Arthur Miller's The Crucible Pushes Back First Preview Date So Saoirse Ronan Can Attend Oscars

Saoirse Ronan shall go to the ball! The upcoming production of Arthur Miller’s The Crucible has pushed back its first Broadway preview date so that the actress can attend the Oscars; she has been nominated for her performance in the film Brooklyn. The Crucible, also starring Ben Whishaw and Tony winner Sophie Okonedo, will now begin performances on March 1; it had previously been set to start on February 29. Directed by Ivo van Hove, the show has additionally moved its opening night date to March 31 (from April 7).

Miller wrote The Crucible to parallel the McCarthyism of the 1950s. Set during the Salem witch trials of the 1690s, the play tells tales of morality, deceit and ignorance. The drama focuses on Abigail Williams (Ronan), a young woman so obsessed with John Proctor (Whishaw) that she is determined to have his wife (Okonedo) burned at the stake.

In addition to Whishaw, Okonedo and Ronan, The Crucible will star Ciarán Hinds, Bill Camp, Jim Norton, Tavi Gevinson and Jason Butler Harner. The production will also feature Tina Benko, Teagle Bougere, Michael Braun, Ashlei Sharpe Chestnut, Jenny Jules, Thomas Jay Ryan, Elizabeth Teeter, Ray Anthony Thomas, Brenda Wehle and Erin Wilhelmi.

The Crucible will play a strictly limited 20-week engagement through July 17 at the Walter Kerr Theatre.

Broadway.com customers with tickets to the canceled performance will be contacted with information on refunds or exchanges.