"The Crucible" Audition for the Theater

The minister of Salem’s church, Parris is disliked by many residents because of his power-hungry, greedy, and domineering personality. He is the father of Betty Parris and uncle to Abigail Williams is more concerned about upholding his reputation than her mysterious stupor. This role requires physicality.

Seeking an actress of Black and/or Indigenous descent to portray this historically significant, Barbadian character. In this production, race is central to the exploration of power dynamics in 1692 Salem and we are committed to authentic, respectful storytelling for this pivotal character. Tituba is an enslaved woman in the household of Reverend Parris. This role requires physicality.

(Preferably with the ability to play at the younger end), Female. Reverend Parris’ niece and the antagonist. Abigail was once the servant for the Proctor household, but Elizabeth Proctor fired her after discovering Abigail’s sexual relationship with her husband, John Proctor. Abigail is smart, wily, vindictive, and charismatic, using her influence over the girls to gain power to remove Elizabeth from the picture, so she can be with John. This role requires physicality and intimacy.

Susanna is nervous and hasty, often playing – or seeming – younger and/or more immature than Abigail. She works for Dr. Griggs and participates in the ritual in the woods with Tituba. This role requires physicality.

Thomas Putnam’s wife, Ann has given birth to eight children, but only her little Ruth survived to girlhood, with the others dying before they were a day old. Ann is convinced that they were murdered by supernatural means.

Thomas is a wealthy, influential citizen of Salem. He holds a grudge against Francis Nurse for preventing his brother-in-law from being elected to the office of minister. Thomas uses the witch trials to fatten his own pockets by accusing people of witchcraft and buying their land for cheap.

Mercy is a servant of Ann and Thomas Putnam. She is sly and merciless and enjoys using her emotions as leverage. She is Abigail’s closest friend and “right-hand,” sticking with her until the end. This role requires physicality.

A timid servant in the household of John and Elizabeth Proctor, and a member of Abigail’s group of girls. Mary seems to be the only girl with a conscience, trying – unsuccessfully – to expose the hoax. Unfortunately, she is easily influenced by those around her and is thwarted by Abigail and the other girls. In order to save herself from their accusations of witchcraft, Mary ultimately recants her confession and turns on John Proctor. This role requires physicality.

A local farmer who lives just outside town and the protagonist; Elizabeth Proctor’s husband. John is stern and harsh-tongued, and he hates hypocrisy. His own hidden sin – his grooming of and sexual relationship with Abigail Williams – is what ultimately proves to be his downfall. When the hysteria begins, he hesitates to expose Abigail as a fraud because he worries that this secret will be revealed and his name will be ruined. This role requires physicality and intimacy.

(Preferably with the ability to play at the upper end). Francis Nurse’s wife. Rebecca is wise, sensible and upright, a pillar of the community, and held in highest regard by most of the Salem community. She is a midwife of the town and helped deliver many of Ann Putnam’s babies. Ann is jealous of Rebecca’s many (alive) children and both she and Thomas accuse Rebecca of witchcraft. This role requires minor physicality.

(Preferably with the ability to play at mid to upper end). Giles is a feisty farmer, famous for his tendency to file lawsuits on a regular basis. He is a good friend of John Proctor. After his wife, Martha, is accused of witchcraft, he is held in contempt of court and pressed to death with large stones. In spite of this torture, he refuses to plea (allowing his children to retain ownership of the Corey property), and he refuses to accuse anyone else. This role requires minor physicality.

(Preferably with the ability to play at the younger end). Reverend Hale is a young and idealistic minister, committed to Christianity, and reputed to be an expert on witchcraft. He’s called to Salem to examine Reverend Parris’ daughter. His critical mind and fierce intelligence save him from falling into blind fervor.

John Proctor’s wife. Elizabeth fired Abigail, whom her husband groomed and had a sexual relationship with. Elizabeth is extremely virtuous, often to the point of coldness, and struggles to forgive John. This role requires physicality and intimacy.

(Preferably with the ability to play at the upper end). Francis is a wealthy and influential man in Salem. Alongside his wife, Rebecca, he is well-respected by most people in Salem, but is an enemy of Thomas and Ann Putnam. This role requires minor physicality.

An astute, but morally weak man, who acts as the witch trials’ court clerk. Originally a friend to most residents of Salem, he turns on those accused, handling their arrests.

The marshal of Salem is responsible for bringing the defendants to court (and, sometimes, dragging protestors out). He’s sympathetic to those accused, eventually disbelieving the accusations of witchcraft. This role requires minor physicality.

A judge who presides, along with Danforth, over the witch trials. Hathorne is cold, ignorant, and antagonistic, denying any possible explanation other than witchcraft. He is considered the “hanging judge.”

Deputy Governor of Massachusetts and presiding judge at the witch trials. He is honest, scrupulous, and the ultimate authority – at least in his own mind. Danforth is convinced he is doing the right thing, rooting out witchcraft, but presents as more sympathetic as the play goes on.

Voice only. Giles Corey’s third wife. Martha is a voracious reader, but often hides the books she reads, which leads to her arrest and conviction for witchcraft. Only her voice is heard offstage as she testifies before the court.

One of the first to be accused of witchcraft, she is poor and often rejected by the people of Salem. She’s pregnant at the time of trial and gives birth in jail, but sadly, the baby dies. This ordeal has a huge impact on her mental state, as she appears only briefly in the final scene.

Will likely need to be filled as townspeople for some scenes; participation in these roles will require minimal rehearsals.