About This Show
Since its premiere in 1953, Arthur Miller’s The Crucible, a masterful and chilling portrayal of the historic Salem Witch Trials and an allegory for the rise of McCarthyism in the late 1940s, has rightfully become an American classic serving as both a cautionary tale and provocation that compels each generation to reflect upon the harrowing world it portrays.
The people of Salem are whipped into a bloodthirsty frenzy by a series of escalating misinterpretations after a group of teenage girls are accused of dancing devilishly in the woods. Fearing retribution, the girls begin a chain of finger-pointing until neighbor turns against neighbor, whispers become testimony, fabrications become facts, and a once powerless teenage girl suddenly has the ability to decide the fate of all those around her. As the hearts of the townsfolk become poisoned, even John Proctor, a principled farmer and family man, must wrestle with a corrupt court and his own transgressions to protect his innocent wife and his family’s good name.
Watch & Listen
Content Advisory
Steppenwolf does not offer advisories about subject matter, as sensitivities vary from person to person. If you have any questions about content, age-appropriateness or stage effects (such as strobe lights or theatrical fog) that might have a bearing on patron comfort, please contact the box office at 312-335-1650.
Additional Info
School Performances
Interested in having your students experience this show? Registration is available starting December 1, 2020. If you are not already receiving emails from Steppenwolf Education, put your email address on the list to receive notice when registration opens.
Special Performances
Open-captioned:
Saturday, October 21 at 3pm
Audio-described:
Friday, October 13 7:30pm
Cast & Artists
Reviews
"Pulses with the shadows of the past as surely as the crisis of the present"
– Chicago Tribune
"Thoughtful, terrifying allegory proves haunting, relevant, and timely"
– PerformInk
"Still amazes…few plays ride such a roller-coaster of hope and hate"
– Stage and Cinema
"Just in time for Halloween"
– Let’s Play
"Skillfully directed"
– Third Coast Review