New Jersey Shakespeare Festival Presents Arthur Miller's Timeless—and timely—Allegory The Crucible

Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation
Monday, 4 March 2002

The fall portion of New Jersey Shakespeare Festival's 2001 Season continues with Arthur Miller's timeless American classic, THE CRUCIBLE. Directed by Festival artistic director Bonnie J. Monte, the ensemble cast features returning company members Dana Reeve and Paul Niebanck, as well as veteran actor William Metzo and rising stars including Laura Standley and Erin Lynlee Partin. THE CRUCIBLE opens in previews from Tuesday, October 23 through Thursday, October 25, with a special Opening Night performance on Saturday, October 27. The show continues through Sunday, November 18, including a special benefit performance on November 11 to support the Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation. Funding for THE CRUCIBLE is provided, in part, by a grant from American Express Company.

Nineteen men and women have been hanged at Gallows Hill on charges of conspiring with the devil. Hundreds of others face accusations of witchcraft, and dozens more languish in jail without trials. Arthur Miller's chilling allegory — based upon the 1692 Salem witch trials and inspired by the McCarthy "witch hunts" of 1952 — transcends history. An edge-of-your-seat cautionary tale of the dangers of puritanical codes of morality and judgment, it is a timeless drama that reveals universal truths about the human spirit and its capacity for both good and evil.

Having begun rehearsals for THE CRUCIBLE just two short weeks after the devastating terrorist attacks on September 11, Ms. Monte says, "the words and events of Arthur Miller's quintessential American morality play have eerily gained a new layer of resonance. A play that cautions against hysteria and witch hunts certainly bears warnings for us to consider as we reflect on what might evolve in reaction to the recent attacks on our nation."

She continues, "Like all great classics, THE CRUCIBLE has transcended the specific moments of history from which it was born and has now proved to be a universal tale of caution and courage. It tells a powerful story of ordinary people who are suddenly thrust into a world of extraordinary and horrific events, and of the choices they make. It paints a moving portrait of the agony of "choice" when one's decision becomes a matter of life and death, and it illustrates the difficult paths that lead to courage, or to cowardice, or to vengeance."

So great was the demand for on-school-time Student Matinee Series performances of THE CRUCIBLE, that the Festival recently scheduled two additional dates in order to accommodate more students. All seven Student Matinees are currently filled to capacity. Expressing delight at advance response to the production, Ms. Monte says, "Thousands of young people will see this show, and we are so glad to have found a small but important way, we think, to make an impact. For to tell an inspirational tale of great courage, of reason, and of compassion is always a good thing, but to also add counsel against hysteria, retribution and bloodshed is better." Funding for the Student Matinee Series is provided, in part, by Prudential Foundation.

The Cast

As John Proctor, the voice of reason and justice, Paul Niebanck is in his third season with the Festival. Mr. Niebanck, who received rave reviews for his performance in last season's RHINOCEROS, has also appeared on the Festival's Main Stage in ROMEO AND JULIET, as well as in the edgy Other Stage production of WONDERLAND (…AND WHAT WAS FOUND THERE). Off-Broadway, he has appeared in RICHARD III, THE SEAGULL and THE COUNTRY WIFE with the Pearl Theatre Company; AMERICAN CLOCK and ARTHUR MILLER ON THE AIR with the Signature Theatre Company; and LEAVING QUEENS with The Women's Project. His regional credits include work with the Arena Stage, the Yale Repertory Theatre and seasons with Utah and Santa Cruz Shakespeare Festivals. He received his M.F.A. degree from the Yale School of Drama.

In the role of John's wife, the stoic heroine Elizabeth Proctor, Dana Reeve returns for her fourth season with the Festival. Ms. Reeve charmed audiences in the Festival's 1999 musical ENTER THE GUARDSMAN, as well as TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA, THE COMEDY OF ERRORS and ARMS AND THE MAN. Her Broadway credits include MORE TO LOVE and THE FULL MONTY (workshop). Off-Broadway, she has appeared in SIGHT UNSEEN and Liz Swados's THE PRINCE AND THE PAUPER at the Manhattan Theatre Club, GOOD WILL at Director's Co., UP AGAINST IT at the Public Theatre and Romulus Linney's PATRONAGE at EST. Among her regional theatre credits are the Williamstown Theatre Festival and the Yale Repertory Theatre. Her screen credits include LAW AND ORDER, LAW AND ORDER/CRIMINAL INTENT, FEDS, ALL MY CHILDREN, STEEL MAGNOLIAS and LIFETIME LIVE, a daily talk show that she co-hosted. Most recently, Ms. Reeve appeared in an adaptation of TUESDAYS WITH MORRIE at the Eugene O'Neill Playwrights Conference. She sings the title song on the soundtrack of the H.B.O. film IN THE GLOAMING, directed by her husband, Christopher Reeve.

Playing the stern Deputy Governor Danforth, veteran stage and screen actor William Metzo is in his first season with the Festival, having recently appeared as Egeon in THE COMEDY OF ERRORS. Mr. Metzo's Broadway credits include CAFÉ CROWN, ARSENIC AND OLD LACE and CYRANO, starring Christopher Plummer. He performed in national tours of ANNIE, GUYS AND DOLLS and the Royal National Theatre's production of CAROUSEL. His television credits include recurring roles on GUIDING LIGHT, ANOTHER WORLD and ALL MY CHILDREN. Last year, Mr. Metzo won Florida's Carbonell Award for Best Actor as the Marquis de Sade in QUILLS, and played King Lear at this season's Tony Award-winning regional theatre, the Utah Shakespearean Festival.

The cast also includes two talented young actors who have risen rapidly through the ranks of the Festival's professional training program. In the role of Abigail Williams, the malicious and vengeful seventeen-year-old who leads the charge of accusations is Erin Lynlee Partin, who began her first season with the Festival in January as a member of the educational touring company, Shakespeare LIVE!, appearing as Ophelia and Osric in HAMLET, Bianca and Peter in THE TAMING OF THE SHREW, and Hermia, Snout and A Fairy in A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM. On the Main Stage, she understudied Lili Taylor and performed as the Player Queen in HAMLET. Ms. Partin's other recent credits include Juliet in ROMEO AND JULIET and THE FINAL NIGHTMARES OF EDGAR ALLEN POE with Human Race Theater Company.

Playing the weak-willed Mary Warren, the Proctors' eighteen-year-old servant and an accomplice in Abigail's schemes, is Laura Standley, also in her first season with the Festival. During the spring, she performed at schools throughout the tri-state area with the Shakespeare LIVE! educational touring company as Queen Gertrude in HAMLET, Kate in THE TAMING OF THE SHREW and Helena, Quince and A Fairy in A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM. She has appeared on the Main Stage in TARTUFFE, THREE SISTERS and THE COMEDY OF ERRORS. Ms. Standley holds a M.F.A. degree in acting from the University of California, Irvine.

The cast of THE CRUCIBLE also includes Festival veteran Tom Brennan, in his fourteenth season with the Festival, as Judge Hathorne; Brian Dowd as the paranoid Reverend Parris; Greg Jackson as the well-meaning but misled Reverend John Hale; Jim Mohr as the irascible Giles Corey; Kate Schlesinger as the bitter Ann Putnam; Linda M. Sithole as Tituba, the slave who is the first person accused of witchcraft; Larry Swansen as the well-respected Francis Nurse; Carole Caton as kindly midwife Rebecca Nurse; Jim Cybrowski as court clerk Ezkiel Cheever; James Earley as constable Marshal Herrick; Katie John, a high-school senior making her professional debut, as the young Betty Parris; Kyla Marie Mostello as the sly Mercy Lewis; Erin Scanlon as Susanna Walcott; Richard Waddingham as the vindictive Thomas Putnam; and Jared Zeus as Hopkins, the jail guard.

About the Director

Now in her eleventh season at the helm of New Jersey Shakespeare Festival, Bonnie J. Monte has directed 23 productions for the Festival since 1990, including the highly acclaimed THREE SISTERS, THE FOREST, CAMINO REAL, SWEET BIRD OF YOUTH, THE HOMECOMING, DIARY OF A SCOUNDREL, THE SEA GULL, ELECTRA, TWELFTH NIGHT and A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM.

The Artistic Staff

The set of THE CRUCIBLE is designed by Mary Kay Samouce, with lighting designed by Matthew Adelson. Costumes are by Jacqueline Firkins. Sound design is by Richard M. Dionne. Becky Garrett is production stage manager.

Performance Options

Beginning October 23 and continuing through November 18, regular performances of THE CRUCIBLE are Tuesdays through Saturdays at 8:00 p.m., with an Early Bird performance on Thursday, November 1 at 7:30 p.m.; Saturdays, November 3, 10 and 17 at 2:00 p.m.; Sundays at 2:00 p.m.; and Sundays, October 28, November 4 and November 11 at 7:00 p.m.

Mingle with the actors at an exclusive after-party on Opening Night, Saturday, October 27. A limited number of tickets are available at $50 for orchestra seats, $45 for balcony — a bargain for the thrill of an opening night performance, a Champagne intermission and post-show party with the cast and company! Opening Night curtain time is 7:00 p.m. Symposium Series performances, which include a post-play discussion with the cast and director, are offered on Tuesday, October 30 at 8:00 p.m. and Saturday, November 3 at 2:00 p.m.

Proceeds from a special Benefit Performance on Sunday, November 11 at 7:00 p.m. will support the Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation (CRPF), an organization that encourages and supports research to develop effective treatments and a cure for paralysis caused by spinal cord injury and other central nervous system disorders. The Foundation evaluates and selects these research programs using councils of internationally renowned neuroscientists and clinicians. The CRPF also allocates a portion of its resources to grants that improve the quality of life for people with disabilities. Tickets are $50, and the Festival will donate a substantial portion of the ticket price to the CRPF.

Ticket Information

Individual tickets range from $18 to $50. A FlexPass, priced at only $165, offers six discounted admissions to THE CRUCIBLE and/or THE FANTASTICKS — you choose the shows, you choose the dates, then simply call or visit the Box Office for reservations (not valid for Saturday evenings). Groups of 15 or more save 25% to 35% off the regular ticket price.

New Jersey Shakespeare Festival's F.M. Kirby Shakespeare Theatre, located in Madison at 36 Madison Avenue (Route 124) at Lancaster Road, on the campus of Drew University, is easy to reach by car or mass transit. Please call 973-408-5600 or visit www.njshakespeare.org.

New Jersey Shakespeare Festival, the eighth largest Shakespeare Festival in the nation, is the state's only professional theatre dedicated to Shakespeare's canon and other classic masterworks. Funding is provided in part by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts, as well as contributions from many corporations, foundations, businesses and individuals.

For more information, or to contact Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation, see their website at: www.christopherreeve.org