ICT Presents THE CRUCIBLE 3/20-4/25

Infamous Commonwealth Theatre opens the first full production of their 2010 season dedicated to the topic Redemption with a revival of Arthur Miller's THE CRUCIBLE, directed by ICT's new Artistic Director, Chris Maher.

REDEMPTION (noun): deliverance from sin; salvation. Set during the Salem Witch Trials of 1692 and written in direct response to the McCarthy trials in the 1950s, this scathing indictment of censorship remains a timeless classic of American drama - a master study on the inherent frailty, delicate beauty and limitless possibility of the human spirit.

Arthur Miller was an American playwright and essayist who passed away in 2005. He wrote a wide variety of dramas, such as THE CRUCIBLE, A View from the Bridge, All My Sons and Death of a Salesman (1949 Pulitzer Prize for Drama), all of which are studied and performed worldwide. Mr. Miller was often in the public eye, most famously for refusing to give evidence against others to the House Un-American Activities Committee. Mr. Miller is considered one of America's greatest playwrights by both audiences and scholars.

Director Chris Maher graduated with a degree in theatre performance from Illinois State University in 1997. Upon arrival in Chicago, he served as Artistic Director for the now defunct East Window Theatre Company. He appeared in several shows for them and directed Say Goodnight Gracie in 1999. He joined Open Eye Productions in 2001 and became Artistic Director in 2004. His Open Eye directing credits include Christopher Durang's Titanic, You Can't Take It With You, Assassins, One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest, Trust, and most recently, The Solid Gold Cadillac. In 2008, Mr. Maher directed the Midwest Premiere of Robert Schenkkan's Lewis & Clark Reach the Euphrates for ICT. Mr. Maher became Artistic Director of ICT in June 2009.

THE CRUCIBLE features the acting talents of ICT company members Stephen Dunn, Nancy Friedrich, Clarissa Gregg, Jennifer Mathews, John O'Leksy and Craig Thompson, as well as Susan Adler, Jared Fernley, Elliot Fredland, Glynis Gilio, Margaret Grace, Elaine Ivy Harris, Edward Kuffert, Courtney Payne, Cody Proctor, John Ruhaak, Adrian Snow, G. Scott Thomas and Tom Weber.

THE CRUCIBLE production team consists of ICT company members Abbie Colton (Managing Director), Sarah Luse ( Production Manager), Stephanette Smith ( Lighting Designer), Rachel M. Sypniewski ( Costume Designer) and Cade Wenthe ( Stage Manager), as well as Nick Rastenis (Scenic Designer) and Tom Haigh (Sound Designer).

THE CRUCIBLE runs Thursdays, Fridays & Saturdays at 8:30pm & Sundays at 3:30pm March 20 - April 25 (preview March 19 8:30pm) at the West Stage of the Raven Theatre Complex at 6157 N. Clark St. Tickets are $20 per person and $15 senior/student tickets are available for every performance (subject to availability) with proper ID. $15 industry tickets are available on Thursdays and Sundays. To reserve tickets, please call 312.458.9780 or email info@infamouscommonwealth.org.

ICT's 2010 Redemption season began in January with the 6th Annual 24 Hour Project and will conclude this summer with George F. Walker's Escape From Happiness.

Founded in 2001, ICT's unique mission is to illuminate diverse perspectives around one centralized topic per season. ICT has received seven After Dark Awards and four Joseph Jefferson Citations since its inception. For more information on ICT, please visit www.infamouscommonwealth.org.

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