The Humanist Project is excited to announce the launch of its new comedy, “A Crucible: A Puritanical Celebration of Witches and Turkeys”, featuring the beloved, bumbling residents of Massachusetts, the Danvers Onions. Directed by Michael F. Toomey, and written with the ensemble, the show is a hilarious and thought-provoking mash-up of Thanksgiving, Puritanical traditions, witch hunts, and American history. A Crucible combines the holiday spirit with sharp social commentary, as it follows the Danvers Onions’ well-meaning but disastrously misguided attempts to stage Arthur Miller’s classic The Crucible.

A New Twist on an American Classic

It’s Thanksgiving in the small town of Danvers, and the town’s beloved community theater group, the Onion Town Community Players, is preparing their annual production of Arthur Miller’s The Crucible—sort of. Complete with missteps, misunderstandings, and a ridiculous amount of turkey. This play-within-a-play celebrates women, food, villainous men, and the uniquely American tradition of passionately participating in a good argument. With absurdity and wit, A Crucible highlights themes of ignorance, deception, and modern-day witch hunts—making it more relevant now than ever before.

Cast
-Mia Alexandra as Colonel Meowski
-Jon-Mykul Bowen as Andreas Pina
-Evan James Koepnick as Bryan With A Y
-Peter Julien Lane as Glitch
-Madeleine Maggio as Bubbles
-Fernando Zermeno Garavito as Cliff

Production/Creative Team
-The Humanist Project
-Director/Set Designer: Michael F. Toomey
-Production Stage Manager: Meg Meschino
-Costume Designer: Eliza Maggio
-Musical Performer and Designer: Mitchel Csermak
-Lighting Design: Luke Willson

Director Michael F. Toomey is a neurodivergent performer, theater creator, and Clown Master, known for his ability to create innovative and playful theatrical experiences. As the Artistic Director of The Humanist Project, Toomey has a long history of devising new works, having toured internationally with Split Knuckle Theatre. He is a founding member of Split Knuckle, which has performed from Bangkok to Buenos Aires. Toomey’s career includes directing, devising, and choreographing productions such as The Comedy of Errors, Titus Andronicus, Julius Caesar, and Alice In Wonderland. He has also been a company member at Shakespeare & Company for over 20 years, performing in a wide range of roles. His passion for clowning, honed under masters Philippe Gaulier and Giovanni Fusetti, is a central influence on his approach to comedy and storytelling.

Production Stage Manager, Meg Meschino is a theatre artist born and raised in New York City, and the production stage manager/co-producer for MAD MAD MAD. She graduated from Marymount Manhattan College with a degree in Producing and Management. Meg frequently stage manages for the American Academy of Dramatic Arts through their company seasons, as well as for their second year graduation series. Other recent projects include How to Steal an Election with the York Theatre Company (ASM), Travels with Ars Nova (PA), the New York Philharmonic Concerts in the Parks (PA), and Self Tape (PSM) at the Downtown Urban Arts Festival.

The Humanist Project is a Brooklyn-based theater company with a mission to recenter play in Performance and asks the artists to bring their full self to our work, play and our lives. Folks at The Humanist Project strive to provide exceptional actor training while emphasizing the importance of centering play at the heart of the work.

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Tickets: $20 (in-advance); $25 (at-the-door)

Seating/Bar: 7:00PM Show: 7:30PM

This event is indoors.

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Parking is limited at the venue so please utilize the three public parking lots in Town. One is across from the Post Office, one is behind Berkshire Bank and the other is just off Main Street. They are clearly marked. Do not park at Trúc Orient Express Restaurant or the Post Office or you might receive a ticket.

Visit Amici Berkshires for dinner before the show and with your ticket receive 10% off your meal.

All sales are final – The Foundry is unable to make any returns or exchanges.