Thornton Academy Postscripts Alumni Magazine Fall 2012 | Page 4

C r eat ive Pr o cess

Interview with David Hanright

Long-time drama teacher David Hanright discusses
the upcoming production of The Crucible.

Q: Why did you choose this play?
A: I typically choose plays that are literary, as opposed to ones that are
written specifically for high schools or communities. The junior class has
been reading The Crucible for years now. This is considered one of Arthur
Miller’s best plays, along with Death of a Salesman. It’s been ten years
since we last performed this and I have the cast for it: 20 speaking parts,
plus many more non-speaking parts.
Q: What is the play about?
A: It’s based upon the history of the Salem witch trials and the lives of real
figures in history: Rebecca Nurse, John Proctor, and Giles Corey who
were accused of and persecuted for witchcraft. But The Crucible is really
Miller’s reflection on McCarthyism and the “Red Scare” witch hunts for
Communist sympathizers in the 1950s. The torture scenes express Miller’s
conviction that good people were persecuted in that hysteria.
Q: What sort of special effects should we expect?
A: I’m building a full forest of trees. There’ll be fire, smoke, and some
evocative music.
Q: Can you tell us something about the title?
A: The “crucible” refers to the witch trials themselves; the “fire” of the trial
was meant to burn away the impurities of the person on trial and reveal
the core of their goodness. It’s a metaphor for keeping up appearances or,
alternatively, the melting away of facades.
Q: How do you feel students engaging in this performance experience it?
A: Creativity is being able to process all of your knowledge, everything
you know, so that other people can understand. It’s building upon everything that’s come before you and creating something new. I avoid trying
to be too closed in how I direct plays. I allow students to step forward
with their own ideas on how to choreograph or own a piece of the project. Sharing is the most important part of their creativity. You can’t make
an artistic statement unless you share it. Otherwise, it’s just an idea in
your head. I encourage students to do this, to experience the full creative
process.

Harry P. Garland II was a Thornton
trustee from 1956 – 1985 and served
as president from 1979-1985. The
Auditorium was made possible by
a memorial gift given in Garland’s
honor by his wife, Marjorie, and sons,
Charles ‘58 and Stephen ‘64.
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