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There are many reasons why we chose to put on a production of Arthur Miller's The Crucible; a major one being that it fits our theme of the year- Fear. In The Crucible, people are dealing with the fear of judgment, corruption, and death. This is prominent throughout the show, as more and more people are accused of witchcraft, having no way to defend themselves. They have to make a choice – confess to a lie and live, or tell the truth and be hung for crime they did not commit, all while others judge them for what they do. 
Another theme present in The Crucible is chaos within order. Even in the most respectable places, such as a court, there is disorder all around, with people lying and others not knowing what to think. We brought this out in the set design with the red boards along the walls. The red represents the disorder happening among everything else, staying present throughout the entire production. The size of the stage itself is also a statement on the show, being brought in to be much smaller than usual, representing the feeling of being trapped and having no where to go. 
Timing is another crucial aspect to this show. The Crucible is a great example of a show with a message that has stayed relevant over the years. When Miller wrote the show, it was the time of the Red Scare and McCarthyism. Watching the House Un-American Activities Committee interrogate upstanding people with no evidence other than hearsay inspired Miller to write The Crucible. Even half a century after Miller wrote this play, his message is still relevant, showing up most prominently in Politics today; many of us feel trapped between two terrible choices and fallout from each. The Crucible continues to serve as a reminder of how society will respond when faced with the choice of giving up your life, or your principles. 

- Lake Orion Thespian Troupe 2898