By Rabita Aziz (September 18, 2002)

Drama director Frank Marino today announced the cast assignments for the fall play, "The Crucible." The leading roles for the play are: John Proctor played by Peter Windle, Reverend John Hale by Matt Meyer Judge Hathorne by Andy Parker,Abagail Williams by Toby Nelson, Elizabeth Proctor by Anya Solovieva.

"The Crucible" was written by Arthur Miller in 1952. The play is about the Salem Witch Trials in 1692 in Massachusetts. Many were accused of witchcraft and 19 were killed by hanging.

The story was written during the McCarthy Hearings and these trials had major influences on his story. The Salem Witch Trials featured in Miller’s play were similar to the McCarthy Hearings because many people were blamed and condemned for false accusations.

In the case of the Salem Witch trials, the accusations were about witchcraft and signs of the devil appearing. In the hearings led by Senator McCarthy during the Cold War, many people were accused without evidence of being communist.

"The Crucible" will be open to the public on October 24, 25, 26, 2002. The Drama Department was very interested in the play because many students had read it in freshmen English. The other roles and the actors who will play them are: