Christ Church Cathedral Closes THE EXONERATED, 10/16

Following the reversal of their convictions and their release from prison, six Death Row inmates tell their harrowing stories in their own words in the drama, The Exonerated by Jessica Blank and Erik Jenson. The play will be performed at Nashville's Christ Church Cathedral's Cheek Hall in six performances October 7-9 and 14-16 as the kick-off to the seventh season of the Sacred Space for the City Arts Series.

The production, directed by Ted Swindley, is a partnership with Nashville Shakespeare Festival and Destiny Theatre Experience which cast the actors. It tells the stories of five men and one woman -- what they were falsely accused of, how they were wrongly convicted, and their eventual exoneration. The award-winning play was written by Blank and Jensen after they conducted interviews with more than 40 wrongfully convicted death row inmates across the United States during the summer of 2000. 

Blank and Jensen chose to tell the stories of six individuals who served from two to twenty-two years on death row for crimes they did not commit. Court documents provided the voices of lawyers, judges, police and witnesses.

The play was first presented off-Broadway in New York City in 2002. It has toured throughout the U.S. and was made into a cable television film in 2005 starring David Brown Jr., Brian Dennehy, Danny Glover, Delory Lindo, Aidan Quinn and Susan Sarandon.

Mark Evans of the Associated Press called the play, "Riveting, simple, honest storytelling that demands reflection."

Featured cast members from The Nashville Shakespeare Festival are Ross Bolen in the role of Kerry; Michael Roark as Gary; Nettie Kraft as Sunny. Featured cast members from the Destiny Theatre Experience are Tobyus Green as Robert; Jason McGowan II  as David; and Kenneth W. Dozier as Delbert.  Also appearing are Jimmie Hill, Sheerene Whitfield, Joy Tilley Perryman, Robert Marigza and Shane Bridges.

Thursday and Friday evening performances begin at 7:30 pm.  Saturday performances are at 2:00 pm. Tickets are $10 and $5 for students.  They are available online at www.christcathedral.org/sacredspace/ticketsales or at Christ Church Cathedral, 900 Broadway in downtown Nashville.   

Individual stories featured in The Exonerated:

- Kerry Max Cook, convicted in 1978 of murdering a woman acquaintance.  He was wrongly imprisoned in Texas for 22 years.

- Robert Earl Hayes, convicted in 1991 of murdering and raping a co-worker.  He was wrongly imprisoned in Florida for six years.

- Delbert Tibbs, convicted in 1974 of murdering a man and raping his companion.  He was wrongly imprisoned in Florida for three years.

- Sonia (Sunny) Jacobs, convicted in 1976 of murdering two policemen.  She was wrongly imprisoned in Florida for 16 years.

- Gary Gauger, convicted in 1993 of murdering his mother and father.  He was wrongly imprisoned in Illinois for three years.

- David Keaton, convicted in 1971 of murder.  He was wrongly imprisoned in Florida for two years.

Ted Swindley has directed and/or produced over 200 plays. He is nationally known for creating the hit musical Always, Patsy Cline, which opened in New York in June, 1997, while continuing to play through the world. Swindley was named to Esquire magazine's register of Americans for Outstanding Achievement in Arts and Letters and was featured in Southern Living magazine.  He was also the recipient of the Los Angeles Dramalogue Award for Outstanding Direction and nominated for the prestigious Los Angeles Critics Award for his work at the Pasadena Playhouse.

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