The Crucible at Lake Country Playhouse

STAGED READING
Producing Sponsor: Kit Seidel
Directed by Jonathan Betzler
Producer: Sandra Renick
Producing Manager: Chris Celestin

Performances:
Friday, August 25, 7:30pm
Saturday, August 26, 7:30pm
Sunday, August 27, 2:00pm

Cast:
Betty Parris - Emma Schmeling
Reverend Samuel Parris - Peter Kao
Tituba - Jaleesa Joy
Abigail Williams - Mary Grace Siegel
Susanna Walcott - Talia Last
Ann Putnam/Sarah Good - Sandra Baker-Renick
Thomas Putnam/ Ezekiel Cheever - David Wise
Mercy Lewis - Lainie Slipper
Mary Warren - Lilly Peterson
John Proctor - Matt Ragalie
Rebecca Nurse - Anne Richie
Giles Corey - Dick Natrop
Reverend John Hale - Collin Michael Kavanagh
Elizabeth Proctor - Emma Romeo Moyer
Francis Nurse - Scott Stenstrup
John Willard - Chris Celestin
Judge Hathorne - John Tiefel
Deputy-Governor Danforth - Erico Ortiz

Synopsis
Recipient of The Tony Award® for Best Play

The story focuses upon a young farmer, his wife, and a young servant-girl who maliciously causes the wife’s arrest for witchcraft. The farmer brings the girl to court to admit the lie—and it is here that the monstrous course of bigotry and deceit is terrifyingly depicted. The farmer, instead of saving his wife, finds himself also accused of witchcraft and ultimately condemned with a host of others.

Winner of the 1953 Tony Award for Best Play. This exciting drama about the Puritan purge of witchcraft in old Salem is both a gripping historical play and a timely parable of our contemporary society. “A powerful drama.” —NY Times. “Strongly written.” —NY Daily News.

ABOUT THE DIRECTOR:

Jonathan Betzler – Jonathan graduated with a BFA in Film and Television from Tisch School of the Arts at New York University. His first feature film, Homecoming, played festivals and was named Best Narrative Feature at the Southern Winds Film Festival. He also executive produced and co-directed, the award-winning character-driven web series, Intersection. His short films include Winter Solstice, Just Reward, Plato Told Him, Univited and One Particular Person which won the Jury Prize at the online film festival Got Film Fest and was awarded Best Romance at the New York Independent Film and Video Festival. Jonathan worked with Merchant Ivory Productions for two and a half years and was involved in the productions of Surviving Picasso, A Soldier's Daughter Never Cries and The Golden Bowl, and Cotton Mary. He hosted the film talk show Film ReVision on WNET in NYC and now hosts the show The No-Name Cinema Society. Jonathan also teaches Screenwriting and Directing at the Digital Film Academy.