CLC Performing Arts Center presents The Exonerated

The Central Lakes College Performing Arts Center presents The Exonerated, a powerful and haunting documentary play by Jessica Blank and Erik Jensen, running May 22–24 on the Central Lakes College Dryden Theatre stage.

First produced in 2002, The Exonerated is based on the true stories of six individuals who were wrongfully convicted of crimes and sentenced to death, only to be later exonerated and freed. Their accounts—drawn from interviews, court records, and personal testimony—are shared through a series of interwoven monologues and scenes that expose the devastating personal cost of a flawed justice system.

The play received wide acclaim for its emotionally searing storytelling and its unflinching look at systemic failure, earning the Drama Desk Award and the Outer Critics Circle Award. In the decades since its premiere, The Exonerated has been credited with bringing national attention to the issue of wrongful convictions, sparking public conversation around the death penalty, racial bias, and accountability in law enforcement and the courts.

This production was selected after local actor and director Rebecca Timmins brought the script to the attention of CLC Performing Arts Center leadership.

“I’ve long been fascinated by documentary theatre,” said Director of the CLC Performing Arts Center and the play’s producer, Joey Yow. “One of the first plays I ever participated in was The Laramie Project, a play crafted from interviews with residents of Laramie, Wyoming after the murder of Matthew Shepard, and the experience of telling that story has stayed with me for over 20 years. Theatre has the power to confront hard truths in a way that invites empathy and understanding rather than blame. Rather than attack the judicial system, The Exonerated gives voice to people whose lives were deeply affected by errors in that system. We’re presenting this story not to point fingers, but to hold space for reflection on how justice can sometimes falter, and how we as a community—together with our institutions—can improve.”

Following each performance, the audience is invited to stay for a talkback featuring representatives from Lakes Area Restorative Justice. These conversations are designed to encourage community focus and introspection—creating space for dialogue that acknowledges both the complexity of our justice system and the shared desire for fairness, accountability, and public trust. By including a range of voices, including those who serve within the system, these discussions aim to deepen understanding, bridge perspectives, and foster respectful, community-centered engagement.

For Timmins, “This story has been meaningful to me since I saw it staged many years ago. It speaks to my own fear of the possibility that our system could execute an innocent person.” Timmins also shared that she was thrilled to be working with “some of the best actors in the area,” including Baird Brutscher, Rachael Brutscher, Erin Caswell, Micah Hudson, Rhoda Jackson, Jenny Kiffmeyer, Nick Kory, Blake Lubinus, Mark Oliphant, Cash Robinson, and Preston Stumpf. The show is stage managed by Melissa Peterson. Lighting design is by Joey Yow. Photography is by Sheila Boldt at Pine Haven Photography.

Tickets can be purchased online at www.clcperformingarts.com or by calling the Box Office at 218-855-8199. Please note that this production contains mature themes and is recommended for ages 16 and up.

The Exonerated is presented by special arrangement with Dramatists Play Service. The CLC Performing Arts Center is supported by the Minnesota State Arts Board and the Five Wings Arts Council.