History Alive – Cry Innocent
About
History Alive is an immersive, history-themed theater company in Salem best known for Cry Innocent: The People Versus Bridget Bishop. In the show, it is 1692, Bridget Bishop has been accused of witchcraft, and the audience serves as the Puritan jury and may question the accused. The company produces new plays based on true stories, emphasizing interactive theater that helps audiences connect past and present. It welcomes teachers bringing classes as well as companies planning team outings.
The company formed in 1992 to mark the tercentenary of the Salem Witch Trials. Faculty and graduates of Gordon College in Wenham founded it, with Professor Norman Jones as first artistic director and David Goss as director of education; Mark Stevick wrote Cry Innocent. Early collaborations with Pioneer Village included environmental performances of The Scarlet Letter, and later works included Inspired, a one-man Nathaniel Hawthorne show.
What to Know
- Cry Innocent has traveled to regional schools as well as playing in Salem.
- The company began under Gordon College’s nonprofit umbrella.
- Kristina Wacome Stevick became its third artistic director in the mid-2000s.
- It also aims to strengthen the local economy by linking visitors to Salem’s history.
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