Living Justice: Love, Freedom and the Making of "The Exonerated" - Hardcover

Jensen, Erik; Blank, Jessica

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0743483456 ISBN 13: 9780743483452

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Ltd, 2006

Synopsis

In 2000, Jessica and Erik embarked on a journey across America - one that would change their minds, ideas, and lives forever. They were a pair of young actors from New York who happened to have the idea to interview 'The Exonerated' - men and women who had been sentenced to die for crimes they didn't commit, spent anywhere from three to twenty-two years on death row, and were freed amidst overwhelming evidence of their innocence - and create a play from their words. The result was the award-winning show THE EXONERATED, which has been embraced by such acting luminaries as Tim Robbins, Susan Sarandon, Richard Dreyfuss, Robin Williams and Stockard Channing. It ran to sold-out houses in New York City for more than 600 performances and after a tremendously successful tour of America, it has now transferred to the London stage. This book is the story of the creation of THE EXONERATED, from the first germ of the idea, to the play's opening and performance before Governor George Ryan as he was weighing his decision to commute the sentences of 167 men and women on Illinois' death row. The story of the nearly three years in between is the story of one couple's adventure in America: a love story, a political education, an artistic journey, and encounters with the most powerful life-and-death ordeals out there.

About this title

Review

"A wonderful book: an adventure of innocents abroad. This is a work of art about a work of art, a tale of courage and compassion that changed the face of criminal justice in America. There is more pure heart, pure love, and pure patriotism in these pages than the Daughters of the American Revolution and George W. Bush put together!"--Mike Farrell, actor, chair of "Death Penalty Focus" "Erik and Jessica's journey shows the power of the passionate, inquiring mind to focus a bright light on injustice. For all of us who have felt impotent, this book inspires." --Lynn Redgrave "A compelling look at the intersection of art and real-life drama, and a sobering reminder of how tragically unjust our justice system can be." --Marlo Thomas

About the Author

Jessica Blank is an actor and writer whose television credits include Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Rescue Me, and One Life to Live; film credits include The Namesake (directed by Mira Nair) and The Exonerated (for Court TV). Her first novel, Home, is forthcoming in 2007. Erik Jensen has costarred in more than a dozen feature films, including The Love Letter and Black Knight, and such television shows as Love Monkey, Alias, CSI, and Law & Order; recent stage credits include Y2K and Corpus Christi. They live in Brooklyn.

About this edition

• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Ltd
• Publication date: 2006
• ISBN 10: 0743483456
• ISBN 13: 9780743483452
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 320