The Crucible - Ball State University

I have given you my soul; leave me my name!

This production of Arthur Miller’s classic was purposely set out of time and place to further the idea that this could happen in any insular religious community. The costumes largely were of the 1930’s, and I chose to use the early 30’s as a bookend for developing the music for this show.

In discussion with a colleague, shape note singing was mentioned. Shape note–and similarly Sacred Harp—began as a rural Southern form of Protestant worship. The singing, which uses a reduced scale and is led by hand “shapes,” is valued not for the beauty of individual voices, but for the collective experience of singing together. Blending and singing with the group is valued over any sort of virtuosity. Shape note singing has a nasal, droning quality, and we took advantage of both live singing as well as pre-recorded shape note groups.

I wanted to keep the music lean and muscular, and chose ultimately to stick with spare arrangements of piano and percussion to keep the momentum forward. I was concerned about the show falling into sentimentality, and actively worked to create nuanced scene transitions that served the purpose without beating the audience over the head.

CREDITS

The Crucible
by Arthur Miller
Ball State University
Muncie, IN
October 24 - November 1, 2014

Director: Eva Patton
Scenic Designer: David C. "Kip" Shawger
Lighting Designer: Graham Zellers
Costume Designer: Koledon Lambright
Sound Designer: Matthew Tibbs
Hair/Make-Up Designer: Mandy Machura

John Proctor: Kevin Lauerman
Abigail Williams: Natalie Masini
Reverend Hale: Zach Tabor
Elizabeth Proctor: Sam Sheeks
Reverend Parris: Evan Cullinan
Rebecca Nurse: Sophia Foldvari
Francis Nurse: David Merten
Judge Danforth: Matthew Bettencourt
Giles Corey: Keith Overall
Thomas Putnam: Jake Milligan
Ann Putnam: Mary Taylor
Tituba: Keirsten Hodgens
Mary Warren: Ashley Greenwood
Betty Parris: Bethany Spevacek
Ezekiel Cheever: Brandon Merriweather
Judge Hathorne: Ryan Murphy
Marshall Herrick: Justin Vance
Mercy Lewis: Olivia Schaperjohn
Susanna Walcott: Allie Richardson
Sarah Good: Bryce Saxson
Hopkins: Adam Allen