STUDY GUIDE 2006
A PRACTICAL, HANDS-ON RESOURCE FOR THE CLASSROOM
CONTAINING ONTARIO CURRICULUM SUPPORT MATERIALS
BY
ARTHUR MILLER
EDUCATION PARTNERS
, PRESENTS
The crucible
By
Arthur miller
This study guide for The Crucible contains back-
ground information for the play, suggested themes
and topics for discussion, and curriculum-based TABLE OF Contents
lessons that are designed by educators and theatre
The Players/Synopsis............................................3
professionals.
The Story ..............................................................4
The lessons and themes for discussion are organ-
ized in modules that can be used independently or Who’s Who in the Play ........................................5
interdependently according to the class level and
time availability. Director’s Notes/Designer’s Notes ....................6
THIS GUIDE WAS WRITTEN AND COMPILED BY The Playwright .......................................................7
BARBARA WORTHY, ROD CHRISTENSEN AND DR. Historical Background ..........................................8
DEBRA MCLAUCHLAN, PHD. ADDITIONAL MATE-
RIALS WERE PROVIDED BY TADEUSZ BRADECKI, Did You Know? ....................................................9
PETER HARTWELL AND GYLLIAN RABY. Background/ Puritanism ....................................10
COVER: “LOOKING BACK” (1984) EVELYN WILLIAMS, CHARCOAL
ON PAPER.(PRIVATE COLLECTION/BRIDGEMAN ART LIBRARY)
Background/The Mystery of Salem ..................11
PAGE 2 ILLUSTATION: DEATH WARRANT FOR REBECCA NURSE
(ORIGINAL COURT DOCUMENT)
Background/The Political Stage........................12
PAGE 5 PHOTO: PETER KRANTZ BY SHIN SUGINO.
Additional Sources...............................................13
Classroom Applications
The crucible
Before Attending the Play ............................14-20
Running time: 2hrs 50 approx.
After Attending the Play...............................21-28
including one intermission
Glossary of Theatre Terms ................................29
Previews June 3, 2006
Opens June 23, 2006 Response Sheet ....................................................30
Closes October 14, 2006
2
, The Players
Ezekiel Cheever............................................................................. Guy Bannerman
Giles Corey ....................................................................................Bernard Behrens
Hopkins......................................................................................... Anthony Bekenn
Tituba......................................................................................................... Lisa Berry
Thomas Putnam........................................................................ Norman Browning
John Proctor .............................................................................. Benedict Campbell
Betty Parris....................................................................... Katie Cambone-Mannell
Elizabeth Proctor .......................................................................................Kelli Fox
Abigail Williams ...........................................................................Charlotte Gowdy
Ann Putnam...........................................................................................Mary Haney
Townsperson ....................................................................................Evert Houston
Francis Nurse ............................................................................................ Al Kozlik
Reverend John Hale.............................................................................Peter Krantz
Mary Warren.................................................................................. Trish Lindstrom
Marshall Herrick................................................................................. Jeff Meadows
Deputy-Governor Danforth..................................................................Jim Mezon
Rebecca Nurse................................................................................. Jennifer Phipps
Guard................................................................................................Micheal Querin
Reverend Samuel Parris.............................................................................. Ric Reid
Judge Hathorne .......................................................................... David Schurmann
Susanna Wallcott.....................................................................................Nelly Scott
Sarah Good.................................................................................... Wendy Thatcher
Mercy Lewis............................................................................... Taylor Trowbridge
Directed by Tadeusz Bradecki
Set Designed by Peter Hartwell
Costumes Designed by Teresa Przybylski
Lighting Designed by Kevin Lamotte
Original Music by Paul Sportelli
Stage Manager: Meredith Macdonald
Assistant Stage Manager: Amy Jewell
Technical Director: Jeff Scollon
Synopsis
A powerful, fictional re-telling of a historical moment in 17th century America: the “witch trials” of Salem,
Massachusetts in 1692. A play famous for rousing the conscience of America, and one of the landmark dramas
of the century, it depicts how difficult it is to defend principles and human dignity under conditions of para-
noia, fear, and hysteria. The Crucible is an allegory of the insidious spread and reach of McCarthyism in the early
‘50s.
3
A PRACTICAL, HANDS-ON RESOURCE FOR THE CLASSROOM
CONTAINING ONTARIO CURRICULUM SUPPORT MATERIALS
BY
ARTHUR MILLER
EDUCATION PARTNERS
, PRESENTS
The crucible
By
Arthur miller
This study guide for The Crucible contains back-
ground information for the play, suggested themes
and topics for discussion, and curriculum-based TABLE OF Contents
lessons that are designed by educators and theatre
The Players/Synopsis............................................3
professionals.
The Story ..............................................................4
The lessons and themes for discussion are organ-
ized in modules that can be used independently or Who’s Who in the Play ........................................5
interdependently according to the class level and
time availability. Director’s Notes/Designer’s Notes ....................6
THIS GUIDE WAS WRITTEN AND COMPILED BY The Playwright .......................................................7
BARBARA WORTHY, ROD CHRISTENSEN AND DR. Historical Background ..........................................8
DEBRA MCLAUCHLAN, PHD. ADDITIONAL MATE-
RIALS WERE PROVIDED BY TADEUSZ BRADECKI, Did You Know? ....................................................9
PETER HARTWELL AND GYLLIAN RABY. Background/ Puritanism ....................................10
COVER: “LOOKING BACK” (1984) EVELYN WILLIAMS, CHARCOAL
ON PAPER.(PRIVATE COLLECTION/BRIDGEMAN ART LIBRARY)
Background/The Mystery of Salem ..................11
PAGE 2 ILLUSTATION: DEATH WARRANT FOR REBECCA NURSE
(ORIGINAL COURT DOCUMENT)
Background/The Political Stage........................12
PAGE 5 PHOTO: PETER KRANTZ BY SHIN SUGINO.
Additional Sources...............................................13
Classroom Applications
The crucible
Before Attending the Play ............................14-20
Running time: 2hrs 50 approx.
After Attending the Play...............................21-28
including one intermission
Glossary of Theatre Terms ................................29
Previews June 3, 2006
Opens June 23, 2006 Response Sheet ....................................................30
Closes October 14, 2006
2
, The Players
Ezekiel Cheever............................................................................. Guy Bannerman
Giles Corey ....................................................................................Bernard Behrens
Hopkins......................................................................................... Anthony Bekenn
Tituba......................................................................................................... Lisa Berry
Thomas Putnam........................................................................ Norman Browning
John Proctor .............................................................................. Benedict Campbell
Betty Parris....................................................................... Katie Cambone-Mannell
Elizabeth Proctor .......................................................................................Kelli Fox
Abigail Williams ...........................................................................Charlotte Gowdy
Ann Putnam...........................................................................................Mary Haney
Townsperson ....................................................................................Evert Houston
Francis Nurse ............................................................................................ Al Kozlik
Reverend John Hale.............................................................................Peter Krantz
Mary Warren.................................................................................. Trish Lindstrom
Marshall Herrick................................................................................. Jeff Meadows
Deputy-Governor Danforth..................................................................Jim Mezon
Rebecca Nurse................................................................................. Jennifer Phipps
Guard................................................................................................Micheal Querin
Reverend Samuel Parris.............................................................................. Ric Reid
Judge Hathorne .......................................................................... David Schurmann
Susanna Wallcott.....................................................................................Nelly Scott
Sarah Good.................................................................................... Wendy Thatcher
Mercy Lewis............................................................................... Taylor Trowbridge
Directed by Tadeusz Bradecki
Set Designed by Peter Hartwell
Costumes Designed by Teresa Przybylski
Lighting Designed by Kevin Lamotte
Original Music by Paul Sportelli
Stage Manager: Meredith Macdonald
Assistant Stage Manager: Amy Jewell
Technical Director: Jeff Scollon
Synopsis
A powerful, fictional re-telling of a historical moment in 17th century America: the “witch trials” of Salem,
Massachusetts in 1692. A play famous for rousing the conscience of America, and one of the landmark dramas
of the century, it depicts how difficult it is to defend principles and human dignity under conditions of para-
noia, fear, and hysteria. The Crucible is an allegory of the insidious spread and reach of McCarthyism in the early
‘50s.
3
