By PJ Clark SYRACUSE, N.Y. — (NCC News) – After a successful world premiere of the play, “Thoughts of a Colored Man” kicked off the 2019-2020 season for Syracuse Stage, the action has moved to the deliberation room.
“Twelve Angry Men” will open at Syracuse Stage on Oct. 9, marking the start of the subscription season. Joe Whelan, the director of marketing and communications at Syracuse Stage, said tickets for the show are being sold in bunches.
“The pre-opening sales have already been very strong,” said Whelan. “We think the word of mouth is going to be good and that’s going to fill houses for us.”
The production of “Twelve Angry Men” is being co-produced with the Indiana Repertory Theatre. Based on the Indianapolis crowds, Seth Andrew Bridges, who plays Juror One in the play, thinks the show will be a hit in the Salt City.
“I think it’ll play really well,” said Bridges. “We have the unique experience of having opened this show already. We just finished a month-long run in Indianapolis and had an incredible response there, and I expect a similar reaction here.”
Bridges mentioned that the previous run allowed the cast to grow closer together as a group, which he said should help the show’s message hit home with Syracuse audiences.
“It’s a really tight ensemble, we work really well together,” said Bridges. “Our director, James Still, has really mined a lot of detail and tension and excitement in what could feel like a fairly static production. I think just how relevant [the show] feels today will resonate with the audiences here.”
Syracuse Stage’s production of “Twelve Angry Men,” like any, faces the issue of attempting to modernize a play that is more than 60 years old. Michael Stewart Allen, who plays Juror Seven, said this production does have one trick up its sleeve to make the show a little different.
“We’re quite literally putting a different spin on this play,” said Allen. “We use a turntable in the show. The problem with this play is that it’s 12 guys on stage and a table in a room. So, how do you make that dynamic? How do you make that interesting?”
Allen said that the table in the deliberation room on stage will slowly turn at various points throughout the show, allowing the audience multiple angles of the same setting. He said the change in viewpoints isn’t only enjoyable for the crowd, but for the performers, too.
“It opens up different aspects for the audience to see more of the characters in different places,” he said. “The room is constantly changing and evolving in that way, and that’s kind of fun.”
Both Bridges and Allen have performed in Syracuse before. “Twelve Angry Men” will be Bridges’ fourth performance at Syracuse Stage, while Allen previously performed in Syracuse with the Broadway tour of “War Horse.” Allen said he’s glad he got to return to Syracuse and is looking forward to performing for the Central New York crowd.
“It’s been a great process, it’s a great show, and I hope people come see it here in Syracuse,” said Allen. “I had a great time in Syracuse then, and I think we’ll have a great time in Syracuse now.”
“Twelve Angry Men” will end its run at Syracuse Stage on Oct. 27.
