The Crucible premieres at Martin Beck Theater in New York City in 1953. Arthur Miller’s fictional tale of the Salem Witch Trials as parable of McCarthyism opens to mostly poor reviews but later wins the 1953 Tony Award for Best Play. A 1954 production becomes a classic and the standard for American live productions of the play. The story has been adapted for film and TV multiple times, as well as an award-winning opera and a ballet.
This Day in Halloween: Arthur Miller's classic play "The Crucible" premieres at Martin Beck Theater in New York City in 1953. / Illustration by Dexter Urias