Maltz Jupiter Theatre Seeks High School Students to Produce THE CRUCIBLE

The Maltz Jupiter Theatre is offering local high school students the chance to produce a powerful classic American drama.

Under the guidance of industry professionals at Florida's largest award-winning professional regional theatre, the Theatre is inviting high school students to apply to be part of a free summer mentorship program to produce Arthur Miller's critically-acclaimed 1953 play The Crucible. The show will take place on the Theatre's stage on Saturday, August 16.

Winner of the Tony Award for Best Play, the story follows the Salem witch trials that took place in the Province of Massachusetts Bay during 1692 and 1693, in which dark magic, jealousy and superstition took hold of the community. As witchcraft hysteria reaches a fever pitch, choices have to be made: conform to survive or uphold your beliefs whatever the consequence.

"Our students will be producing a dynamic, thrilling adaptation of one of Arthur Miller's most powerful and important plays," said Julie Rowe, director of education for the Theatre. "The Crucible is a central work in the canon of American drama, and the Maltz Jupiter Theatre's mentorship program has become a place where students can spend their summer working on a relevant, important project with their peers."

Known as the Youth Artists' Chair, the project aligns high school students with individual Theatre staff members for one-on-one mentoring and guidance during the creation process of the show. Through the project, students have produced the dramas Hamlet, The Laramie Project and The Good Times are Killing Me since 2011.

Applicants for the project will be interviewed and chosen by a committee. Winning students will then take on specific roles throughout the summer months that include producer, director, set designer, costume designer, lighting designer, sound designer, properties designer, stage manager, assistant stage manager, marketing, press relations, development, carpentry, run crew, wardrobe and electrics. The students will then lead three weeks of rehearsals before mounting the show on stage.

"This project is an integral part of our Theatre's community outreach and mission statement, which is to entertain, educate and inspire our community," said Andrew Kato, the Theatre's producing artistic director. "We feel energized and fortunate to have this opportunity to mentor the next generation of theatre's leaders, and we are excited to be showcasing such a powerful drama on our stage."

The deadline to apply for the project is April 7, with interviews that will take place through April 12. Submission packets are available by visiting www.jupitertheatre.org/youth-artists-chair.

Those chosen for the role of director and producer will also assist in casting the show's young performers. With casting open for local students ages 14-18, open auditions for the show will be held Saturday, April 26, during the Theatre's annual First Step to Stardom audition day at the Theatre (a day which also includes opportunities to audition for five other shows: the Theatre's professional productions of the classic musicals Fiddler on the Roof, The Wiz and LES MISERABLES, the comedy The Foreigner and the new musical Through the Looking Glass).

Students interested in auditioning for The Crucible should come prepared with a one-minute monologue in the style of the author; pre-registration highly recommended. For additional audition information, visit www.jupitertheatre.org/fsts.

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