"Twelve Angry Men" Delivers on Drama

Twelve Angry Men is widely regarded by many as one of the greatest courtroom dramas ever written. Its film adaptation earned accolades including Best Motion Picture (Edgar Awards) and Best Written Drama (National Board of Review), cementing its critical acclaim and cult-classic status. The story’s blend of sharp drama, rich character arcs, emotional depth, and unrelenting tension create a gripping experience for those watching. Those same elements were brought to life this past November during Xaverian’s fine and performing arts department’s productions of Twelve Angry Men.

Set in a 1950s New York courthouse’s deliberation room, the production follows twelve jurors tasked with deciding the fate of a troubled 18 year-old-boy accused of murdering his father. With seemingly overwhelming evidence mounting against him, the case seems clear-cut, with eleven votes dead-set on guilty, until Juror #8 (Daniel Poggi ’28) raises his voice. Thus, the stiflingly hot room is filled with intense discourse, physical outbursts from the likes of Juror #3 (William Giunta ’26) and others, emotional pleas, and eventually, a final verdict. “I had the opportunity to explore how my character could balance being the polar opposite of others on stage while still being guided by logic and reason,” says Daniel. “From my experience, it is often those who are separated from a group by their emotions rather than by logic. It was a fun challenge to explore the opposite side of that dynamic.”

Xaverian theater director, Ms. Julianne O’Connor, made deliberate, impactful choices to heighten the emotional intensity throughout the show. As audience-goers settled into their seats, all twelve jurors were already positioned on stage, silently gazing out at the crowd. The show hadn’t even begun, yet there was already an attempt to establish a connection between the actors and the audience. 

The set, she decided, would be simple but imbued with meaning. “This was the first time I went a minimalistic route with the set,” recalled Ms. O’Connor, “and, honestly, I was pretty nervous.” Inspired by the likes of minimalistic Broadway directors like Ivo Van Hove and Jamie Lloyd, Ms. O’Connor wanted to emulate how they were able to say so much with so little physically on stage. The set was a wall painted stark black with four doors and 12 chairs, one for each juror.

“The script says that these twelve jurors were being locked inside of a room while they deliberated,” said Ms. O’Connor. “By making this a room of black walls and black chairs, the moment when the doors close is also the moment when any and all warm light is removed,” she explains. Her vision came to life through the work of the production crew, who created a visually arresting, deeply symbolic environment enhanced by exceptional lighting design.

The production ran one hour and twenty minutes with no intermission. Though the dialogue was fast-paced and, at times, complex, the cast met the challenge with energy, precision, and emotional commitment, earning a well-deserved standing ovation as the performance came to a close.

Find more photos from the show on Xaverian's Flickr.