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Cast in Our Town, 2008. Photo by Rene Pierre Allain

Canning, NS - Two Planks and a Passion Theatre Company announced the latest in its series of award-winning Theatre Off The Grid productions at the Ross Creek Centre today: an outdoor production of Arthur Miller’s classic The Crucible. Several years in the making, the production features a cast of 19 performers and the unique style of presentation for which Two Planks is now well-known.

Miller’s play, a faithful re-creation of the events surrounding the Salem Witch trials in the late 17th century in Massachusetts, is one of the most beloved American plays of the 20th century and a work that has lost none of its power or relevance over 50 years after its premiere.

“One of the most impressive things about this work is how directly it speaks to us today through a story that is over 300 years old; John Proctor’s struggle is shockingly familiar to us in the 21st century, and we can readily imagine facing similar choices” said Artistic Director Ken Schwartz. “I have little doubt that this play will still be performed 300 years from now-the story-telling is incredibly gripping”.

Widely acknowledged as a metaphor for the McCarthy hearings and their aftermath when first produced in the 1950’s in America, Miller’s play, winner of the Tony award for best play in 1953, has since become a universally praised plea for tolerance in times of fear and paranoia. “Those of us living in Post 9-11 North America can powerfully relate to this story in an immediate way that is startling, given that the subject matter-the discovery of witches-seems so distant to us at first,” says Schwartz.

Two Planks and a Passion has been widely praised for its unique outdoor presentations at the Ross Creek Centre for the Arts since the Theatre Off The Grid series was launched in the summer of 2007. Since that season the company has been nominated for 22 Merritt Awards for professional theatre in Nova Scotia, winning 12- including Outstanding Production for the last three seasons. Most recently the company premiered Allen Cole’s musical Rockbound “Off The Grid”, which recently won Merritts for Outstanding Production, New Play, Original Score, Director, and Supporting Actress for Burgandy Code.

This season’s production of The Crucible sees the return of many performers familiar to Theatre Off The Grid audiences, as well as exciting new faces. Graham Percy, Ryan Rogerson, Burgandy Code, Katie Swift, Chris O’Neill, Alexis Milligan and Cliff LeJeune are all returning to Ross Creek in 2010, with performers Jeff Schwager, Tara Lee Reddick, Sebastien Labelle, Emma Slipp, Andrea-Lee Norwood, Margaret Legere and Kathryn Maclellan rounding out a stellar cast.

Director Ken Schwartz returns from the Stratford Shakespeare Festival’s Michael Langham workshop for Classical Text to direct. Alexis Milligan, recent choreographer of Rockbound, will act as associate director. Leesa Hamilton, nominated recently for a Merritt award for her costume design for 2b theatre’s East of Berlin, joins the company for the first time as Costume Designer. Marisa Vest returns from Soulpepper Theatre’s production of Waiting for the Parade for her second season as stage manager.

The Crucible opens on July 10th, 2010 at 6p.m. at the Ross Creek Centre for the Arts, with performances from Tuesday through Sunday until August 8th, 2010. Seating is extremely limited, and patrons are advised to book ahead to avoid disappointment. An indoor recital of the production will take place in case of rain.Click here to book tickets

Two Planks and a Passion Theatre’s 19th season is made possible in part through the support of the Canada Council for the Arts and the Nova Scotia department of Tourism, Culture and Heritage.

For press inquiries please contact Ken Schwartz or Sammi Jessome.