Arthur Miller's "'The Crucible'

The Department of Theatre and Dance within FAU's Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters presents "The Crucible," an  American classic written by playwright Arthur Miller. The play revolves around the witchcraft hysteria that plagued 17th century Salem, Mass., and how that hysteria split the town into those who used the trials for their own ends and those who desired good for all. The play runs from Friday, Sept. 19 through Sunday, Sept. 28 in the Studio One Theatre, 777 Glades Road, Boca Raton campus. 

Shows are on Fridays at 7 p.m.; Saturdays at 1 and 7 p.m.; and Sundays at 1 p.m. General admission tickets are $20; students, faculty, staff, alumni and children under age 12 may purchase tickets for $12; and group prices are available. Tickets can be purchased by calling 1-800-564-9539 or at www.fauevents.com.

Although Miller wrote "The Crucible" in 1953 based on the events that took place in Salem, Mass. in 1692, he was liberal in his interpretation and portrayal of those events. The real theme that came out in the play was a response to Sen. McCarthy and the House Un-American Activities Committee's crusade against supposed communist sympathizers.  Miller himself was questioned by the House of Representatives' Committee on Un-American Activities in 1956 and convicted of "contempt of Congress" for refusing to identify others present at meetings he had attended.

"The Crucible" won the "Best Play" Tony Award in 1953.