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State history was made in Andalusia in 1955 when then-Circuit Judge Bowen Simmons impaneled an advisory jury of six women and six ministers to decide the future of a child in a custody case that involved a well-known young couple. It was the first time women had ever served on the jury in Alabama.

Andalusia native Marianne Merrill Weber has written a fictionalized play based on the true story which Roger Powell is staging this spring through a new arts organization, ReAct Theatre & Arts. The cast had the first read-through of “Ladies of the Jury” Thursday night, with the playwright on hand.

Weber, who lives in Prattville and is a frequent visitor to her hometown, thanked both Powell and the cast for agreeing to do the project.

“You can write until doomsday, but until somebody says, ‘I’ll read it,’ it doesn’t come to life,” she said.

She was a child growing up on College Street at the time of the actual case, and has no recollection of the story, she said. But much of what she wrote about, she does remember from the time. She also has done extensive research on the actual case.

ReAct will present the play in the Andalusia City Hall Auditorium on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, April 22, 23, and 24, and other special activities are being planned around the event.

Cast members include:

Bernard Reeves – Ben Bowden

Forest Martin – John Peek

Julia Martin – Barbara Peek

Lindsey Martin – Hayden Howell

Junior Martin – Lucas Brown

Lelia Bell Martin – Pat Murphy Carlton

Pearl Brandon – Valarie Shakespeare

Billy Joe Brandon – Harold Jones

Ralph Watley – Frank Shaffer

Suzie Watley – Kay Hugghins

Tom Watley – Christian Pate

Zeke Carver – Leyton Kidd

Nancy – Cathy Powell

Fay Barrett – Casey Athearn

Madge Hardy – Carol-Ann Mullins

Vicky Braswell – Darlene Hogg

Melton Reynolds – Margo Russell

Mary John Reece – Hannah Cross

Dottie Wilson – Tiffany Kidd

Mrs. Levin – Lori Godwin

Mack Johns – Tyler Peacock

Lena Jones – Robynn Wiggins-Cowan

Rita Jones Bradford – Maggie Holmes

Lucas Bradford – Skip Enzor

Sheriff – David Wiggins

Policeman – Leyton Kidd

Rev. Jefferson – Arthur Carlton Jr.

Rev. Merriman – Robert Foreman

Rev. Avery – Chris Reynolds

Rev. Williams – (to be announced)

Rev. Johnson – Don Cotton

Rev. Barrett – Larry Popwell