Teachers Guide

1. Target Audience:

 Theatre II 10-11

2. Pre-Show Activity

The Crucible Game (MAFIA)

The play The Crucible is based on the Salem Witch Trials in 1692. This is a hands on game that singles out one individual as the "witch" and the rest of the class determines who is the witch.
This lesson will let the students discover what it may have been like to be a persecuted witch in Salem.
 

Content Standard #2: Acting by developing, communicating, and sustaining characters in improvisations and informal and formal productions.
c.

3.Pre-Show Viewing and Discussion

Then will watch a 3 key scenes from Arthur Millers film adaptation of The Crucible then discuss

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1NC_f3g73KA
Scene from Court
Scene between Elizabeth and John

 

1. What is the connection here between Abigail Williams and John Proctor?
2. Would you think that from this scene that things would become this intense in a Puritan Society?
3. From watching these scenes what do you think is going to be the outcome for our characters?

Content Standard#7: Analyzing, critiquing, and constructing meanings from informal and formal theatre, film, television, and electronic media productions

Achievement Standard, Proficient:

a. & c.

4. Pre-Show Reading and Discussion

We will then read the scenes from the script that correspond with the film adaptation and discuss how they are different.

Discussion Questions
1. What is the biggest difference in this scene compared to the film?
2. Do you think that watching the film has helped you understand what was going on in Salem 1692?
3. Is there any thing that you might have done to stop Abigail from causing all of this from happening?

 

Content Standard#7: Analyzing, critiquing, and constructing meanings from informal and formal theatre, film, television, and electronic media productions

Achievement Standard, Proficient:

a. & c.

 

5.  Post-Show Follow-Up Activity
Scene from the Crucible
(costumes, and props)
Perform your favorite scene from the play and then lets discuss some of your thoughts on the production.

1. Now that you have discovered a little bit of information on the Salem Witch Trials of 1692 would you be more readily equipped to research another play that you have no background with?

2.After seeing the scenes from the film and now watching the full length play, what do you think was the message in this film?

3. Would you ever want to perform a scene from this play for a group of people?

Content Standard#7: Analyzing, critiquing, and constructing meanings from informal and formal theatre, film, television, and electronic media productions

Achievement Standard, Proficient:

a. & c

Content Standard #2: Acting by developing, communicating, and sustaining characters in improvisations and informal and formal productions.
c.
 

Production History

The Crucible

1. Regional Production Hartford Stage Theatre Hartford, CT September 1 2011 through October 2, 2011 Director Gordon Edelstein, Artistic Director Darko Tresnak.

Cast Not Available

2. Original Broadway Production Martin Beck Theatre: New York, New York January 22,1953 through July 11, 1953

Jed Harris, Director, Scenic Design by Boris Aronson

Arthur Kennedy as John Proctor

E. G. Marshall as Rev John Hale

Madeleine Sherwood as Abigail Williams

3. Recent Broadway Production Virginia Theatre: New York, New York March 7, 2002 through June 9, 2002. Director Richard Eyre, Scenic and Costume Design Tim Hatley,

Liam Neeson as John Proctor

Angela Bettis as Abigail Williams

Laura Linney as Elizabeth Proctor

4. Regional Production Walden Theatre: Louisville Kentucky, October 11, 1996 through October 19, 1996. Director Charles Sexton, Set Designer J. Barrett Cooper, Costume Designer Nancy Niles Sexton,

Cast Not Available

5. First Off Broadway Production Roundabout Theatre Company: Union Square Theatre: New York, New York, March 14, 1990 through May 13, 1990. Director Gerald Freedman, Gene Feist Artistic Director, Christopher Barreca Set Designer, Jeanne Button Costume Designer,

Justine Bateman as Abigail Williams

Randle Mell as John Proctor

Harriet Harris as Elizabeth Proctor

6. Off Broadway Production Equity Library Theatre: New York, New York, December 8, 1977 through December 18, 1977. Director David William Kitchen, Judie Juracek Set Designer.

Victor Caroli as John Proctor
Tara Loewenstern as Abigail Williams

7. Young Centre for the Performing Arts: Soulpepper Theatre: Toronto, Canada, August 8 through September 22 2012. Director Albert Schultz.  
Hannah Miller as Abigail Williams


8. Sheffield Theatre: Sheffield, South Yorkshire, Director Anna Mackmin's Designer Lez Brotherston. DATES NOT MENTIONED. Performed in 2004
Douglas Henshall as John Proctor
Sinead Matthews as Abigail Williams

9. Boston College Production: Boston, Massachusetts 2003. Director Luke Jorgensen, Set Design Crystal Tiala, Costume Design Jackie Dalley

10. Regional Production Open Air Theatre: London, United Kingdom, May 24, 2010 through June 19, 2010. Director Timothy Sheader, Jon Bausor Designer, Paul Keogan Lighting Designer.
 

Emily Taaffe as Abigail Williams

Patrick O'Kane as John Proctor

Production Stills

Lyric Theatre 2011adaptation of The Crucible directed by Conall Morrison.

Open Air Theatre 2010 adaptation of The Crucible Directed by Timothy Sheader

The Theatre South Carolina The Crucible directed by EricHoffmann

Theatre Banshee 2011 adaptation of The Crucible directed by Sean Branney

Boston College 2003 adaptation of The Crucible directed by Luke Jorgensen

Auckland Theatre Company adaptation of The Crucible directed by Colin McColl

The Hartford Stage 2011 adaptation of The Crucible directed by Gordon Eldenstien .

Bay Street Theatre's 2012 The Crucible, Directed by Murphy Davis .

The Harrell Theatre Company 2010 Directed by Amy Hanford

The Corbett Theatre 2007 Spring Production of The Crucible, directed by John Gillett  

Production Reviews

Production Reviews
THE CRUCIBLE

Broadway (1953)

• "The Crucible" by Brooks Atkinson, New York Times, January 23, 1953. LINK 

Broadway (2002) 

• "Two Against Mob Rule Who Can Turn Up The Heat" by Ben Brantley, The New York Times, March 8, 2002. LINK

Young Centre For The Performing Arts (2012)

• "Salem's Lot" by Robert Cushman, National Post, August 23, 2012. LINK
• "A Timely Warning About Mass Hysteria" by Martin Marrow, The Globe and Mail, August 13, 2012. LINK

Sheffield Theatre (2004)

• "When a flawed classic becomes a must see" by Charles Spencer, The Daily Telegraph, February 12,2004. LINK

Arts Centre Playhouse (1991)

• "Triumph From an MTC Melting Pot" by Crimeen B, Sunday Herald Sun, May 19, 1991. LINK 

Olivier Theatre (1990)

• "The Devil take the production" by Martin Hoyle, Financial Times, June 2, 1990. LINK

Fairview Library Theatre (1996)

• "McCarthyism Inspired Salem Witch Trials Play " by Teresa Cosentini, The Toronto Star, March 14, 1996. LINK

Sheffield  (2004)

• "The Crucible" by Lynne Walker, The Independent , February 13, 2004. LINK  

Open Air (2010)

• "The Crucible" by Michael Billington, The Guardian, June 3, 2010. LINK

 

Post 10: Hard Copy Resources

Some hard copy resources that I found that I think would be the most useful in Sam Houston State University's Newton Grisham Libary are...

1. Title: Spellbound Women and Witchcraft in America
    Author: Elizabeth Reis
    LOC call number: BF 1576. S64
    Date: 1998

This book is a secoundary source that contains information on witch craft in the early american and the economic statistics of those who were convicted of witchery from 1620-1725.

The reason I think that this book would be vital to the production team because the play is based on a real event that happend in American History, I think that knowing how many women, children, and men were effected by the mass witch hysteria.

2. Title: The Salem Witch Trials Reader
    Author: Frances Hill
    LOC and callnumber: BF 1576. H 55
    Date: 2000

This book is a secondary source that has some primary souce information inside of it. The book contains numerous letters from the major players such as Reverend Parris, Judge Hawthorn, and other prominent figures in the Salem Witch Trials. It also contains the dates of persons hanged for witchcraft, and also a detailed list of those persons accused of withcraft who died in jail.

I think that this book would be vital to the production team because it is so important to know when everything actually took place during the events that occured in Salem. The letters are also historical accounts of the language that these people used and when they were sent. It is just really a great resource to revert back to and you can actually show the team the letters.

3. Title: Opening Scripture Bible Reading and Interpetive Authority in Puritian New England.
    Author: Lisa M. Gordis
    LOC and callnumber: BS 500. G 67 2003
    Date: 2003

This book is a secondary source that explores the biblical interpretationor New England's literature and history.

I think that this book would be a fantastic source that the production team could use to dissect the Puritian beliefs and be able to put the knowledge into the producation of the play.

4. The Geneva Bible
     LOC and callnumber: BS 170 1599
     Date: 1599
This is the Bible that the Puritians would have used it contains all that the Puritians believe.

This would be a good source to use to show the production team so they could actually get thier hands on a Puritan Bible and discuss if there are any element of the Bible that they would want to put in the show.

5. Title: Perspectives on American Religion and Culture
    Author: Peter W. Williams
    LOC and callnumber: BL 65. C8 P46
    Date: 1999

This book contains information on religous diversity and the different perspecives in the diverse religion in America.

This would be a good source to show the production team so that we do not make any judgements about religion before putting something into our production. We want to have the correct historical information.

Where and When

The Crucible

City: Salem, Massachusetts

Country: New England, North America

Year: 1692

FACTS ABOUT TIME/ YEAR 

1. Salem Witch Trials

The Salem Witch Trials began in March of 1692

On March 1, 1692, Salem, Massachusetts authorities interrogated Sarah Good, Sarah Osborne, and an Indian slave, Tituba, to determine if they indeed practiced witchcraft. So began the infamous Salem Witch Trials of 1692. Over the following months, more than 150 men and women in and around Salem were jailed on charges of exercising "Certaine Detestable Arts called Witchcrafts & Sorceryes." Nineteen people, including five men, were eventually convicted and hanged on Gallows Hill ; and an additional male suspect was pressed to death. Others died in prison.

The reason why this is relevant is because Arthur Miller based his play The Crucible on this tragic time in American history. He used the Salem Witch Trials and compared it to the times in which he was living in during the Red Scare. The link being the sacrifice of many innocent people because of the "public hysteria". 

Link

2. The Petition for Bail for Accused Witches

Many American colonists brought with them from Europe a belief in witches and a fascination with alleged conspiracies with the devil. During the seventeenth century, people were executed for witchcraft throughout the colonies, especially in Massachusetts. Many of the accused were women, prompting some recent historians to suggest that charges of witchcraft were a way of controlling women who threatened the existing economic and social order. In 1692 the famous Salem, Massachusetts, witchcraft trials took place, and that summer hundreds of people in the colony were arrested. Shown here is an appeal from ten women "besides thre or foure men" who were confined without trial in the Ipswich jail for many months. The petitioners--some "fettered with irons," some pregnant, and all "weake and infirme"--request that they be released on "bayle" to stand trial the following spring so that they do not "perish with cold" during the winter months.

Link 

Letter

The reason why this is relevant is because it has substantial proof that these events really did occur and many innocent individuals were imprisoned for absolutely nothing. I think that this has historical value, and is a sad but interesting piece of the towns history. 

3. Plymouth Colony is Dissolved with the Arrival of Charter Annexing it to Massachusetts Bay Colony. 

Plymouth Colony retained its independence for over 70 years, and by 1691 its population exceeded 7,000. It was integrated with the Massachusetts Bay Company's much larger colony to establish the royal colony of Massachusetts — now the state of the same name.

Link  

The reason why this is relevant is because it is important to know how many people were effected by the mass "witch hysteria".

4. October 29th 1692 marked the end of the "witch trials"

The reason why this is relevant is because it is important to know when not to set your play, if October 29th marked the end of the witch trials then you could not set your play at this time to keep the play historically accurate.

5. On June 8th 1692, government officials made witchcraft a capitol offense.
It is important to know when witch craft became outlawed in the town of Salem for setting purposes.

Facts about Location

Town of Salem

Link

1. Salem, Massachusetts is still in existence today. Its current population consists of  as of (2010) 41, 340.

This is relevant to a production team because you would be able to access the City of Salem's website and contact anyone who works for the city when needing any type of historical information.

2. It was founded by Roger Conant. Who moved to what was then the town of Naumkeag looking for favorable conditions  for a settlement. He later became governor.

This would be relevant to a production team, when looking up the background of the characters within the play. The Judge would most likely be the one in the play who would know the history of the town.

3. Each year over a million visitors from around the globe visit the town.

This would be relevant to know to a production team because during a performance you might have someone who has visited Salem, and they will have knowledge that you might not, and they would be able to point out what could possibly be wrong in your production.  

4. It was home of the Salem Witch Trials, and is by far what the town is famous for. 

It is relevant to know because it actually happened and people are still captivated by what occurred in this small town.

5. The town of Salem has multiple museums such as Salem Witch Museum, Witch Dungeon that tell the history of the Salem Witch Trials on which the play The Crucible is based.

This is relevant to a production team because you could email or call, or even if you were in driving distance to one or both museum's and you had any questions about the history of the town, what life was like in 1692, you could get in contact with someone who specializes in the history.

 

Additional Resources

Arthur Miller's 'Weight of Truth' in The Crucible
Marino highlights the importance of Miller's use of the word "weight" at crucial moments of The Crucible, claiming that "the word supports one of the play's crucial themes: how an individual's struggle for truth often conflicts with society."]

I think that this essay would be valuable to the production team because it expresses an importance for particular words. I feel that this article would be a driving force for the team to pick other words of importance that would help determine the themes of the play.Link
The Crucible

 In the following essay, Curtis studies the manner in which Miller creates a "possessed community" in The Crucible, emphasizing his handling of the court scenes and the "compression of language" in the play.]

I think that this essay would be valuable to the production team because it also, like the previous essay expresses the importance of understanding the language in the play. If you do not understand the language how are you supposed to accurately tell the story?
Link 

Why I Wrote "The Crucible" by Arthur Miller
This letter written by Arthur Miller expresses why he wrote the play, and his answer to the political themes that are within the work. 
I think that this letter would be very useful for the production team, it is from the playwright himself and he is expressing why he made the choices that he made. It is important to know the material in the literal and figurative messages that it sends to audience members. 
Link 
Arthur Miller Discusses First Steps in Writing The Crucible 
This chapter helps focus on the why and the what of the play and the decisions that Arthur Miller made in writing the play. 
The book Bloom's Guides Comprehensive Research and Study Guides has a lot of good information that would help a production team understand the structure of The Crucible. In this chapter the you get a first account from Arthur Miller on his play. 
Link
Miller Interview
 
Link for Video
 
In this interview Arthur Miller describes in his own words some of the reasons why he wrote The Crucible.
 
I think that this interview is valuable because it lets you see the playwright in his own element. It shows you how he thinks and I think that it is very interesting to know your playwright and why he made the choices that he made.