Casting Performers for "The Crucible" Play

Honest, upright, and blunt-spoken, Proctor is a good man, but one with a secret, fatal flaw. His lust for Abigail Williams led to their affair (which occurs before the play begins), and created Abigail’s jealousy of his wife, Elizabeth, which sets the entire witch hysteria in motion. A part of the “farmer” class. Some light combat and physical intimacy with Abigail/Elizabeth will be needed based on actor comfortability.

John Proctor's wife. Elizabeth fired Abigail when she discovered that her husband was having an affair with her. Elizabeth is supremely virtuous, morally good, and upright, but often cold. She will never lie, but when called upon to tell the truth in court, she ends up damning her husband. Some light physical intimacy with John Proctor will be needed based on actor comfortability.

Reverend Parris' niece, Abigail was once the servant for the Proctor household, but was fired by Elizabeth Proctor after she discovered that Abigail was having an affair with her husband, John. Abigail is smart, wily, vengeful, manipulative, vindictive, and a magnificent liar. Abigail will be part of the prologue, dancing in the forest with Tituba & the other girls. Some physical intimacy with John Proctor and potentially some light combat with Rev.

The new servant in the Proctor household and a member of Abigail's group of girls. She is a timid girl, easily influenced by those around her, who tries, unsuccessfully, to expose the hoax of witchcraft. She is a weak girl who gets in way over her head with what's going on around her. Mary is in the prologue and it will be alluded to that Mary and Mercy have a hidden romantic relationship. A level of physical intimacy is required but will be discussed based on actor comfortability.

Mercy is servant to the Putnam's. One of the girls in Abigail's group, she joins in condemning various villagers as witches. Mercy will be part of the prologue, dancing in the forest with Tituba and the other girls. In which she will be in undergarments of some kind based on actor comfortability, no nudity. It will be alluded to that Mary and Mercy have a hidden romantic relationship. A level of physical intimacy is required but will be discussed based on actor comfortability.

The youngest of the girls and Reverend Parris' daughter. Betty falls into a strange stupor after being caught dancing in the woods with Tituba and the other girls. Her illness, and that of Ruth Putnam fuel the first rumors of witchcraft. Betty will be in the prologue in the forest with Tituba & the other girls.

Susanna is another one of the girls in Abigail's group. She assists the town doctor, Doctor Giggs. Susanna will be part of the prologue in the forest with Tituba & the other girls.

Rebecca is a wise, sensible, and upright woman, held in tremendous regard as a pillar of the Salem community. However, she falls victim to the hysteria when the Putnams accuse her of witchcraft and she refuses to confess, even though it means going to her death. Married to Francis Nurse.

The minister of Salem's church. Reverend Parris is a paranoid, power-hungry, yet oddly self pitying figure. He is a greedy, spineless, wormy little character. Many of the townsfolk, especially John Proctor, dislike him, and Parris is very concerned with maintaining his position in the community. Some light combat will be needed with Abigail based on actor comfortability.

A neighboring minister reputed to be an expert on witchcraft. Hale is a committed Christian and experienced witch-hunter. His critical mind and intelligence save him from falling into blind fervor. His arrival sets the hysteria in motion, although he later regrets his actions and attempts to save the lives of those accused. He ends up a broken, cynical man.

A judge who presides, along with Danforth, over the witch trials. He is second in command, in need of better people skills.

Giles is an elderly but feisty farmer in Salem, famous for his tendency to file lawsuits. Giles' wife, Martha, is accused of witchcraft, and his attempt to defend her backfires. He is held in contempt of court and stands mute, so as to subject any others to arrest.

Martha is Giles Corey's third wife. Martha's reading habits lead her to her arrest and conviction for witchcraft.

Francis is a wealthy influential artisan in Salem. Nurse is well respected by most people in Salem, but is an enemy of Thomas Putnam and his wife. He is a good man and a good husband who has the courage to stand up to the court to try and save his wife, Rebecca.

Putnam another influential citizen of Salem. He is greedy, selfish and petty. Putnam uses his daughter to accuse people of witchcraft whose property he covets, and once condemned, buys up their land, and thus increases his own wealth. Originally, Putnam is portrayed as wealthy but in this version he will be a part of the “farmer” class.

Ann is married to Thomas Putnam. She is sad and angry, having given birth to eight children, but only one, Ruth Putnam, has survived. The other seven died before they were a day old and Ann is convinced that they were murdered by supernatural means.

A judge who presides, along with Hathorne, over the witch trials. Governor Danforth represents rigidity and an over-adherence to the law. He is clearly an intelligent man, highly respected and successful. He arrives in Salem to oversee the trials of the accused witches with a serene sense of his own ability to judge fairly. The chaos of the trial doesn’t affect his own belief that he is the best judge.

Ezekiel is the town tailor who acts as clerk of the court during the witch trials. He is upright, obedient and determined to do his duty for justice. He will double as Hopkins.

Marshal of the jail where accused are kept. An alcoholic who has a good relationship with Sarah Good and Tituba.

Sarah is an alcoholic, without husband or land. A woman of Salem, accused of witchcraft by Abigail.