Come join us for this classic play by Arthur Miller. We need a large cast with roles for teens to octogenarians! We hope to see you there!
The Crucible Directed for NPTG by Josh Raymond
Chilling and Haunting. Based on events which took place in Salem, Massachusetts in 1692, this tragedy tells the story of a village that becomes embroiled in a witch hunt. A group of girls are caught dancing in the forest by the local minister and rumors of witchcraft fill the Puritan town. Deceit, adultery, and fear push the town to the limit and, in the end, the one who tells the truth in hopes of redemption pays the ultimate price.
The Characters: Note: Actors are not required to be the ages of the characters, but must be able to believably play the character’s age.
John Proctor – (Adult Male in 30s or 40s) A local farmer who lives just outside town; Elizabeth Proctor’s husband. A stern, harsh-tongued man, John hates hypocrisy. Nevertheless, he has a hidden sin—his affair with Abigail Williams—that proves his downfall.
Abigail Williams – (17-year-old Female) Reverend Parris’s niece. Abigail was once the servant for the Proctor household, but Elizabeth Proctor fired her after she discovered that Abigail was having an affair with her husband, John Proctor. Abigail is smart, wily, a good liar, and vindictive when crossed.
Reverend John Hale – (30-40-year-old Adult Male) A young minister reputed to be an expert on witchcraft. Reverend Hale is called into Salem to examine Parris’s daughter Betty. Hale is a committed Christian and a hater of witchcraft. His critical mind and intelligence save him from falling into blind fervor.
Elizabeth Proctor – (Adult female in 30s or 40s) John Proctor’s wife. Elizabeth fired Abigail when she discovered that her husband was having an affair with Abigail. Elizabeth is supremely virtuous but often cold.
Reverend Samuel Parris – (Middle-aged male in his 40s to 50s) The minister of Salem’s church. Reverend Parris is a paranoid, power-hungry, yet oddly self-pitying figure. Many of the townsfolk, especially John Proctor, dislike him, and Parris is very concerned with building his position in the community.
Rebecca Nurse – (Mature Woman in 70s) Francis Nurse’s wife. Rebecca is a wise, sensible, and upright woman, held in tremendous regard by most of the Salem community.
Francis Nurse – (Mature Male in 60s or 70s) A wealthy, influential man in Salem. Nurse is well respected by most people in Salem, but is an enemy of Thomas Putnam and his wife.
Deputy Governor Danforth – (Adult Male in 50s or 60s) The deputy governor of Massachusetts and the presiding judge at the witch trials. Honest and scrupulous, at least in his own mind, Danforth is convinced that he is doing right in rooting out witchcraft.
Giles Corey – (Mature male in early 80s) An elderly but feisty farmer in Salem, famous for his tendency to file lawsuits. Giles’s wife, Martha, is accused of witchcraft, and he himself is eventually held in contempt of court and pressed to death with large stones.
Thomas Putnam – (Adult Male in late 40s or early 50s) A wealthy, influential citizen of Salem, Putnam holds a grudge against Francis Nurse for preventing Putnam’s brother-in-law from being elected to the office of minister. He uses the witch trials to increase his own wealth by accusing people of witchcraft and then buying up their land.
Ann Putnam – (Adult female in mid-40s) Thomas Putnam’s wife. Ann Putnam has given birth to eight children, but only Ruth Putnam survived. The other seven died before they were a day old, and Ann is convinced that they were murdered by supernatural means.
Tituba – (Adult female 40s, MUST BE POC) Reverend Parris’s slave. Tituba agrees to perform voodoo at Abigail’s request.
Mary Warren – (Teenage female) The servant in the Proctor household and a member of Abigail’s group of girls. She is a timid girl, easily influenced by those around her, who tried unsuccessfully to expose the hoax and ultimately recanted her confession.
Betty Parris – (10 -12 year old female) Reverend Parris’s daughter. Betty falls into a strange stupor after Parris catches her and the other girls dancing in the forest with Tituba.
Ezekiel Cheever – (Adult Male, any age) A man from Salem who acts as clerk of the court during the witch trials. He is upright and determined to do his duty for justice.
Judge Hathorne – (Adult Male in 50s or 60s) A judge who presides, along with Danforth, over the witch trials.
John Willard – (Adult Male, any age) The marshal of Salem.
Sarah Good – (Mature female, late 50s to 70s) A mentally unstable homeless lady whom Abigail accuses of witchcraft.
Susana Walcott – (Teenage female) Susanna is a nervous and hasty girl, younger than Abigail. She works for Dr. Griggs. She participates in the ritual in the woods with Tituba and is one of the girls in Abigail’s group.
Mercy Lewis – (Teenage female) Servant to the Putnams, Mercy is a “sly, merciless girl of eighteen.” She proves to be Abigail’s closest friend, sticking by her through the end and fleeing Salem with Abigail during the trials.
Hopkins – (Adult male, any age) Salem’s jailer
Auditions: Tuesday, February 18, at 7:00 PM Thursday, February 20, at 7:00 PM Auditions will consist of reading from the script.
Parking: Convenient free parking is available directly across the street from the theater. Rehearsal Schedule: To be determined, based on cast availability.
Performances: April 4, 5, 6, 11,12 & 13, 2025 All auditions and rehearsals will be at the NPTG Center for the Performing Arts, 15 Rollstone Street, Fitchburg, MA.