Spring play ‘The Exonerated’ features a diverse cast Show Times:

Pierce College’s Theater Department will be showing “The Exonerated” beginning March 23 in the Temporary Performing Arts Center near parking lot 7.

The play is a drama based on the true story of six people sentenced to death for crimes they did not commit, and freed years later. The awardwinning drama was written by Eric Jensen and Jessica Blank.

The play is an adaptation of several interviews, case files, and other documents, and since opening in New York in 2000 has been performed across the country.

The play highlights the flaws of the criminal justice system by focusing on five men and one woman who were wrongfully put on death row, only to be exonerated after spending varying years in prison.

For Valorie Grear, the director of the play, the story behind the play resonates with her, having come from Memphis and seeing the controversial imprisonment of the West Memphis Three in 1994.

Those events, she said, influenced

$12: Students and seniors $15: General admission. Contributing: Martin Torres her stance against the death penalty and her decision to direct the play.

Besides the message behind the play, the racial diversity present in both the play and the cast at Pierce also steered her interest towards doing the play.

“It’s a great acting opportunity for a multiracial cast,” Grear said.

The actors at Pierce have taken great strides to immerse themselves into their roles, with many poring over documentaries and articles about their respective characters.

Chase Fulton, who will be portraying Kerry Max Cook, said that the biggest challenge behind playing his character is stepping into the shoes of a man 15 years older than him who’s suffered so much. To prepare himself, he read the memoir of the real figure, in attempt to familiarize himself with the traumatic experiences of the character.

On the other hand, Cody Bailey, the actor playing the role of David Keaton, has purposely not delved as much into his character’s life.

“It’s not about finding out about the character, but finding out how you’re going to play him,” Bailey said. His character is typically portrayed as a sad, gentle, and spiritual figure in the play, and Bailey wishes to focus and expand on that. He often sits in front of the mirror going over his lines.

For more information about the play and upcoming theater events, visit: http://info.piercecollege.edu/ theater/