PR 2006 Mar u2

The Crucible opens at Theatre Tuscaloosa March 10

Tuscaloosa - The Crucible, a powerful play that reveals how mass hysteria can overcome a society when social, political or religious foundations are challenged, opens at Theatre Tuscaloosa on the campus of Shelton State Community College on March 10 and runs through March 19.

Michael Carr, artistic director of Theatre Tuscaloosa, directs Arthur Miller's drama of the Salem witch trials. When Miller wrote The Crucible, the Salem witch trials were over 200 years old, but the self-righteous thinking and spirit of persecution was still alive and well in McCarthy's Un-American Activities Committee of the 1950s.

The Crucible, written in 1953, was actually aimed at the congressional investigation whose fear of Communism in the United States provoked a flurry of scorn upon many artists working at the time. Miller himself had to appear before this committee in 1956 for writing The Crucible and was convicted of contempt. The conviction was later appealed and reversed.

Winner of the 1953 Tony Award for Best Play, The Crucible examines the trials from the perspective of a young farmer, John Proctor, his wife, and a young servant-girl who maliciously causes the wife's arrest for witchcraft. Proctor brings the girl to court to admit the lie - and it is here that the monstrous course of bigotry and deceit is terrifyingly depicted.  Proctor, instead of saving his wife, finds himself also accused of witchcraft and ultimately condemned with a host of others.

The cast for the production includes: Elizabeth Moseley, Asia Hambright, Lindsey Allen, Laura-Jean Allen, Deborah Parker, Melanie McCullough, Jessica Fike, Cheryl Connelly, Kaylor Otwell, Russell Frost, Glen Johnson, Eric Curtis, Wescott Youngson, Mark Nelson, Perry Bain, Steven Wade, Jon Darby, Rohn Rhodes, Rebecca Brown and A.J. Kunz.

Stage Manager for the production is Leslie Newberry with scenic design by Roy Hudson, costume design by Jeanette Waterman and lighting design by Erin Hisey.

Performances are scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on March 10, 11, 16, 17 and 18.  Matinee performances at 2:00 p.m. are scheduled for March 12, 15, and 19.

Tickets are $17 adults, $14 seniors, $10 for general students, high school and middle school students will be admitted for $1, Shelton State students may purchase a ticket for $5 with their student I.D.

Tickets may be purchased by phone by calling the Theatre Tuscaloosa box office at 205/391-2277 or in person during box office hours from 9-5:00, Monday through Friday.