When audiences in Vancouver go to see the University of British Columbia’s (UBC) production of Arthur Miller’s “The Crucible” in a week, they will see a Benician in the cast. Jed Weiss, a 2013 graduate of Benicia High School, will be portraying the pious but vulnerable Rev. John Hale.

Weiss was first approached with the opportunity to act prior to starting sixth grade at Benicia Middle School. His parents were signing him up for classes and asked if he wanted to take band or drama as an elective. He opted for band, playing tenor and baritone saxophone for three years. When high school rolled around, Weiss decided he would take John Baker’s beginning drama class.

“I loved it immediately and was complete garbage at it, so thus began my slow climb to becoming competent at acting,” he said.

Weiss remained with the drama program throughout all four years of high school, eventually enrolling in Christine Mani’s drama class by his senior year. During his time at Benicia High, he acted in two of the school’s plays and three of its musicals, including a lead role as King Arthur in the Spring 2013 production of “Spamalot,” for which Weiss won an Arty Award.

During his senior year, Weiss became a dual citizen of America and Canada and visited UBC as a potential college.

“I instantly fell in love with the campus and its gorgeous location, so it became a very easy decision to apply,” he said.

Weiss has enjoyed attending school in Canada, particularly the price of tuition compared to UCs and the exposure to different beliefs.

“I strongly see myself as a citizen of both countries equally at this point,” he said.

Throughout it all, Weiss has remained involved in acting through UBC’s Theatre and Film Department. His credits include portraying Chuck in “She Kills Monsters,” Mr. Gibson in “Wives and Daughters” and Dottore in “Romeo and Juliet: Uncensored.” He also plays lead guitar in the garage band Cheap Flavor.

“The Crucible” is the newest addition to Weiss’ resume. Miller wrote the play in 1953 to use the Salem witch trials as an allegory for the investigations by the House Un-American Activities Committee into citizens and organizations having alleged ties to communism at the time. It is a play which many would say has never ceased being relevant, but Weiss said it is particularly pertinent in today’s divisive political climate.

“It shows that fear of the other can always overtake a peaceful civilization, and all it needs is a few key powerful members of that society to stoke those flames of paranoia to bring horrible consequences to the community,” he said.

Additionally, in the wake of the “Me Too” movement, director Jessica Anne Nelson put a new spin on the play to show why the accused females of the production choose to perform the actions they do.

“The female characters have been oppressed for so long that rising up against the male-centric theocratic control, initiates them to find their power and autonomy,” Nelson said in a statement.

Weiss portrays Rev. Hale, a New England minister with a vast knowledge of the dark arts who initially is brought in to investigate suspected witches but later becomes disappointed with the corruption on display in the trials. Weiss called Hale’s arc “fascinating.”

“He enters the town with the expectation of a quick fix, as he was able to heal a ‘witch’ without harming her in the past, the situation he helped create quickly spirals out of control,” he said. “He spends the rest of the play attempting to correct and hopefully repent for the damage he has done, and it is a fascinating example of good intention gone completely wrong.”

“The Crucible”will be performed at UBC from March 15 to 31. Weiss hopes audiences will see it and take away the need to be sympathetic to those around them and take action against groups that prevent others from living freely.

“It can be very easy to see this production as a good period piece and nothing more, but it’s more important that audiences realize that the fear and divisiveness shown in this play exists just as much today, and it can bring any group of people to do horrific things to one another if they allow it to get that far,” he said.

Weiss remains appreciative of the support he received at BHS and encourages Benicians to support its art programs by seeing plays, musicals and improv shows, and supporting the teachers.

“I wouldn’t be anywhere without the supportive and enriching environment I was a part of when I studied drama at BHS,” he said.