Students who enjoy TV shows similar to Law & Order but might be more interested in what goes on behind the scenes when the jury makes its final verdict are in luck.

No Refund Theater (NRT) will go into the jury room when it presents Reginald Roses's Twelve Angry Men at 8 tonight and tomorrow in 111 Forum.

The play deals with the arguments of 12 diverse men who are trying to agree on a verdict for a teenaged minority defendant accused of murdering his father.

"This is a really intense play," said NRT President Kasey Soska, who plays Juror #10. "It is simple in design but it has powerful connotations about human nature and human experiences."

The play that was originally a television show eventually became a movie produced in 1957.

Director Rob Huber (senior-English) has directed five plays through the NRT but said he had considered directing this one before because he liked the movie.

"This play is great for the NRT stage," Huber said. "It's a classic."

Assistant Director Nicholas Luciano (senior-film and video) said this play in particular is unconventional for NRT because it only has 13 cast members.

"[The play] has a great cast that combines different majors," he said.

Luciano also added that the play should run about two hours, but the cast will only leave the stage for a short intermission.

"There is no passage in time." Luciano said. "The audience will get a chance to see exactly what is happening since there are no scene changes."

Tom Pogue (sophomore-theatre) said each character adds an individual touch.

"You never leave the moment," Pogue said. "I think everyone has given their character specific traits. These are not just 12 of the same guys in suits."

Another struggle demonstrated in the play is the difference in opinion that each of the 12 jurors has and their battle to come to an agreement to make a unanimous and life altering decision.

"A lot of this play is character interaction as is working with different people in the cast," Jeff Kornberg (freshman-advertising) said. "You have to constantly stay in character."

Although it may not have scene changes or a very large cast, the issues involved in the play are controversial, especially during the time it was written.

"[The play] confronts societal issues that are more relevant than people probably think," said Penn State alumnus Eric Leslie, an NRT member since 1999. "It has themes that could not be discussed in public at the time, but now can be."

Huber said he expects the show to be a success and believes that people will be able to identify with it.

"It speaks to perspective and how one relates to the truth," he added.