The Exonerated

By Jessica Blank and Erik Jensen

The Exonerated, a 2002 play by Jessica Blank and Erik Jensen that combines first person narrative with legal records to tell the story of 6 wrongfully convicted inmates (Delbert Tibbs, Kerry Max Cook, Gary Gauger, David Keaton, Robert Earl Hayes and Sunny Jacobs) is the first offering of  Theatre After Dark .  Ten actors tell the stories of the freed inmates that emphasize life after death sentences and include much of the legal proceedings leading up to their guilty convictions. The principal actors include Dana Coleman, Michael James, Jonathan Foret, Keith Craft, Kerry Gant and Raegen Creppell.  Shannon Bella, Jernae Cyrise Bolden, David LeBouef and Scott Courville round out the cast, portraying other key persons in the telling of the stories.  Director Stephanie Kenney-Gomez has stayed true to the authors’ script and has cast individuals who play the characters true to the real individuals.  There is intense adult language including racial slurs which must be kept to punctuate the stories in the play.  For this reason, no person under 18 years old will be admitted to the production.

The Exonerated is presented to you in association with KFOL/KJUN HTV 10.  The October 14-16 productions will be held at HTV Studios at 7938 Main Street in Houma, Louisiana.  Evening productions on October 14 and 15 will begin at 7:30 p.m. The October 16th matinee will begin at 2:00 p.m.   Guests are invited to enjoy complimentary hors d’oeuvres beginning one hour before each show.  Wine and soft drinks will be available for purchase.  The performance space is accessible for all patrons.

**This production will be performed at HTV Upstairs**

Tickets are $20

The Exonerated debuted Off-Broadway on October 10, 2002 at 45 Bleecker Theater and ran for over 600 performances. It won numerous awards including the Lucille Lortel Award for Unique Theatrical Experience, the Drama Desk Award for Unique Theatrical Experience, and the Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Off-Broadway Play. It was adapted into a 2005 film.