Blood to Drink, by Maggie Lou Rader

March 2026 marks the 334th anniversary of the Salem Witch Trials, and Looking for Lilith Theatre Company invites audiences to reflect on what those historic events reveal about our present day.

As women’s voices are once again being silenced, Blood to Drink offers a darkly funny, deeply human exploration of resistance, empathy, and power.

Written by Maggie Lou Rader, this original play reimagines the Salem Witch Trials from the perspective of the accused women themselves—rather than the accusers who dominate traditional narratives. Four women, ranging in age from their 20s to their 70s, grapple with accusation, injustice, and their own remaining agency within a jail cell that becomes both prison and confessional. Figures of authority—judges, accusers, and townsfolk—are heard but never seen, centering the silenced women at the heart of the story.

The play is at once hilarious and haunting, offering a sharp mirror for our current cultural climate.

Join us for a weekend of reading, conversation, and collaborative artmaking as we uncover the stories of those who resisted injustice, diving into a tale of suspicion, power, and resilience—and the lessons their courage holds for our own communities.

“Blood to Drink allows us to reframe a story we think we know. By centering the voices of the accused, we honor not only the women of Salem but also the countless women throughout history who have been punished for speaking, questioning, or simply existing outside prescribed boundaries.”
- Shannon Woolley Allison, Co-Founder and Artistic Director

This project is presented by Looking for Lilith Theatre Company, whose 24-year history centers on the stories and experiences of women and marginalized genders. Blood to Drink is supported in part by Fund for the Arts, Kentucky Arts Council, and Louisville Metro's Neighborhood Development Fund (Districts 3, 8, 9, 15, 17, 21).