Cast and Crew of “The Crucible” Prepare for Opening Night

Junior Martin Mitchell, sophomore Jonathan Garcia and freshman Sean Berry run lines during rehearsal for the upcoming RHS production of The Crucible. --Mercy Fosah

Junior Martin Mitchell, sophomore Jonathan Garcia and freshman Sean Berry run lines during rehearsal for the upcoming RHS production of The Crucible. –Mercy Fosah

Junior Martin Mitchell, sophomore Jonathan Garcia and freshman Sean Berry run lines during rehearsal for the upcoming RHS production of The Crucible. --Mercy Fosah
Junior Martin Mitchell, sophomore Jonathan Garcia and freshman Sean Berry run lines during rehearsal for the upcoming RHS production of The Crucible. –Mercy Fosah

Every year RHSa�� drama club, RAMStage Drama, puts in countless hours of practice to prepare for the opening night of their fall production. This year’s production of “The Crucible” debuts Nov. 14.

Arthur Miller’s play focuses on a group of girls who, to protect themselves, accuse another woman of witchcraft. Giddy with power and attention, they continue to accuse others, resulting in the execution of 20 people. Miller used the historical details of the 1690s Salem witch trials as an allegory about 1950s McCarthyism.

“You get two history lessons in one; the communism aspect and the Salem witch trials,” play director and English teacher Dana Sato said.

Sato allows the actors to figure out how to interpret their assigned parts. The actors are encouraged to put their own personality into parts.

The cast is made up of 22 actors, along with 15-20 stage crew, props and costume members. The crew is, building and painting sets, costumes and props member are preparing costumes and props while the cast is thoroughly rehearsing their lines and movements daily.

The main characters John and Elizabeth Proctor and Abigail Williams are played by seniors Christian Mancilla, Alison Holler and Nicole Osgood.

“Drama brings out the outgoing personalities in people who share a mutual love for theater,” Osgood said.

Sato originally planned to do “The Laramie Project,” but two days before auditions, the licensing company pulled the rights that they procured in May. She chose “The Crucible” because it is a drama, has a decent cast size and is familiar to her.

Although the club is not doing the play they originally planned, Osgood expects a decent audience because “The Crucible” is a well-known play.

The sophomore class will be viewing this play during the school day because it is relevant to a common task across MCPS. Sophomores will view the live performance and afterwards they will write a critical review.

“I’ve seen it performed in the past a�� I have not seen it performed here at [RHS] so this will be a new experience and I’m looking forward to it,” English teacher Ambereen Khan-Baker said.