PCHS Bulletin - Abigail Alderman
Date Published - November 12, 2025
Olga Pena’s Theatre 1 classes at Parrish Community High School recently performed scenes from The Crucible, a play about the Salem Witch Trials. Students in the show put lots of effort into practicing in class, rehearsing, and learning new skills to use on the stage.
For a large group of these students, it was their first time on the big stage, performing in front of an audience for the first time! Every student did a great job putting on these shows. Students that performed in these shows loved the experience and felt it brought them closer to their peers!
Freshman Haven Wood is in Pena’s second period Theatre 1 class. She played Parris, one of the reverends in the play who struggles to hold his reputation while his daughter and his niece battle the Witch Trials.
“It was great to be in this show, just being in Theatre 1, and seeing how much we improved,” Wood said. “I made friends along the way I didn't think I'd make on the first day. Every class we had nonstop rehearsals. The memories I made while running lines with my friends are what made this show all worth it.”
This play provided an opportunity to support the English and history curriculums, and these teachers were invited to watch the performances with select classes. Not only did this provide the audience the theatre classes needed, but the audience could connect to their curriculum with the scenes on stage.
Emily Dorman is an English teacher at Parrish Community High School. Her classes read The Crucible earlier this year. She said that she loves teaching it because it is still relevant and extremely engaging.
“I hope that students take away that there is great danger in allowing our fears to direct our decision-making, and that power can quickly corrupt us, unless we stand firm to our integrity, no matter the personal sacrifice.” Dorman said.
The goal of the theater performances was to show this theme on stage. They will continue to work on their performance skills with additional showcases throughout the year.