JONESBOROUGH REPERTORY THEATRE

Winner of the 1953 Tony Award for Best Play, The Crucible is set in Salem in the year 1692 and opens as a group of young girls are caught dancing in the forest. Led by the malicious Abigail Williams (Colleen Dunne), the girls try to cover up their guilt by claiming to have been confronted by the devil. The girls then begin accusing innocent women of being witches. Hysteria spreads across Salem as the girls continue with their false charges, and dozens of women are arrested and faced with two choices: confess to being a witch, or be hanged.

A well-respected minister, Reverend Hale (Christopher Murray), is brought to Salem to investigate these allegations and begins signing death warrants for the women who will not confess. Meanwhile, the Deputy Governor (Steve Bashor) arrives and vows to punish all those who have trafficked with the devil as well as those who rise up against the court.

At the center of the story is John Proctor (Bradley Smith), a farmer who recently confessed to having an affair with Abigail. Soon, his wife Elizabeth (Kathy Kerr) is accused of being a witch, and Proctor and his friends lead a crusade to expose the girls and to save the name – and life – of their wives.

Photo by Erica Yoon, Kingsport Times News

Cast List

Joe Smith – Director
Pam Johnson – AD/Stage Manager

About the Director…

Joe Smith is directing The Crucible with Pam Johnson as assistant director/stage member, Scott Hardy as lighting designer, and Joe Florence as set designer. Costumes are being provided by Shirley Stelzer, Debbie Shoun, Dottie Davis, Anne Koehler, Kathleen Rayman, Myra Jones, Katy Libby, Louise Nuttle, Jessica Chittum, Beth Taws, Asheville Community Theatre, and Kingsport Theatre Guild.

Miller penned The Crucible during the McCarthy era when suspicions and allegations of communism were made against hundreds of citizens including members of the U.S. Army, government employees, and entertainers.  The play was produced on film in 1996 starring Winona Ryder and Daniel Day-Lewis and has appeared on Broadway numerous times with the most recent production in 2002 starring Liam Neeson and Laura Linney.

Mr. Proctor (Bradley Smith) put together a behind-the-scenes video of the show and placed it on YOUTUBE. Here’s the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mIOfC8iFOZs

The Crucible was being produced through special arrangement with Dramatist Play Service, Inc.

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Photos by Erica Yoon, Kingsport Times News