By Ashley Gilbert

This year’s play, performed by the Visual and Performing Arts (VAPA) department will be “The Crucible,” by American playwright Arther Miller. The play will take place on November 4 and 5. The VAPA department has performed “The Crucible” twice before in 2014 and 2019, both very successful runs.

“The Crucible” tells the story of the Salem Witch Trials that took place in Massachusetts during the 17th century. The play focuses on John Proctor (senior Liam Sacramento), and his affair with Abigail Williams (senior Mia Deukmedijan). Their affair ultimately ruins his reputation between himself, his wife, and God. “The Crucible” contains important and timeless themes of revenge, social status, integrity, and the overall idea of goodness.

This is a change from the last two plays, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” and “Peter and the Star-catcher,” which were both much more lighthearted.

“I feel like the other plays we’ve done have been really cheery and happy but ‘The Crucible’ is more of a dramatic setting where it deals with what women had to go through,” junior Rachelle Cantuba said. “I’m overall excited to see the premise of it and I have no idea what to expect.”

Auditions were held at the end of August. Students were asked to prepare a short monologue from any play and perform it in front of both drama teacher Stuart Fingeret and English teacher Maureen Grandchamp. Students returned the next day for a callback if Fingeret and Grandchamp felt they were right for a part.

The verified cast list was posted the weekend after the auditions.

“I’m super excited to have an enthralling drama performed at Granada,” senior William Brooks said. “It’s going to be awesome to see everyone have to play more serious roles. There’s no mystics or magic like in prior years. Instead of the whimsical world of ‘Peter and the Star-catcher,’ we’ll be thrust into a deeply dramatized world. In other words, it’s completely juxtaposed to the other plays recently performed at Granada and it’ll definitely be different than we are used to but I think everyone’s ready for that change.”

The cast list includes both returning faces and new actors, in all grades from freshman to senior. Some of the larger roles include Elizabeth Proctor (senior Michelle Barmaksezian), Reverend Hale (William Brooks), and Reverend Parris (junior Ricky Trujillo).

Rehearsals started in early September, which began a whirlwind adventure of preparation to bring this play to life in November. Tickets will be available online closer to opening day.