The FACS Theatre Department, with a cast and crew of 25 individuals, performed its first production of the 2022-2023 school year, The Crucible, an American classic by Arthur Miller, on Opening Night with rousing success. With only two performances left, Friday, November 11, at 6 p.m. and Saturday, November 12, at 2 p.m., audience members can expect to leave with a deepened appreciation for the arts and a challenge to think and pray before the act.
More about The Crucible performance
Set in 1692 during the infamous Salem, Mass., witch trials, this two-act play, originally published in 1953, has been studied by students across many schools in our nation and pinpointed as an important piece of American literature. FACS cast members do a spectacular job capturing the essence of their character portrayals in a way that brings the audience on a journey to the somber realization that things are not always as they seem.
"Between learning the early American language and the gravity of the topic presented, this has been a challenging performance for our students to tackle to say the least," Mr. Domenic Andolina, Director of Theatre at FACS, shared. "They have not only risen to the challenge, but they have exceeded my expectations. It has been a joy to watch students take such a complex piece of literature and wrestle through the reality of the topics presented - greed, jealousy, selfish ambition - coming to the conclusion, that at the end of the day when we have a deep need in times of chaos, we must always choose to lean on the everlasting arms of God instead of our own understanding."
Building a biblical worldview for students
While content covered in the play is notably a heavy topic, Andolina believes it advances the mission at FACS and is supported by our desire to instill in students a biblical worldview because it depicts the reality of the spiritual battle we are faced with here on earth.
"Ultimately, the Lord is the only way real issues can be resolved," Andolina shares. "Though that of human error reigns in this piece of art, cast members have had the ability to assess these difficult topics and know the outcome of the trial depicted could have gone differently."
The Crucible is also one of the pieces read by Eleventh grade students during their American literature course studies. Audience members will even notice "character autopsies" displayed at the theater's entrance. This was a part of the classroom instruction where students drew a picture of what they imagined certain characters to look like, then "dissected" aspects of that particular character through writing prompts.
Other notable fun facts and funny moments
FACT: This year, you will see two faculty members performing on the stage: Mr. Ian Alexander, junior high science teacher, plays the role of Ezekiel Cheever, and Ralph Norwood, high school art teacher, plays the role of Giles Corey. Along with these, Chris Pegg, parent to an FACS alumna and avid supporter of the endeavors of the Theatre Department, steps into the role of Marshal Willard.
FACT: Selection of the play was student-driven. Upon a proposal that was presented to school leadership as a part of Theatre III studies, students demonstrated various obstacles for the play's approval and made the case for its relevance today. It became quickly evident that students would be highly motivated to perform this production.
FUNNY: A funny moment during rehearsals lands on the learning of the early American language phrase "turnabout" which means "a complete change of opinion or attitude." It became a humorous scene when at the saying of the phrase, cast members broke out into the "hokey pokey." Sing it with us! "You do the hokey pokey, and you turn yourself around...that's what it's all about. Hey!"
Buy your tickets and support the FACS Theatre Department.
Tickets are still on sale and can be purchased in advance at facstheatre.booktix.com or at the door. Tickets are $10 for students and FACS staff, and $15 for adults. All proceeds from the production will go back into the Theatre Department to continue to build and fuel the growth of the program for students - present and future.