Catch Black Theatre Troupe’s “The Exonerated” in Phoenix on September 11-27

Submitted by Laura Schairer

Audience Magnets

Black Theatre Troupe opens its 2026-2027 season with The Exonerated, Jessica Blank and Erik Jensen’s acclaimed documentary-style drama based on the true stories of six people who were wrongfully convicted and spent years on death row for crimes they did not commit.

Directed by longtime Phoenix theatre artist Matthew Wiener, The Exonerated runs September 11-27 at the Helen K. Mason Performing Arts Center, 1333 E. Washington St. in Phoenix. Tickets are $50 and are on sale now at blacktheatretroupe.org or by calling 602-258-8128.

The Exonerated was created after Blank and Jensen interviewed more than 40 former death row prisoners who had been exonerated and released. Drawn from those interviews as well as court transcripts, letters and personal accounts, the play tells the stories of six individuals, moving between their lives before incarceration, their years on death row and their experiences after being cleared. Their stories reveal the devastating consequences of wrongful convictions and the extraordinary perseverance required to survive them.

“What struck me about The Exonerated is that these aren’t characters created to make an argument. These are the words of people describing what actually happened to them,” said Wiener. “As a director, my job is not to embellish those stories, but to make sure we listen to them. The play asks us to consider what happens when a system we depend on to deliver justice fails, and what it takes for a person to survive that failure.”

Wiener is well known to Valley audiences for his work as a director and artistic leader, including his tenure as producing artistic director of Actors Theatre of Phoenix and his extensive directing work with Arizona Theatre Company. The Exonerated creative team includes Tiana Torrilhon, (Set Designer), Carol Simmons (Costume Designer), Kenseye Fort (Sound Designer), and Rachel Finley (Dialogue Coach).

The production brings together a powerful cast of actors with deep connections to Black Theatre Troupe and the regional theatre community. Ryan Jenkins, who appears as Georgia, returns to BTT after appearing in several productions, including last season’s Grace & Glorie, To Be Young, Gifted and Black and Barbecue. Ken Love, who plays Delbert Tibbs, has performed numerous roles with BTT, including Papa Shakespeare in The African Company Presents Richard III, as well Jitney and The Gospel at Colonus. Maren Maclean, who plays Sunny Jacobs, has appeared with the Utah Shakespeare Festival, Southwest Shakespeare Company and Phoenix Theatre Company.

Rounding out the cast are Kim Richard, Ken Bailes, Chad Krolczyk, Tony Blosser and Drew Leatham.

THE EXONERATED

WHAT: Black Theatre Troupe presents The Exonerated
by Jessica Blank and Erik Jensen, directed by Matthew Wiener.

WHEN: September 11-27, 2026
Fridays at 7:30 p.m.
Saturdays at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., except September 12 at 7:30 p.m. only
Sundays at 2:30 p.m.
Thursday, September 17 at 2 p.m.

WHERE: Helen K. Mason Performing Arts Center
1333 E. Washington St.
Phoenix, AZ

TICKETS: $50. Tickets are available at blacktheatretroupe.org or by calling 602-258-8128.

Event subject to change without notice.