General
Student Life
Health and Wellness
Culture and Society
General
Arts and Humanities
MSU Theatre embraces history, sets The Crucible in the 1950s
Arthur Miller’s The Crucible connects the Salem witch trials of the 1600s with the anti-communist investigations of the 1950s, when Miller wrote the play. In MSU Theatre’s upcoming production, director Liz Redmill brings that connection to the foreground by setting the play in the 1950s.
Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 12-14 (Thursday-Saturday), with a 2:30 p.m. performance on Sunday, Nov. 15, at the Fain Fine Arts Theatre. General admission is $10. MSU Texas students, faculty, and staff receive free admission.
Redmill, an assistant professor of theatre, said the shift makes the play’s themes more immediate for a modern audience. The dialogue remains unchanged, while the movement, set and costumes reflect the 1950s.
In her description of the production, Redmill said it “embraces the historical connection, exploring how fear can be manipulated to consolidate power, how pressure to conform silences dissent, and how accusations can become weapons against those who challenge authority.” She said the show’s relevance to modern society helped inspire her approach.
“People are really kinda willing to throw each other under the bus if it saves themselves, and that’s still happening today. By putting it in the fifties, we can grasp that a little bit better than the Salem Witch Trials, which almost seem fake – they’re so long ago they feel more like a story than history,” Redmill said.
Redmill also hopes the production will offer lessons for the students involved, both through its themes and the process of staging a complex play. She said learning from mistakes allows society to grow. The production’s dialogue, large cast and creative design choices have challenged the students to do their best work.
“I think you learn through theatre that kindness and that empathy, and you’re able to walk in someone else’s shoes and learn how to translate that into your daily lives,” Redmill said.
For MSU Texas juniors Alexis Samaniego and Nicholas Harrison-Rives, the production offers hands-on learning as well as the opportunity to participate in a long-awaited show.
Samaniego, the show’s stage manager, first read The Crucible in high school and was intrigued by it. Unsure what she wanted to do, she took a chance on a theatre audition and fell in love with the art form. She said theatre gave her a way to use her skills to benefit others.
Samaniego credits The Crucible as one of
the works that helped lead her toward a career in theatre and eventually to MSU Texas.
This production has deepened her appreciation for the play. It is her first time working as a stage manager, giving her a behind-the-scenes view of the work required to bring a show to life.
“I really like knowing everything about the show, like I’m kind of nosy. It’s really fun to see the show from literally before it’s even cast to production day,” Samaniego said.
Harrison-Rives, who plays the Rev. Samuel Parris, described the production as both an opportunity for growth and the fulfillment of a longtime goal. He has been involved in theatre since third grade and chose to study it because he feels called to entertain others. He said working on The Crucible has been enjoyable while stretching his abilities as an actor.
Harrison-Rives said Parris’s character “kick-starts the show.” Playing a complex character with a full dramatic arc requires heightened emotional intensity, he said, but watching the story unfold has also encouraged him to grow personally and extend greater consideration to others.
“The Crucible has been one of my dream shows since I was in high school, so getting to do this has been a great opportunity,” Harrison-Rives said.
Both students believe audiences should experience the story, particularly through this production. Samaniego sees lessons in how image can affect a person’s self-worth and status, while Harrison-Rives said the play’s warnings about rumors and groupthink remain relevant today.
Redmill also believes the play’s message resonates in a society deeply engaged with social media. She and the students hope the production will prompt audience members to reflect on their own choices.
The production has already prompted that kind of reflection among its cast and crew. Samaniego said stage-managing such a dense show has strengthened her communication skills and helped her recognize that people have different needs.
For Harrison-Rives, acting in the production has reinforced the importance of personal accountability and balanced priorities. With his personal life, school and theatre competing for time, he said responsibility and a conscious effort to find balance are essential.
“With everything going on right now in the world, it is more important than ever for this show to be put on – and a lot of companies are doing this show, and I hope it makes an impact,” Samaniego said.
Related Posts
Health and Wellness
General
Student Life
Wellness Fair
General
Student Life
Health and Wellness
Mustangs Move-In 2026
Education
Health and Wellness
Business and Government
General
Student Life