PRODUCTION DESCRIPTION

CHARACTER LISTING

Important Note: For these auditions, we have assigned all characters the gender-neutral pronouns “they/them”. This is so that all actors can more easily picture themselves in any role they wish to consider.

FOREMAN (JUROR NO. ONE):  They are a petty person who is at first wary of, then impressed with the authority they have. They take their responsibility in this case seriously. They behave quite formally. Not overly bright, but tenacious.

JUROR NO. TWO:  They are a meek, hesitant person who finds it difficult to maintain any opinions of their own. They are easily swayed and usually adopt the opinion of the last person to whom they have spoken. They are generally kind-natured, but self-doubting.

JUROR NO. THREE:  They are a very strong, very forceful, extremely opinionated person within whom can be detected a streak of sadism. They are a humorless person who is intolerant of opinions other than their own and accustomed to forcing their wishes and views upon others.

JUROR NO. FOUR:  They are a person of wealth and position. They are a practiced speaker who presents themself well at all times. They seem to feel a little bit above the rest of the jurors. Their only concern is with the facts in this case, and they are appalled at the behavior of the others. Constantly preening, combing their hair, cleaning their nails, etc.

JUROR NO. FIVE:  They are a naive, very frightened young person who takes their obligations in this case very seriously but who finds it difficult to speak up when their elders have the floor. They grew up poor and have worked hard to get where they are in life.

JUROR NO. SIX:  They are an honest person who pays attention and comes upon their decisions slowly and carefully. They are a person who finds it difficult to create positive opinions, but who must listen to, digest, and accept the opinions offered by others which appeal the most. They are quiet, and want to do what is right, but are unsure of themself.

JUROR NO. SEVEN:  They are a loud, flashy, glad-handed salesperson type who has more important things to do than to sit on a jury. They are quick to show temper, quick to form opinions on things about which they know nothing. They are a bully and, of course, a coward.

JUROR NO. EIGHT:  They are a quiet, thoughtful, gentle person. A person who sees many sides of every question and constantly seeks the truth. They are a person of strength tempered with compassion. Above all,they are a person who wants justice to be done and will fight to see that it is.

JUROR NO. NINE:  They are mild, gentle, old, and long since defeated by life. They are a person who recognizes themself for who they are. They mourn the days when it would have been possible to be courageous without shielding themself behind their many years. From the way they take pills when they are excited, it is obvious they have a heart condition.

JUROR NO. TEN:  They are an angry, bitter person. They are a person who antagonizes almost at sight. They are a bigot who places no values on any human life save their own- a person who has been nowhere and is going nowhere and knows it deep within them. Has a bad cold and continually blows their nose, sniffs a Benzadrine inhaler, etc.

JUROR NO. ELEVEN:  They are a refugee from Europe. They speak with an accent and are at times ashamed and humble. They fight for what is right and honestly seek justice because they have seen and suffered through so much injustice.

JUROR NO. TWELVE:  They are a slick, bright person in advertisement who thinks of human beings in terms of percentages, graphs, and polls, and has no real understanding of people. They are a superficial snob, but trying to be a good person. Constantly doodles in a sketchpad.

GUARD: This is a small part with some lines. They wear a uniform and behave formally, bringing evidence in and out of the room a handful of times during the proceedings. 

COURTHOUSEGUARDS (x3): No lines. He/She/They wear uniforms and behave formally.