The Lehigh Valley Charter HS for the Arts (Charter Arts) Theatre Department continued its season of mystery and mayhem with a production of “Witches!? In Salem?!,” a new play by Matt Cox, Nov. 12-16. This darkly comic, yet historically grounded take on the Salem Witch Trials is told through the eyes of an imaginative eighth grader who becomes consumed by a lesson on “The Crucible.”

For this production, the department welcomed guest director Chris Egging to lead an exceptional student cast through a whirlwind of hysteria and history, where the lines between past and present blur, revealing the timeless power of fear, rumor and belief.

Producer, Diane Wagner describes the department’s enthusiasm in selecting this piece. “We’re always on the lookout for new works that will be of interest to our students. When we came across “Witches!? In Salem?!” it immediately resonated with the faculty. The connections to American history, “The Crucible” and the ensemble nature of the production seemed a perfect fit for us.”

Wagner adds: “Matt Cox uses actual facts about the Salem Witch Trials which over time have been inextricably connected to Arthur Miller’s play, and turned it on its head by framing it as a live presentation commandeered by an eighth grader. The show is sometimes zany, sometimes disturbing because of the nature of what actually happened, and at all times entertaining. “

“Witches!? In Salem?!” was presented by special arrangement with Uproar Theatrics (Uproar Theatrics.com).

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