By Michelle Williams
Husband and wife Josh and Erin Meyer of Westfield have been cast as John and Elizabeth Proctor in the upcoming production of Arthur Miller’s The Crucible at Grace Church in Noblesville. Although this is the first they will ever act on stage together, the couple met 13 years ago working in theatrical arts.
Roles were cast by a panel of directors and producers through a series of auditions and callbacks.
“This is definitely what we were going for, and it just worked out,” Josh said. “There are a lot of moments in the show where we want to show each other how much we love each other. It just really works well. She knows me better than anybody, and I know her better than anybody.”
Meyer explained they’ve been able to tap into their personal experience to enhance their onstage dynamic.
“We’re focusing on the redemption that is between this relationship and this show. It’s my hope that people will go away thinking that we’re blessed to have a church that has grace in it—that people are allowed to screw up and be broken. There is forgiveness. There is grace, and there is redemption,” Erin said.
Director Mandy Polster was part of the collaborative team at Grace Church that selected the 1953 Tony Award-winning play. “When we look at shows, we try to make sure that we have cross-generational and married opportunities,” Polster said. The church encourages families to participate together. The cast also includes mother-daughter duo Nikki and Gwen Lynch and father-daughter duo Rick and Hannah Drumm.
The church encourages patrons to bring donations for its on-site Care Center. “These are characters that have really been separated from their larger community and have been handed some unfair judgement—a direct parallel to what we see with people who have lost homes, jobs, and have been displaced from their families. They really need extra loving support,” Polster said
The production runs Nov. 19 to 22, and ticketing and donation information is available at gracechurch.us/theatre.
