The Crucible Opens Oct. 13 in Fulton Hall Theatre
SALISBURY, MD-- The Bobbi Biron Theatre Program presents The Crucible by Arthur Miller. Performances are October 13–15 and 18–22 in the Fulton Hall Theater at Salisbury State University. Shows begin at 8 p.m. except Sundays, October 15 and 22, which are at 2 p.m., and, due to high demand, an added performance on Saturday, October 21, also at 2 p.m.
There will be pre-performance lectures on the origins of the Salem witch trial mania by historian Martha E. Pfeiffer, M.A., in Fulton Hall Room 111 (adjacent to the theater) on October 15, 21 and 22 at 1 p.m. and October 19 at 7 p.m.
Dr. T. Paul Pfeiffer, director of theatre, 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. "Fear, repression and power create a devastating mania in this frightening study in mass delusion and the strength of suspicion which retains its force today," said Pfeiffer.
The Crucible looks at two actual historical events in American history and uses the horrific witch trials of
puritanical Salem of 1692 as a metaphor for the McCarthy investigation of the 1950s. "Miller makes us take a look at ourselves to demonstrate the frightening human tendency to want to label groups of people as impure. The pressure for individuals to conform to a society's beliefs of self-righteousness is a very powerful and timeless theme," said Pfeiffer.
The scenic, lighting and sound design for The Crucible is by Technical Director Dave Shuhy. Costume design is Pfeiffer. Amber Wilkerson is stage manager.
This season theatre-goers may purchase and pick up their tickets during Box Office hours prior to show night.
Tickets are $8 general admission, $6 for senior citizens and non-SSU students. SSU ID holders are admitted free. Reservations are required and held until 15 minutes prior to show time. SSU faculty, staff and students may reserve tickets in advance.
For information and tickets call the Theatre Box Office at 410-543-6228.