Notre Dame students take on Arthur Miller this weekend

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The Crucible, which will be staged by Notre Dame’s Theatre Department this weekend, is the story of a small, close-knit Puritan community whose lives are torn asunder by the climate of fear and suspicion that grows within them all as mass hysteria overtakes during a trial for witchcraft.

More than a Tony award-winning play, Arthur Miller’s The Crucible is a uniquely American tale that resonates with audiences today. Set during the Salem Witch Trials of 1692 and written in direct response to the McCarthy trials in the 1950s, a master study on the inherent frailty, delicate beauty and limitless possibility of the human spirit. Student-actors in the upper division at Notre Dame grapple with questions of paranoia and mass hysteria in their rendition of The Crucible, performed on the cafetorium stage, April 15-17.

Featuring a cast of 22, the production is directed by Meredith Gifford ‘02 (NDP).

“We chose The Crucible because most if not all the students read it during their sophomore year,” said Gifford. “I was pleasantly surprised when they asked if we could do it. It was great to dive into something that they had already researched and discussed in class. So much of the work was already done!”

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The Crucible has been called a timeless parable of morality, a scorching indictment of intolerance, and a central work in the canon of American drama.

She said the students have been rehearsing since January, working especially hard on the heightened language and serious subject matter of the play. “And as always, the sets, props, and costumes were created by volunteer parents and students,” Gifford added.

“There are so many characters you can relate to,” said sophomore Emily Macks, who plays Betty Parris in the production. “You can see yourself in those situations.”

Sophomore Emily Byrd, who plays Susanna Walcott, said, “This happens in real life. People gossip, people accuse. We have all been on both sides of accusations. It is a reminder of how far people can go with their words.”

The Crucible opens Friday, April 15. Tickets can be purchased online at showtix4u.com. The Crucible is presented by special arrangement with Dramatists Play Service.

The Crucible by Arthur Miller
April 15 and 16 at 7 p.m.
April 17 at 4 p.m.

NDPMA Cafetorium
1300 Giddings Rd, Pontiac

Tickets: $10 students/seniors, $12 adults
http://www.ndpma.org/theatre_tickets

Appropriate for ages 11 and older.

Comments or questions? mkelly@ndpma.org.

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About Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy

Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy is a private, Catholic, independent, coeducational day school located in Oakland County. The school's upper division enrolls students in grades nine through twelve and has been named one of the nation's best 50 Catholic high schools (Acton Institute) four times since 2005. Notre Dame's middle and lower divisions enroll students in jr. kindergarten through grade eight. All three divisions are International Baccalaureate "World Schools." The Marist Fathers and Brothers sponsor NDPMA's Catholic identity and manages its educational program. Notre Dame is accredited by the National Association of Independent Schools, the Independent Schools Association of the Central States and the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement. For more on Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy, visit the school's home page at www.ndpma.org.