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High School Students Experience “John Proctor Is the Villain” Matinee
On April 2, the critically acclaimed play John Proctor Is the Villain hosted a special matinee for an enthusiastic audience of 750 public high school students hailing from 25 different schools in the New York metropolitan area. The performance concluded with a lively dance party featuring Chappell Roan’s upbeat track “Hot to Go!” that energized the young attendees. Each student was also gifted a JanSport backpack adorned with a John Proctor Is the Villain patch, along with a gift card to Dunkin’ for refreshments.
Directed by Tony Award winner Danya Taymor, performances of John Proctor Is the Villain began its run on Broadway on March 20 at the Booth Theatre, quickly garnering attention for its timely themes and engaging narrative.
The cast features Sadie Sink in the lead role of ‘Shelby Holcomb’ alongside Nihar Duvvuri as ‘Mason Adams’, Tony Award winner Gabriel Ebert as ‘Carter Smith’, and several other talented actors including Molly Griggs, Maggie Kuntz, Hagan Oliveras, Morgan Scott, Fina Strazza, and Amalia Yoo. Understudies for the production include Noah Pacht, Fiona Robberson, Shian Tomlinson, Garrett Young, and Victoria Vourkoutiotis, ensuring every show maintains its high-quality standards.
In the riveting narrative of John Proctor Is the Villain, five young women navigate the complexities of adolescence while clashing with societal expectations, their small-town Georgia environment, and the entrenched narratives around them. As they analyze Arthur Miller’s *The Crucible* in class, the play invites them to interrogate prevailing notions of heroism and villainy, all through a lens of humor and incisive commentary. This new work, deemed “one of the most anticipated of the season” by The New York Times, challenges audiences to reflect on their own definitions of identity and justice.
The creative team behind John Proctor Is the Villain features a diverse array of talent across multiple disciplines: scenography by AMP with contributions from Teresa L. Williams; costumes designed by Sarah Laux; lighting by Natasha Katz; sound and original music by Palmer Hefferan; and projections crafted by Hannah Wasileski. Additionally, nuanced hair and makeup designs come from J. Jared Janas, movement direction by Tilly Evans-Krueger, intimacy coordination led by Ann James, as well as voice, text, and dialect coaching provided by Gigi Buffington. The dramaturgy is overseen by Lauren Halvorsen, with production stage management by Kamra A. Jacobs and casting handled by Taylor Williams.
Source
www.broadwayworld.com