​A Crucible:
a puritanical celebration of Witches and Turkeys​

​An award-winning new devised comedy!
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What happens when a group of local idiots decide to rehearse a great American classic?
​A mix of witch hunts, secrets, turkeys and a splash of stupid.
Don't miss this unique blend of entertainment and social commentary!

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New York City Fringe Festival

​The New York City Fringe (formally the FRIGID Fringe Festival) is a theater festival that gives artists an opportunity to let their ingenuity thrive in an environment that values freedom of expression and artistic determination. In true support of the Indie Theater Community. FRIGID New York is an independent, non-profit theater company operating UNDER St Marks Theater, an off-off-Broadway venue in the East Village.

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What Is Devised Theatre?

Devising a play can mean many things depending on who you ask. For the ensemble of A Crucible: A Puritanical Celebration of Witches and Turkeys, it begins with an image of the Danvers Onions - 6 clowns from Danvers Massachusets - getting together to put up their annual production of “A Crucible” written by Bart Miller. 

With this image in mind, we start playing games. We build this world through an exploration of images and improv games.
We use flashcards and write down “provocations” (suggestions, ideas or offers from the ensemble). These provocations can range from relevant historical facts, references to pop culture, images, comedic moments, character relationships, dramatic moments, and even dream sequences. Some cards will make it into the final piece, many will not.

We research fervently (and constantly), write scenes, and storyboard the plot until we have a working script. Then we put our “fearless editor” hats on and make many tough choices and painful edits to help strengthen the script.

We will stage the entire show while continuing to edit and create. The ideas typically do not stop flowing until hours before curtain on opening night. It is an extremely exciting and creative process, and we can’t wait to share the outcome!

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DIRECTOR
Michael F. Toomey (He/Him)

STAGE MANAGER
Meg Meschino (She/Her)

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ENSEMBLE

Mia Alexandra (She/Her)

Fernando Zermeno Garavito (He/They)

Jon-Mykul Bowen (He/Him)
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Evan James Keopnick (He/Him)

Madeleine Maggio (She/Her)

Peter Julien Lane (He/Him)

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DESIGNERS

Musical Performer and Designer

Mitchel Csermak (He/Him)
Mitchel Csermak is a Canadian born actor, musician, and clown living in Brooklyn. He graduated in 2021 from McGill University with a BA in English. His theatrical credits include Cymbeline, Pomona, and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare [abridged] (McGill University). He starred in the short film Living Reality (2024) and plays in Brooklyn venues and bars with his band Greed Island. Mitchel is making his New York stage debut in A Crucible: A Puritanical Celebration of Witches and Turkeys and wishes to share his gratitude for The Humanist Project and all those who made this production possible. 

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Costume Design

Eliza Maggio (She/Her)
Eliza Maggio is excited to be designing costumes for A Crucible, a Puritanical Celebration of Witches and Turkeys with the Humanist Project. She grew up in the Berkshires participating in many Shakespeare & Company educational programs. Recently she has designed 5 shows for the Fall Festival of Shakespeare there: Henry V (x2), A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Romeo and Juliet, and Twelfth Night. She studied Studio Art, Theater, and Art History at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. She now lives in Somerville Massachusetts, where she enjoys embroidering, knitting and all sorts of crafts in her spare time. 

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Lighting Design

Luke Willson (He/Him)
Luke Willson is a New-York based emerging lighting designer and theatrical electrician. This year Luke will graduate from Fordham University having designed, managed, and/or programmed over 40 shows. He recently finished up his summer season as the Lighting Supervisor for Shakespeare & Company, where he designed Shake It Up, and assisted on Three Tall Persian Women.  In New York, he recently completed a Lighting and
Projection Design Observership with Manhattan Theatre Club for their production of Poor Yella Rednecks. He is so excited to join this wonderful team. Thank you so much for coming to support live theater!

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​​CLICK HERE TO DONATE!

WE NEED YOUR HELP!

Our story is one of ignorance. Of silliness. Of assumptions. Of deception. And ultimately, witch hunts. Lots and lots of witch hunts. 

Our team needs to raise $10,000 to make this show happen. The largest portion of these funds will go to paying for the entrance fee into The New York Fringe, securing rehearsal studios, which both come with hefty fees in New York City. Beyond that, we'll use what we raise to build our set, to costume our actors, to create a soundscape for our world, and to light our stage.
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We need you to donate to this absurd, wild romp for the sake of much needed series of back-to-back belly laughs. Hit the button for the sake of freedom and laughter and we’ll see you at the show!
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