Twelve Angry Men Tour Plays Chicago Jan. 30-Feb. 11

The national tour of the recent Broadway hit Twelve Angry Men, written by Reginald Rose, directed by Scott Ellis, produced by New York's Roundabout Theatre Company, and starring Richard Thomas and George Wendt will play Chicago's LaSalle Bank Theatre from January 30 - February 11, 2007.

"Roundabout Theatre Company's Broadway production of the searing courtroom drama, Twelve Angry Men, was the longest running production at their home, the American Airlines Theatre, running for 32 weeks.  This production marked the first time the show was ever seen on a Broadway stage.  Its record-breaking run earned three Tony Award nominations and praise from the critics," according to production notes.

In the play, "a young delinquent awaits sentencing for the manslaughter of his aggressive father.  Twelve jurors are corralled in a room for their deliberations in a murder trial.  One juror feels that there is a 'reasonable doubt' - to the frustration of his eleven colleagues - thereby preventing a quick verdict.  During the heated debate, the hidden preconceptions and assumptions of the jurors are revealed.  When faced with playing the hangman, each juror is forced to face himself.

Twelve Angry Men, originally written as a teleplay that appeared in 1954 on CBS' drama series 'Studio One,' was one of the brightest jewels of television's Golden Age.  The story was subsequently made into a major motion picture in 1957.  Reginald Rose, who would go on to create and write scripts for the television series, 'The Defenders,' wrote a stage version in 1964.  In 1997, Showtime, in response to questions about 'reasonable doubt' raised during the OJ Simpson trial, produced a new movie version with a racially diverse cast."

The national tour stars Richard Thomas (Juror #8) and Chicago native George Wendt (Juror #1).  The cast also includes Randle Mell (Juror #3), Charles Borland (Juror #6), Todd Cerveris (Juror #2), T. Scott Cunningham (Juror #12), Julian Gamble (Juror #10), Jeffrey Hayenga (Juror #4), David Lively (Juror #11), Alan Mandell (Juror # 9), Mark Morettini (Juror #7), Patrick New (Guard) and Jim Saltouros (Juror #5).

Since his Broadway debut in Sunrise At Campobello in 1958, Richard Thomas has appeared on the New York stage countless times, most recently in Roundabout Theatre Company's Broadway production of Richard Greenberg's A Naked Girl On The Appian Way, and last season in Michael Frayn's Democracy and As You Like It in Central Park.  He has performed a variety of classical roles around the country, including Hamlet, Richard III and Peer Gynt for Mark Lamos (Hartford Stage).  He also appeared twice in Art in London's West End.   Thomas has starred in over forty films for television including Terrence McNally's "Andre's Mother" and the upcoming "Wild Hearts" for Hallmark.  His television series have included "It's A Miracle," "Just Cause" and "The Waltons," for which he won an Emmy Award in 1972. 

Chicago native George Wendt is best known to television audiences as Norm Peterson from "Cheers."  The role earned him six Emmy nominations. Wendt began his career with The Second City, Chicago's famed improvisational company.  He starred in Art, both on Broadway and in London in 1998.  Wendt appeared in the critically acclaimed stage production of David Mamet's Lakeboat, which was directed by Joe Mantegna, and frequently performs onstage in New York, Los Angeles and his native Chicago.  His feature film credits include Forever Young, Guilty By Suspicion, Fletch, Gung Ho, Rupert's Land, and Outside Providence.  Last year he starred in the Nickelodeon pilot "The Robertson's Greatest Hits."  Most recently he hosted the A&E show "House of Dreams" and had an arc on the ABC series "The George Lopez Show."   He is currently working on the half hour WB/Jerry Bruckheimer series "Modern Man." 

Twelve Angry Men is directed by Scott Ellis, the Associate Artistic Director of Roundabout Theatre Company, who has previously directed such hits as The Little Dog Laughed, Entertaining Mr. Sloane and She Loves Me.

The design team includes: Allen Moyer (sets), Michael Krass (costumes), Paul Palazzo (lights) and Brian Ronan (sound).

Twelve Angry Men will play the LaSalle Bank Theatre (18 W. Monroe St.) in Chicago for a limited engagement from January 30 – February 11, 2007.  The performance schedule is as follows:  Tuesdays at 7:30 p.m., Wednesday at 7:30 p.m., Thursdays at 7:30 p.m., Fridays at 8:00 p.m., Saturday at 2:00 & 8:00 p.m., & Sundays at 2:00 & 7:30 p.m.  Note:  The performance on Tuesday, January 30 will begin at 8:00 p.m.  There WILL be a 2:00 p.m. performance on Wednesday, February 7.  There WILL NOT be a 7:30 p.m. performance on Sunday, February 11.

Tickets range in price from $18 - $65 and are available at Broadway In Chicago Box Offices (18 W. Monroe, 24 W. Randolph St. and 151 W. Randolph St.), through the Broadway In Chicago Ticket Line at (312) 902-1400, at all Ticketmaster ticket centers (including all Carson Pirie Scott stores, Tower Records, Hot Tix, select Coconuts and fye stores) or online at www.ticketmaster.com.  Groups of 20 or more can receive a discount by calling (312) 977-1710.  Visit www.roundabouttheatre.org for more on the Roundabout Theatre Company.

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