SBCC Theatre Arts Department presents a student showcase production of “John Proctor is the Villain” by Kimberly Belflower, directed by Sara Rademacher, Nov. 8-18 in the Jurkowitz Theatre.

A teacher in a classroom points to students who have their hands raised. An American Flag and a blackboard are behind the instructor.
Comedy/drama follows a group of young people at a school in rural Georgia who are studying the play ‘The Crucible.’ Credit: Ben Crop

According to the storyline, at a rural high school in Georgia, a group of aware teens are studying “The Crucible” while navigating young love, sex ed, and a few school scandals.

Holding a contemporary lens to the American classic, the youths begin to question who is really the hero and what is the truth, discovering their own power in the process.

Alternately touching and funny, the new comedy captures a generation in mid-transformation. Note:  The production contains adult language and situations.

The cast of “John Proctor is the Villain” features Adrian Arias, Charlotte Hecker, Calla Kamenov, Alex Keever, J.T. Kelleher IV, Sebastian Lopez, Annette McGuire, Joselyn Pacheco Morales, Sascha Nikolai, and Pip van Slooten.

Belflower, the playwright, is originally from a small town in Appalachian Georgia. Her play “Lost Girl” is published by Samuel French and won the 2018 Kennedy Center Darrell Ayers National Playwriting Award.

Her other plays include “Gondal,” “Teen Girl FANtasies,” and “The Sky Game,” which have been commissioned, produced and developed by Milwaukee Repertory Theatre, The Farm Theatre, We the Women Collective, Peppercorn Theatre, and Less Than Rent Theatre.

Belflower holds an MFA from the University of Texas at Austin.

Performances will be 7:30 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 12 and Saturday Nov. 18.  The 2 p.m. show on Nov. 12 will be live-captioned for those who need hearing assistance.

Tickets are $18 general/$15 seniors and SBCC staff/$10 students. The Jurkowitz Theatre is on SBCC’s West Campus, 900 block of Cliff Drive.

To buy tickets, call 805-965-5935 or purchase online at www.theatregroupsbcc.com. Due to the intimate nature of the Jurkowitz Theatre, no late seating is permitted.

Parking is free and in lots 4A-4D on the West Campus.