Costa Mesa Playhouse Presents THE CRUCIBLE, 4/13-5/6

An ageless tale of fear, greed, and power, The Crucible is a revolutionary work of theater by Arthur Miller. Since the play's Broadway premiere in 1953, The Crucible has enjoyed worldwide success. Local audiences can experience this classic drama when Costa Mesa Playhouse presents The Crucible April 13 – May 6.

Miller wrote The Crucible to protest the abusive politics of McCarthyism during the Cold War of the 1950s. Miller himself was questioned by the House Un-American Activities Committee, found guilty of communist beliefs and convicted of "contempt of Congress" for refusing to identify others.

The Crucible is a reflection of Miller's views on the McCarthy Hearings set to the hysteria of the 17th-century Salem Witch Trials. It presents a classic portrait of one man's struggle towards grace in a community galvanized by fear and suspicion.

Miller's script covers the destructiveness of socially sanctioned violence, the blindness of religious zealots, and the heart of one tortured man in search of goodness in a society condemned by the threat of evils within the law, power, and social issues.

Featured in the cast are Gordon Carmadelle, Tara Golson, Tiffany McQuay, Gregory Doyle, Nakisa Aschtiani, Sophie Morrison, Gretchen Estes, Jack Clark, Jasmine O'Hea, Valerie Lohman, Tressielynn Kincannon, Sallie Coltrin, Brent Kim, Ed McBride, Rob Lanning, Andrew Lehmann, Travis Stolp, Michael John Bryant and Bruce Schechter.

Arthur Miller dedicated his work to the investigation of the moral plight of the working class. His first Broadway success came in 1947 with a drama titled All My Sons. It was followed in 1949 by Death of a Salesman, which became one of the most heralded American plays of the 20th Century. Miller received the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1949.

In the 1940s and 1950s, because of his Jewish faith and liberal political views, Miller became involved in contemporary debates that criticized the shortcomings of modern American society. In an age of anti-communism and McCarthyism, his political beliefs threatened many American politicians and he was later charged with contempt of Congress for refusal to release names. His ability to create stories that express the deepest meanings of struggle have made him one of the most highly regarded and widely performed American Playwrights.

SCHEDULE FOR Arthur Miller'S THE CRUCIBLE

April 13 – May 6

Preview Performances: Friday, April 13, 2012 at 8 pm.

Gala Night: Saturday, April 14, 2012 at 8 pm.

Evening Performances: Fridays & Saturdays at 8 pm.

Matineé Performances: Sundays at 2 pm.

TICKETS

Gala Opening: $23

General: $18

Students & Seniors: $16

Groups of 10 or more: $13

(Order tickets for one version and get $3 off each ticket for the other version)

Information

(949) 650-5269

www.costamesaplayhouse.org

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