It鈥檚 6:30 p.m. on a humid September day on campus. After a long day of classes in the studio, working in the scenic shop, and tending to college life鈥檚 other necessities, performers and technicians begin to assemble in Swisher Theatre 鈥� a beacon of performance on the JU campus. This semester theatre students are rehearsing Arthur Miller鈥檚 essential American fable, 鈥淭he Crucible.鈥�
Actors are busy running lines in the seats of the theatre, and one is on stage stretching to prepare for the physical demands of the evening鈥檚 work. A few more actors rush in the door so as not to be late for rehearsal and wake the wrath of the production鈥檚 director. The sprung floor of the vast stage creaks as a wide-eyed grin rounds stage right to eventually reveal its owner 鈥� Brooks Anne Meirdierks 鈥�82.
Meirdierks exclaims how excited she is to be back in Swisher Theater 鈥� and can鈥檛 believe how much it鈥檚 changed. As a student, she performed in the space many times. This fall, Meirdierks is returning home to play the part of Rebecca Nurse in 鈥淭he Crucible 鈥溾�� a part she played in 1980, on the exact same stage. She told the students with a sincere smile, 鈥淚 met my husband doing that show, he played Willard.鈥�
Brooks is part of team of guest artists and actors from the community that are working with students this semester to reimagine Miller鈥檚 work. Judge Danforth is played by Jacksonville legend Bill Ratliffe, and the steadfast Giles Corey is brought to life by JU Professor of Philosophy, Dr. Erich Freiberger.
In her time at JU, Meirdierks made lifelong friends and connections that nurtured her passions and pursuits. She recalled a performance with her classmate, Michael Fritton, and a particularly fiery moment.
鈥淲ell, everyone smoked back then 鈥� and you could smoke in the buildings 鈥� in costume. So, one time I was late for a cue and threw a cigarette butt out in the trash can in a hurry and we came back after the scene to find it ablaze in the dressing room.鈥�
Since graduating from JU under the guidance of Frances Bartlett Kinne, Meirdierks has enjoyed an enviable career in theatre and performance. She鈥檚 worked in New York, Hollywood, and on stages across the country. She鈥檚 served as a spokesperson and appeared in film and television. Some of her favorite performances include Marsha Norman鈥檚 鈥淣ight Mother,鈥� 鈥淭he Foreigner,鈥� and 鈥淪teel Magnolias.鈥�
Come see Meirdierks return to her college roots and set the stage on fire (with her performance, to be sure) as Rebecca Nurse in The Department of Theatre鈥檚 Production of 鈥淭he Crucible.鈥� The role of Rebecca Nurse is key to Miller鈥檚 fable. She is portrayed as the kindest, most sincere resident of Salem in the play and suffers greatly at the hand of the justice being wielded by the aggressors of the story.
鈥淭he Crucible鈥� runs Oct. 7 and Oct. 8 at 7:30 p.m. and Oct. 9 at 2 p.m. in Swisher Theater. Visit or email nmosele@ju.edu for more information.
