12 ANGRY ELECTRICS
7:30pm
Runtime: ~60 minutes
Inspired by Sidney Lumet’s classic film, 12 Angry Men, Emmy Award winning writer/director William Electric Black (aka Ian Ellis James) becomes all 12 jurors in this timely masterpiece
now calling it – TWELVE ANGRY ELECTRICS. It’s an in your face, intimate solo show that brings a familiar courtroom drama to the stage while theatrically weaving other significant jury trials into the forefront. 12 Angry Electrics reminds the audience that the system isn’t perfect.
In Trayvon Martin’s case the individual who killed him was found not guilty. In the George Floyd case the jury got it right. But in the Rittenhouse trial a teenager got away with bringing an assault rifle to a peaceful protest and killing two innocent people. In Minnesota, ICE agents shot and killed two innocent protesters and never went to trial. And the recent Lindsay Clancy mistrial still resonates throughout the USA.
The pre-show talk and end of the show talkback, led by guest speakers, will look at the question: what is justice in America, that is so often dictated by poverty, race, police, marginalized people, the courtroom — then prison?
Credits
Written and performed by William Electric Black
The artist
William Electric Black
bio
William Electric Black, aka Ian Ellis James, is a seven-time Emmy Award winning writer for his work on “Sesame Street” between 1992 and 2002. He also wrote for Nickelodeon’s “Allegra’s Window” and Lancit Media’s “Backyard Safari.” In 2022-2023, his children’s television show – “Rap-U-Cation” was optioned by FarView Entertainment. He also developed an original TV show for FarView called Dragon Clouds. In a series of multimedia projects with Doug E. Fresh, Chuck D, and Artie Green, he has campaigned for exercise and good nutrition for young children, prescription drug awareness and obesity prevention. Faculty member, Dept. of Dramatic Writing, NYU Tisch. New tune on Spotify – Dancing In The Girls Room.
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