4 40s; stock-broker; analytical to a fault; rational; buttoned up; does not sweat; Caucasian (Range: Ab2-B4) |
Juror 5A2-A4 20s; male nurse, on the shy side; lives and works in Harlem; Korean- American (Range: A2-A4) |
Juror 6(opt.A2 30s; blue collar; house-painter; plain-spoken, genuine; respects his elders; Mexican-American (Range: (opt.A2)B2-C#5) |
Juror 7Bb2-D5 20s; marmalade salesman; snappy, sporty guy; always ready with a joke; big Yankees fan, has tickets to a game tonight; African American (Range: Bb2-D5) |
Juror 8A2-A4 30s; architect; rationale, empathetic, compassionate and unsatisfied with the evidence; a brand new daddy of a six-month-old baby boy; African American (Range: A2-A4) |
Juror 9A2-F#4 68; retired; congenial, inquisitive; 20/20 vision; does not suffer fools gladly; African American (Range: A2-F#4) |
Juror 10G2-A#4 40s-50s; coarse, belligerent, entertaining; owns several commercial garages; has a bad summer cold and a bad opinion of anyone different from himself; Caucasian (Range: G2-A#4) |
Juror 11A2-G4 40s; soft-spoken; keen mind; polite; watchmaker; Middle European, post-war immigrant; Caucasian (Range: A2-G4) |
Juror 12A2-F4 30s; bright-eyed ad man; talks in slogans; amiable; his opinion flip-flops with the force of argument; African American/Mixed race (Range: A2-F4) |
Juror 1 (Foreman)Ab2-G4 30s; solid, working man; high school assistant football coach in Queens; takes his duties seriously, wants to do a good job; Caucasian (Range: Ab2-G4) |
Twelve Angry Men – Theater Latté Da Trailer
Twelve Angry Men is a American mystery play written by Reginald Rose and published by Methuen in London (1996).
Digital editions available on Amazon Kindle.
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New Ed
Methuen · 1996 · 96 pp
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