Lawrenceville High School will commemorate the 180th anniversary of a historic execution with a one-act play on Friday night. The drama, Voices from the Hanging, is based on the trial and execution of Elizabeth “Betsey” Reed, the first woman hanged in Illinois.

Reed was convicted in 1845 by a jury of twelve men for poisoning her husband. The death sentence carried was out in Lawrenceville and the case remains a significant part of local history and even inspired a novel.

The play is a shortened version of the original work written by Dann M. Norton. The full play debuted in 2018 as part of the Illinois bicentennial and was produced in partnership with the Lawrence County Historical Society and Arts Council. It drew large crowds and sparked ongoing debate about Reed’s guilt.

According to the Lawrence County Historical Society, research used in the original production uncovered documents and laws from the time, revealing possible new evidence and casting doubt on Reed’s conviction.

Friday’s performance from the Lawrenceville High School Restored Drama Club starts at at 7 p.m. Central Time in the Lawrenceville High School Auditorium. Donations will be accepted at the door to support the restoration of the school’s drama club.