Maltz Jupiter Theatre High School Students Begin Summer Intensive Mentorship Program

A cast and creative team made up of local high school students is spending their summer at the Maltz Jupiter Theatre producing a powerful classic American drama.

Under the guidance of industry professionals at Florida's largest award-winning professional regional theatre, students are taking part in 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.

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.

"The Youth Artists' Chair is a unique mentorship opportunity for area students to immerse themselves into all facets of a production and produce a dynamic, thrilling adaptation of one of Arthur Miller's most powerful and important plays," said Julie Rowe, the Theatre's director of education. "The level of training the students receive is truly remarkable, and it's always wonderful to watch them learn and grow."

After passing through an extensive interview and selection process, the student creative team consists of: Kiel Peterson (producer), 17, of Jupiter; Summer Hope (director), 17, of Jupiter; Madeline Gilbert (stage manager), 16, of Palm City; Bethany Hoffman (assistant stage manager), 15, of Jupiter; Tiffany Bucknor (scenic designer), 16, of Jupiter Farms; Ashleigh McDonald (lighting designer), 17, of Jupiter; Kevin Macia (sound designer), 16, of Jupiter; Cami Wright (costume designer), 15, of Loxahatchee; Alison Carey (costume assistant), 13, of Jupiter; Gabriela Abadia (props master), 17, of Palm Beach Gardens; Tara Bucknor (properties assistant), 16, of Jupiter Farms; Justin Savage (marketing director), 17, of Riviera Beach; Jennifer Vasbinder (public relations director), 16, of Jupiter; and Erika Sauer (production associate), 16, of Palm Beach Gardens.

"Getting the opportunity to create a production with our peers opens our eyes to the professional world," said student director Summer, a junior at Jupiter High School. "It allows us to understand all of the hard work that takes place both on and off the stage. Learning from industry professionals at the Maltz Jupiter Theatre is a unique experience that is teaching us leadership, teamwork and workforce skills. We can't wait to show the world The Crucible in August."

Tickets are on sale now for The Crucible, which will take place on the Theatre's stage on Saturday, August 16, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $20 for adults and $15 for children.

For information about the show and to purchase tickets, visit www.jupitertheatre.org or call (561) 575-2223

About the Maltz Jupiter Theatre
The not-for-profit Maltz Jupiter Theatre has become one of Florida's preeminent professional theatres, committed to production and education through its collaborations with local and national artists. Currently the state's largest award-winning regional theatre, the Theatre draws nearly 100,000 people annually, serves a subscription base of more than 7,611 and has world-class classroom facilities in support of its Paul and Sandra Goldner Conservatory of Performing Arts, which serves hundreds of youth and adults. The Theatre is a member of the prestigious League of Resident Theatres and has earned numerous Carbonell Awards, South Florida's highest honor for artistic excellence, including the prestigious Bill Von Maurer Award for Theatrical Excellence in 2012. For more information about the Theatre's upcoming shows and Conservatory, visit www.jupitertheatre.org or call the box office at (561) 575-2223.