Monday, July 7th, 2025 Church Directory
DIRECTOR JOE RAND (foreground) had the cast run through their lines Thursday afternoon in preparation for the upcoming spring play, The Crucible.

Coming This Spring To Becker High School: The Crucible

The Becker High School Drama Dept. — along with Community Ed. — present the 1953, Arthur Miller play, The Crucible.
 
Joe Rand is once again the director and the showtimes are May 6-7-8 at 7 p.m. (Friday and Saturday) and 2 p.m. (Sunday). Ticket prices are $8 for adults and $5 for students, seniors and anyone with a military ID.
 
The Crucible is set in 1692 and features a story set in Salem, a small town in colonial Massachusetts. The God-fearing citizens are on their guard and no one is beyond suspicion. As investigations into witchcraft reach their height, a young woman points a finger at Elizabeth, the blameless wife of John Proctor. But Proctor finds he cannot save her without unearthing his own black sin. With powerful notions of faith and uncertainty and truth and deception – the story burns as feverishly today as the day it was written. 
 
Three of the main stars in the cast are Justin Kimmerle, Sarenity Klein and Carly Prusinzke.
 
“I’ve been in drama since about the seventh grade,” said Kimmerle. “My whole family and especially my mom have loved being in plays and they encouraged me to give it a try. It’s really helped me get more confidence and comfortable in front of big crowds.”
 
Kimmerle will be playing John Proctor in The Crucible.
 
Sarenity, who has also been doing stage productions since the seventh grade is hoping to continue her goal of acting beyond high school. She will be playing Elizabeth Proctor in The Crucible.
 
“I love being in plays and after Wizard of Oz (where she played Glinda), this is a more toned-down role,” she said. “I kinda feel this has been my year in the spotlight.”
 
Pruszinske, who has been doing plays since the sixth grade, hopes to carry her acting experience to a career in the creative arts.
 
“I plan to have a double major in theater and english when I go to college,” she said. “So hopefully one day I can be a teacher of the arts or even a director or something.”
 
Pruszinske will be playing Abigail Williams in The Crucible.
 
Rand, who along with Greg Lynch are the directors for the spring plays, one act and the high school and middle school musicals, wanted to feature a story that was more serious than last years and give the students a challenge.
 
“Last year we did a comedy and earlier we did Wizard of Oz so I wanted the kids to play something more serious and more relevant,” said Rand. “The relevancy is the fact the people in The Crucible get caught up in gossip and ignore the truth and that sort of situation seems applicable to kids’ lives nowadays.”
 
The cast for The Crucible is as follows:
Betty Parris - Emily Krogstad; Rev. Samuel Parris - Nathaniel Hed; Tituba - Judea Demars; Abigail Williams - Carly Pruszinske; Susanna Wallcott - Kelli Lumley; Ann Putnam - Frannie Bowles;  Thomas Putnam - Ethan Quill; Mercy Lewis - Gabrielle Proefrock; Mary Warren - Sam Pounds; John Proctor - Justin Kimmerle; Rebecca Nurse - Laura Niday; Giles Corey - Corey Christiansen; Rev. John Hale - William Schendel; Elizabeth Proctor - Sarenity Klein; Francis Nurse - Evan Schafer; Ezekiel Cheever - Rhiley Larson; John Willard - Tyler Wasserbauer; Judge Hawthorne - Blake Paulsen; Danforth - Bryce Boser; Sarah Good - Haley Vanzee; Hopkins - Brendan Potter; Martha Corey - Emily Tesmer; Ruth Putnam - Sierra Vilmo; Puritan Ensemble - Jarrod Favilla; Puritan Ensemble - Evan Girtz; Puritan Ensemble - Carolyn Lyon; Puritan Ensemble - Michelle Johnson; Puritan Ensemble - Grace Klapak; Puritan Ensemble - Amber Mechtel; Puritan Ensemble - Maddie Diemert; Puritan Ensemble - McKenzie Tollefson.
 
The Tech Crew includes:
Abby Steffens; Morgan Steffens; Morgan Tillman; Perrin Weller; Jasmine Anderson; Melissa Friendshuh; Tori Sunelt; Carter Shapine; Isabelle Proefrock; Nicole Knudsen; Leo Brown; Kole Overby; Erin Fagin; Heidi Voigt; Kai McCourty; Kaitlin Buschmann.
 
Director: Joe Rand; Technical Director: Rich Krimmerle; Costumes: by Norcostco.
 
Special thanks to: Becker Community Ed’s Michelle Peacock and Jen Edling; High School Activities Office Dave Neimi and Jesse O'Neill; Clear Lake Lions; Greg Lynch and Great Theater.