Casting Performers for "The Crucible" Show

Betty is Reverend Parris’ daughter and the catalyst for the events in the play. When the play opens, she has taken ill. At the end of act one, Betty joins Abigail and Tituba in rattling off a list of names of those women who they saw with the Devil. She is fearful, nervous, and easily intimidated by Abigail.

Reverend of the church in Salem, a widower. Parris believes he is being persecuted everywhere he goes, and his power and status within the community are irrevocably undermined when his young daughter is seemingly possessed by the devil. He is self-righteous, austere, controlling, and bears most of the responsibility of starting the witch panic.

Based on the historical figure who was kidnapped as a young girl and sold into the slave trade in Barbados, later to become the real Reverend Parris’s slave. Tituba is wary and cautious, aware of the tenuousness of her situation and her lack of agency or power, and exhausted and worn down after years of abuse. She is spiritual; rooted in a cultural tradition that is perceived as completely foreign by the small, narrow-minded Salem community.

Reverend Parris’s niece and the primary antagonist. She is impulsive, strong-willed, passionate, with a present sexuality and a fiery temper. Desperate for John’s affection, or perhaps desperate for an escape, Abigail recognizes opportunity and seizes it. Growing up in an oppressive patriarchal society, Abigail is keenly aware of her own growing power, and becomes ruthless in her pursuit of getting what she wants.

One of the girls who joins Abigail in crying witchcraft. She is nervous and worried.

Wife of Thomas Putnam. Ann is brittle, fretful, and anxious. Haunted by the loss of her seven children, her grief has left her embittered and resentful of others’ good fortunes, though her family is well-to-do. Her only surviving daughter, Ruth, has been “afflicted” similar to Betty Parris when the show begins. Role may double with Sarah Good.

Wealthy landowner in Salem. Savvy, politic, shrewd and threatening, Putnam always seems to have ulterior motives. Even in the chaos of the trials, he is able to see opportunity for profit.

Putnam’s serving girl and one of the girls who joins the group crying witchcraft. Clever and sly, and not afraid to take risks. Mercy is a friend and confidant of Abigail’s, and she functions as Abigail’s lieutenant and second in command.

A timid 17-year-old servant in the Proctor household and a member of Abigail’s group of girls. Easily influenced by those around her, she tries unsuccessfully to expose the girls’ witchcraft testimony as a hoax, but is thwarted by Abigail. The girls turn on Mary, and in order to save herself from their accusations of witchcraft, Mary ultimately recants her confession and turns on John Proctor.

A local farmer who is independent, forthright and opinionated. Proctor is deeply complicated and despises hypocrisy, most especially in himself. He has little patience for the pretense and duplicity of the church, or for making a show of his devotion. John is tormented by guilt over his recent affair with Abigail Williams, but maybe lacks the empathy of why his wife is having a hard time moving past it.

Francis Nurse’s wife and an elder of the Salem community. Pious, kind, patient and virtuous. Her age, combined with the respect she has earned from the community, has made her unafraid to voice her opinions. Appalled by the behavior of the court, she stands solidly in the path of the tidal wave of fear, hatred and bigotry until it engulfs her.

A farmer. Giles is a plainspoken, hardworking man of the land, who is straightforward and unrefined. He has little formal education and relies on his ‘common sense’ which he finds more relevant than the dominant public opinion. Giles speaks before thinking, but underneath this rebellious attitude resides a good heart.

A respected minister and expert on witchcraft, Hale is brought to Salem to judge the veracity of the girl’s claims. He is an observant, judicious, rational man of faith, who truly believes in his power to heal and return individuals to God. Hale believes honestly in the trials until they begin to veer out of control. He becomes doubtful, and suffers great internal struggle and guilt over the outcome, so Hale tries to intervene and do what he can to help some of the last accused.

John Proctor’s wife. Honest, proud, faithful, and principled, to a fault. Elizabeth is a person who sees little or no latitude when it comes to what is right. Growing up in an oppressive patriarchal society, Elizabeth has perhaps overcompensated by investing all her time and energy into her faith, morals and society’s expectations of her. At times, her rigid austerity tips toward coldness.

Elder of Salem and the husband of Rebecca Nurse. An upstanding member of the community who is honest, humble and straightforward. When his wife is accused, he comes to her aid and attempts to reason with the court for her release.

Officer of the court who takes his responsibilities of the court extremely seriously and does its bidding even when it involves arresting friends and neighbors. Cheever is torn between duty and humanity. Role may double with Hopkins.

The judge presiding over the witch trials, and second in command to Danforth. He is confident and resolute, believes strongly in his own authority and importance, and is willfully ignorant to any dissent voiced by the community.

Deputy Governor of Massachusetts. Danforth is called to Salem to preside over the witch trials. He is imperious, absolute, commanding, relishes his own power, knows the law and is unwilling to deviate from it or entertain exceptions or opposing views. Danforth is not afraid to use his position and authority to bully suspects and dissenters.

Giles Corey’s third wife. Giles unknowingly condemns his wife to be found guilty of witchcraft, and she briefly testifies in court. Role may double with another.

A homeless woman and one of the first accused of witchcraft. Eccentric, slovenly, and prone to inappropriate outbursts, her unbecoming behavior sets her apart from the rest of the community. Sarah is pregnant, which at her age and due to lack of husband, makes an automatic guilty verdict inevitable. She confesses to witchcraft to escape hanging.

Guard in Salem prison.