FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: September 24, 2004
Contact: Christa Skiles
Public Relations Director
513-345-2242, ext. 232

CINCINNATI PLAYHOUSE IN THE PARK PRESENTS ARTHUR MILLER’S GRIPPING DRAMA THE CRUCIBLE, OCTOBER 19-NOVEMBER 19

(CINCINNATI) – The Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park continues its Robert S. Marx Theatre season with a gripping and suspenseful drama by one of America’s greatest living playwrights. Arthur Miller’s The Crucible begins previews on October 19 and runs through November 19.

Set against the backdrop of the 1692 Witch Trials in Salem, Massachusetts, The Crucible is an extraordinary look at personal integrity in the face of social hysteria and misguided authority. Several of Salem’s children have taken ill, and rumors are circulating that the cause is supernatural in nature. One of the afflicted is Betty Parris, daughter of the town’s Reverend Samuel Parris, who discovered her with his niece Abigail dancing and singing in the woods, acts which are strictly forbidden in Salem. Because the doctor is unable to find a cause for Betty’s sickness, Parris has called Reverend Hale from Beverly to examine her.

When the girls are questioned about the night in the forest, they “confess” that Parris’ slave servant Tituba had called to the Devil, and they begin accusing several of the town’s other citizens of consorting with him as well in an attempt to harm the girls. Soon the list of suspected witches grows and even the town’s most pious citizens find their lives in grave danger.

Uncertainty and mistrust fan the flames of fear and retribution until one man comes before the court to expose the deceit and treachery behind the accusations. In an attempt to save his wife and the lives of countless others, John Proctor offers a startling confession, one that comes with a heavy price and forces him to weigh the value of his life over the value of his name.

Considered by many to be Arthur Miller’s most politically significant work, The Crucible debuted on Broadway in 1953, garnering a Tony Award for Best Play. In its story of the centuries-past Salem Witch Trials, the play contained obvious analogies to the contemporary anti-Communist government hearings convened by Senator Joseph McCarthy. In 1956, Miller himself was called to testify before the House Un-American Activities Committee. He refused to name people he allegedly saw at a Communist writers’ meeting a decade before and was convicted of contempt, although he appealed the verdict and won.

Arthur Miller first achieved success with his 1947 play All My Sons, winner of the Drama Critics Circle Award, and with Death of a Salesman in 1949, which received both the Drama Critics Award and the Pulitzer Prize. Other works include A View From The Bridge, After The Fall and The Ride Down Mount Morgan. Miller’s Finishing The Picture receives its world premiere this month at Chicago’s Goodman Theatre.

The cast for The Crucible includes Tim Altmeyer (Reverend Hale), Christopher Burns (John Proctor), Thomas Carson (Thomas Putnam), Stephanie Cozart (Abigail Williams), Katherine Hill (Susanna Wallcott), Dale Hodges (Rebecca Nurse/Martha Corey), Keith Jochim (Judge Hathorne), Joneal Joplin (Deputy Governor Danforth), Olivia Keister (Mary Warren), Dane Knell (Giles Corey), Lianne Kressin (Ann Putnam), Anderson Matthews (Reverend Parris),
Jessica O’Connor (Mercy Lewis), Gretchen Porro (Betty Parris), Bernadette Quigley (Elizabeth Proctor), Whit Reichert (Francis Nurse), Jeremy Sher (John Willard), Carolyn Swift (Sarah Good), chandra thomas (Tituba) and Jerry Vogel (Ezekiel Cheever).

The Crucible is directed by Steven Woolf, artistic director of The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, where the show ran September 8-October 8 as a co-production with the Playhouse. Other production team members include Narelle Sissons (set designer), Elizabeth Covey (costume designer), Mary Jo Dondlinger (lighting designer) and Douglas Lowry (composer). The first stage manager is Jenifer Morrow and the second stage manager is Bruce E. Coyle.

Prices for The Crucible range from $34-$46, depending on day and seat location. All tickets are $31 for the preview performances at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, October 19 and 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, October 20. The official opening night is Thursday, October 21 at 8:00 p.m. Any unreserved tickets are half-price every day when purchased between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. on the day of the show (for performances Tuesday through Saturday) and from 12 to 5 p.m. on Sunday.

The Playhouse is fully accessible. Audio enhancement receivers, large print programs and complete wheelchair access are available.

Tickets to The Crucible are on sale now. For more information, call the Playhouse box office at 513/421-3888 or toll-free in Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana at 800/582-3208. Call 513/345-2248 for TDD accessibility. For single tickets purchased by telephone through the Playhouse box office, there is a $3 convenience fee per call. Tickets also can be purchased on the Playhouse web site at www.cincyplay.com.

The Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park is currently in its 45th season as one of the nation’s leading professional regional theatres. This summer, the Playhouse was honored with the 2004 Regional Theatre Tony Award®. One of the most coveted awards in the entertainment industry, it honors a nonprofit professional regional theatre company that has displayed a continuous level of artistic achievement contributing to the growth of theatre nationally.

Artists fly to and from Cincinnati on Delta Connection Comair, the Playhouse’s official airline. The Playhouse is supported, in part, by the generosity of the tens of thousands of individuals and businesses that give to the Fine Arts Fund. The Ohio Arts Council helps fund the Playhouse with state tax dollars to encourage economic growth, educational excellence and cultural enrichment for all Ohioans. The Playhouse also receives funding from the City of Cincinnati.

Meet the Artists
These free programs allow audiences to interact with cast members and others associated with the production following the show.

2 p.m. Sunday, October 24
7:30 p.m. Wednesday, October 27
2 p.m. Sunday, November 7
8 p.m. Thursday, November 11

Audio Described Performance
5 p.m. Saturday, October 23

Signed Performance
2 p.m. Sunday, October 24

Playhouse Perspectives
A free, pre-show lecture series featuring theatre artists and experts. Funding provided by Roderick and Barbara Barr. Arthur Miller biographer Martin Gottfried is the scheduled speaker. 5:30 p.m. Sunday, October 31.

Dining Options

Karlo's Bistro at the Playhouse offers full-service dining prior to most evening performances. Dinners include salad, entrée and dessert. Reservations are required at least 24 hours in advance. The price is $21.Karlo's Casual Fare offers busy theatre patrons an alternative light, quick bite prior to the show. Options include salads, sandwiches, soups, pasta and desserts. No reservations are required.

Sponsors

Production Sponsors:
Fort Washington Investment Advisors, Inc. and Western & Southern Foundation

Design Sponsor:
Keane, Inc.

John Proctor Sponsor:
Vorys, Sater, Seymour & Pease

Fine Arts Fund Partner:
Convergys Corporation

The 2004-2005 Marx Theatre Series is presented by
The Otto M. Budig Family Foundation.

The Marx Season Design Sponsor is the
Cinergy Foundation.

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