By Destiny Randle '23
Lauren Estrada ’20 is using her story-telling skills to help bring to life Whittier College's production of The Crucible.
Serving as assistant director, alongside professor Jennifer Holmes, Estrada has gained leadership experience, as well as an understanding of what it takes to produce a play.
In her role, Estrada coaches actors, helps them practice their lines, and leads warm up exercises before rehearsal. She first felt uneasy directing people, but now leads with confidence thanks to Holmes' positive feedback for her work.
“I feel truly heard, and the whole process has been very equitable,” Estrada said.
It all started with bedtime moments shared with her parents who enlivened story time using characters and voices.
“The performative nature of story time is something I really latched onto,” she said. Estrada took acting lessons, performed theatre in high school and in the community, and during her first year at Whittier College she auditioned for a play.
Since then, she's been regularly involved in theatre department productions. Now, from her vantage point as assistant director, she’s also gained a greater appreciation for "how important everyone’s artistry is to the final product of staged production,” said Estrada. Everyone is needed to help make a play happen, from technicians, to sound people, to the costume people and many more.
Written by Arthur Miller in 1952, The Crucible dramatizes and shows a partially fictionalized version of the Salem Witch trials that took place in 17th century Massachusetts. The play shows how the witch trials began, what happened during the trials, and why they occurred.
By watching The Crucible, Estrada hopes that the audience is “aware of their ability to speak out against injustices and recognize them for what they are before they affect those they care about.”
The Crucible will be shown at the Ruth B. Shannon Center for the Performing Arts. On Oct. 24 and 25, the play will be shown at 7:30 p.m. On Oct. 26, it will be shown at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. The last show will be on Oct. 27 at 2 p.m. All are welcome to attend. For more information, visit the Shannon Center website.
