LIHU‘E — The opening performance of Arthur Miller’s “The Crucible” kicks off at 7 p.m. today at Kaua‘i Community College. Director Dennis McGraw has been planning the production for more than a year and says the audience can expect
LIHU‘E — The opening performance of Arthur Miller’s “The Crucible” kicks off at 7 p.m. today at Kaua‘i Community College.
Director Dennis McGraw has been planning the production for more than a year and says the audience can expect a powerful performance.
“The Crucible,” written by Miller in the 1950s, takes place in Salem, Mass. in 1692 and recounts the events surrounding the Salem Witch Trials, during which 19 men and women convicted of witchcraft were hung. It was first performed on Broadway at the Martin Beck Theater in 1953. The performance won the “Best Play” Tony Award.
Performances will run Fridays through Sundays from Oct. 26 to Nov. 4. at the KCC Performing Arts Center.
The cast includes 23 students enrolled in the KPAC’s after-school program. Rehearsals have been ongoing since the first week in August.
“I think the students are enjoying it and recognize it is a large undertaking,” McGraw said. “They recognize that if we can perform it the way it’s supposed to it will be a powerful play.”
During its opening weekend, McGraw’s undertaking of “The Crucible” comes with a bit of competition from his wife, Laurel Petterson McGraw, who is directing “An Evening with Tennessee Williams,” a series of vignettes from the Southern playwright’s most famous works, which continues this weekend at WIT’s End in Kapa‘a.
“The two playwrights (Miller and Williams) involved are arguably the two greatest American playwrights,” Dennis said.
The cast of “The Crucible” includes Edwin Furumoto, Sara Morimoto, Kilinoe Garcia, Savanah Frisk, Mary Mullins, Megan Scholl, Cody Palmer, Ellie Valentino, Angela Dunsmoor-Connor, Nick Trpkovski, Brittany Hale, Logan Baptiste, Connor McGrath, Abby Delavega, Tyler Elwin, Riley Young, Brandon Elwin, Sara Morimoto, Semisi Osamu, Kailer Scopacasa, Keri Silva, Cory Ritter and Zack Silva.
Work behind the scenes includes Director and Producer Dennis McGraw, Assistant to the Director Pat McGrath, Jarhett Gaines, Poppy Shell, Marc Sincignano, Burton Olivier, Kana Ka-ne-Jumawan, Stephanie Rose, Dexter Olivier and Bianca Wagner.
Students island-wide participate in KPAC, Hawai‘i’s learning center program providing middle and high school students with classes in acting, playwriting, stagecraft, scene study and directing.
Friday and Saturday performances of “The Crucible” begin at 7 p.m., while Sunday performances begin at 4 p.m.
Tickets cost $20 for adults and $15 for students and seniors. Tickets are available at the door or in advance at North Shore Pharmacy (Kilauea), Jim Saylor Jewelers (Kapa‘a), Vim n’ Vigor (Lihu‘e), Progressive Expressions (Koloa) and Scotty’s Music (Kalaheo). For more information contact Dennis McGraw at 651-2417.
