Rehearsals begin for fall show, preview Junior Class curriculum
Isabella Bermejo / With permission
Freshmen Anya Hilpert and Lola Morrell and junior Sydney Marquez work as part of stage crew for the fall production, “The Crucible.” Opening night is Nov. 9, followed by performances on Nov. 10 and 11.
Rehearsals of Convent & Stuart Hall’s fall production, Arthur Miller’s “The Crucible,” began this week, starting the two-month preparation for opening night.
“I am really excited because the topic that the play is based on is really interesting,” cast member Delaney Tobin, who plays Elizabeth Proctor, said. “The whole aspect of the show about how lies can get out of hand is going to be really awesome.”
The play is set in 1692 amidst the Salem witch trials, but its themes are still relevant today, according to English teacher Julia Arce, who teaches “The Crucible” to her junior class.
“‘The Crucible’ is one of the most dramatic American plays,” Arce said. “It is included in my American literature semester because it is relevant in today’s world where we are confronted with various ideologies that make us susceptible to news — a lot of people don’t know what’s fact and what’s fiction.”
Miller used the portrayal of the Salem witch trials to show the effects of McCarthyism in the 1950’s, when many feared the rise Communism in America, according to Kelly Rosanelli, stage manager and head of production design.
“It’s very accurate to what happened in Salem and it shows that very clear connection of what also happened in the United States during the Red Scare and when people were terrified of Communism,” Rosanelli said.
Opening night of Convent & Stuart Hall’s production of “The Crucible” is Nov. 9, followed by performances on 10 and 11.
“It’s much darker than our traditional shows,” Rosanelli said. “The level of sophistication within the show is something we have to look into to make sure we’re portraying it well enough so those who are observing won’t be like ‘Oh okay, this is just another school play.’”
Caroline Thompson contributed to reporting.
Madame Wells • Sep 19, 2017 at 8:18 am
I love this play, and I’m so excited that Convent selected it! It’s a great piece of theater because the themes are enduring and it continues to be relevant. Can’t wait to see it.
Julia Rozzelle • Sep 9, 2017 at 12:03 pm
That Senior Reporter Josie Rozzelle is doing a great job.