As you can guess by the subject, a cold has me down for the count, so what better opportunity to write a meaningful blog. I am not really up for much else.  Let's see....

Well, it's almost Christmas, whatever that means these days. I hope the final shopping days, our universal bond at this time of year, tallies up a positive result for struggling retailers.

Our current show is about to end which means Circle's remodeling will soon begin.  Right now, we are boxing things to get them out of the way. The hammering, painting and sawing will begin the last week of December.

It is our 'guesstimate' that Circle's 28th season will open, in renewed surroundings, sometime in March-April, 2009. For those interested in our upcoming season, you can follow our announcements on our web page at circletheatre.com or go to that other site (hint: F---B--K) and look us up on our Support the Circle Theatre page.

I would like to thank everyone that contributed their time and talents to help Circle have a successful 27th season. Our subscribers are our loyal supporters who make doing this 'theatre thing' worthwhile.

To Tim and Katie up in 'New York land' we miss you!  Rachel, Jennifer, Kelly -  we are so glad you joined our ranks, this year, and are helping us fight the good fight in the name of arts and culture.

Ann, a little piece of my heart is still and always will be broken due to our losing you so unexpectedly, last August.  I wasn't prepared to say goodbye.

I am guessing we are in for a hard run in 2009.  Arts organizations are used to being at the bottom of the funding barrel, but it will undoubtedly be worse, when all people hear these days are scary words about our economy. 

A group of theatre folk have started a cause to support your local theatre.  The idea is for those who are involved in theatre to pledge they will buy at least one ticket to a local show each month to help theatre weather the current perfect storm. It could make a major difference.

For those wanting to do even more, consider shopping for a cause.  If you go to goodshop.com and pick your charity (Circle Theatre, for example...ahem...) a percentage of everything you buy will go to that charity.

If you add goodsearch as your toolbar browser, that charity will receive a penny for every search. That could add up, if everyone browses as frequently as I do!

I will close by modestly mentioning that you can also support Circle Theatre by going to our web page at circletheatre.com and making a year-end tax-deductible donation.  Or call us at 817.877.3040 and contribute over the phone.

That's enough for now.  Talk to you again in 2009.  May your year be full of peace, love and good health!

Didn't I just announce the 2008 season?!? And now people are asking me the same question, all over again...What is your season for 2009?

It can't be true! Only one more show this year and then...WHAT!?!

Well, let's not get ahead of ourselves. Jaime Castaneda is back from his stint in NY, working on Speed the Plow at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre on Broadway. (Can you say, "I'm impressed!") He is directing Circle's non-traditional entry into the holiday market, A Very Merry Unauthorized Children's Scientology Pageant, November 20 - December 20.

As we say in our disclaimer, "This production is in no way affiliated with or endorsed by The Church of Scientology." But with a unique title like this show carries, we are not surprised at certain misconceptions. There have been questions about whether we are recruiting new members for Scientology (the answer is no). A few days ago, we received a call in the box office inquiring as to what sort of pageant goes on for five weeks?!? We finally understood that the caller had no idea that this show is a theatre production and not a beauty or talent pageant!

We would like to thank Debra Jung and Kate Lovelady at Kids Who Care for their willingness to share their young talent pool with us at audition time. We have been fortunate in finding a talented cast of 8 young actors, aged 9-14, who will sing and act their way into your head and heart. When you leave A Very Merry Unauthorized Children's Scientology Pageant, you may be humming one of the show's rock songs and or have discovered something about this new age religion you may not have known before!

In the meantime, we hope you enjoy this enthusiastic twist on a typical holiday pageant.

PS: Want to see our Facebook page? Go to: Support the Circle Theatre

Since I last blogged, Tim relocated to New York City and we hired a new Box Office Manager, Rachel Collins Mazzanti, to fill his position. We had a going away party for Tim & Katie, and about 50 folks showed up to say so long and add some cash to their magic money tree. (Tim says those funds came in quite handy on the trip up to the city.)

Just before Tim left, all of our PC computers crashed at the same time, so we plunged in and completely converted to Apple. Talk about a time of transition!

Rachel began training with Tim, in late July, and then took time off to get married in Mississippi and honeymoon in Antigua (despite being in the path of multiple hurricanes the whole time.)

In the midst of all these transitions, Bruce Graham, the playwright for our soon-to-open production of Dex & Julie Sittin' in a Tree, came to Fort Worth, courtesy of a grant from the Pew Foundation. He is returning opening week to work with the cast on any script changes he may want to make and will stay here through opening weekend.

During the summer, Circle had two bright, sparkly interns, (Ashley & Jake) who became part of our family for about twelve weeks, and, hopefully, will stay in touch with us in the future, as well.

About a week ago, Circle unexpectedly lost one of its founding members, Ann L. Rhodes. It will be a difficult adjustment not having Ann around as a sounding board and Circle Theatre supporter.

But life goes on and as hard as it is to believe, we are about to open another show and have already cast our final production in the 2008 season!

As 2008 draws to a close, we are preparing to get rid of the "old" and bring in the "new", during our upcoming renovations at Circle. We will close at the end of December and hope to reopen in March, 2009.

This year has been a whirlwind of beginnings and endings. Hellos and goodbyes. I have a feeling things are going to keep on twirling for quite a while! Pardon me while I try to find my balance!

Well, it is moving into the month of July and Tim, our associate producer,will soon be leaving for the Big Apple (or at least that's our guess). He and Katie Joy have some decisions to make in the very near future and then they will become a sweet memory to all of us who remain to live and work in Fort Worth. We wish them well in their new adventure, but it will take time to realize that Tim has moved on. He has been with us for nine years and we would have welcomed his staying as part of the Circle Theatre team, but he wants to find new challenges. And, in NY, there certainly will be some ahead. (Good times too, we hope, exploring their new world.) Circle's subscribers have all lovingly adopted Tim in their hearts and I know they are sad to see him go, as are we. But life goes on. So we are currently searching for our next "right hand man" (or woman, as the case may be). Anyone out there who enjoys non-traditional work schedules, is familiar with MAC and PC computers, loves being around creative people and part of the theatre scene in the metroplex, can email rosepearson@circletheatre.com. There will never be another Tim, but now the door is wide open for someone else to carve their own special place in what will soon be a newly-remodeled Circle Theatre. Its time for new beginnings.

Time's up! 

Our new season opens, this week, with previews of Five Course Love by Gregg Coffin. 

We thought we would accomplish renovations for our capital campaign in between seasons but instead went back to the drawing board when Circle acquired extra space at the end of the year.  We are close to the $200,000 goal  we set for actually beginning to make the additions and improvements in our plans.

Yes, someday  (soon, hopefully) Circle will have an actual sign, instead of broken lights and a faded banner! And we have put down a deposit for brand new (comfortable) theatre seats.

In the meantime, we have announced a busy and challenging 27th season of 5 shows; a new resident theatre company (FireStarter Productions); a staged reading of As Is for Fort Worth's More Life Festival (dedicated to Aids education); and a high school playwriting project.

FCL is sort of I Love You. You're Perfect. meets Forbidden Broadway!  We are fortunate to have two outstanding directors, Bruce Wood and Michael Plantz, and a talented trio of actors - Catherine Carpenter Cox, Andy Baldwin, and Jim Johnson.

Previews start Feb. 7 and the show runs through March 15, so come on down!

Sharon Benge interviewed me about Circle Theatre for her Arts Matters radio program on WRR. If you want to listen in, the program should air around Feb. 27th (is that Thursday?) at 7pm and the following Sunday at 4pm.

...and the beat goes on... la de da de da!

 

Right now, all is well at Circle Theatre...but soon, the show will end and the hammering will begin.

Circle quietly began raising funds this year to "fix up the place" and we are halfway to our $200,000 capital campaign goal.  Now we are reaching out to our individual friends for help.

Our plan is to replace old seats, add a better sign, install new flooring and counter tops, repaint, and upgrade our theatre equipment.

All this is happening between now and the new, 28th season, in 2008!  There isn't much time and we need  your help!

If you would like to donate to the cause, please call us at 817-877-3040. Or go to our web site at circletheatre.com Your donation plays an important part and no amount is too large or too small.

We are also replacing our phone system, adding sound moniters, setting up a server for office computers and a new hub for wi-fi use, and putting a plasma or LCD screen in the lobby. 

Any in-kind help with consulting and/or supplying these items would be greatly appreciated!

PS: Our current production is going great!  To see the show page for Snake in the Grass, go to circletheatre.com

 

 

The Last Mass at St. Casimir's

It's over and we are all a little sad to say goodbye to a lovely play and a talented cast & crew.  Truthfully, in theatre, there are those times when shows can be splendid, but backstage there may be some tensions.  Or, the opposite, on stage, m-m-m...not so good, but the cast and crew are a delight to have at our theatre.

Our production of Saint Casimir's was that happy blend of a beautifully written story by one of Circle's favorite playwrights, Tom Dudzick, and a cast of professional actors, who were a pleasure to be around.

We highlighted the run of St. Casimir's with a reading of the second play in Tom's Over the Tavern trilogy.  That play, King O'the Moon, is a script that I highly recommend to any theatre that can accommodate its technical requirements.  (In other words, you aren't in a basement and can handle a tree house on stage!)

Diana Bloxom, (Annie from our first production in this play trilogy, (Over the Tavern) and Stephen Levall (Georgie in Last Mass at St. Casimir's), plus Jennifer Engler, Daniel Frederick, Jessica Lynn Broadaway, David H.M. Lambert, and Jason Lovelady  joined us to bring this staged reading to life at Circle. 

After only one rehearsal, the cast, directed by Harry Parker (also the director of Over the Tavern and St. Casimir's) presented two evenings of readings that brought our audiences to their feet in appreciation.

Patrons who saw Over the Tavern, King O'the Moon, and The Last Mass at St. Casimir's now know the whole story and we are ready to move on to yet another of Dudzick's wonderful plays, hopefully sometime soon.

One thing I learned during Circle's run of St. Casimir's - Texas was that warmer climate many Buffaloans escaped to, following the infamous blizzard of '77 that blanketed their state with freezing temperatures and never-ending snow.  I met and talked with many of them, as they watched our video about the blizzard, playing in Circle's lobby before the show and at intermission. 

There is a book and video that documents this blizzard, called White Death by Ernie Rosso.  Look it up on the net.  It's an amazing time trip back to what happened that year.

St. Casimir's cast is suggesting we close shop and take the show on the road.  Believe me, it's a tempting thought. None of us really wanted this experience to end, but life in the theatre goes on.  Tomorrow, we begin rehearsals for our last show of the season, Snake in the Grass by Alan Ayckbourn.

We are looking forward to working with another group of talented professionals, as they weave their suspenseful tale, capturing our audience in the grips of a really scarey "ghost story".

Happy Halloween everyone! (SFX: evil laugh, snake hissing, screams in the background)

See you soon, I hope!

Rose

PS: Want to read our reviews of The Last Mass at St. Casimir's?  Go to http://www.circletheatre.com/last_mass_at_st_casimirs/news_and_interviews.htm

Bye, Trisha, Chad, Stephen, Julienne, and Joey.  Best of luck to you in your next venture!

 

 

 

 

'Goldman' weaves charming spell

THEATER REVIEW: Circle production also tackles tough issues

01:11 PM CDT on Monday, June 18, 2007

By LAWSON TAITTE / Theater Critic

FORT WORTH – Circle Theatre has connected to an interesting array of playwrights who haven't scored big successes in New York but whose work gets produced in regional theaters all over the country. Bruce Graham may be the best of these, and According to Goldman is certainly the most captivating of his plays we've seen to date.

According to Goldman's title is a somewhat obscure reference to novelist-screenwriter William Goldman – and, yes, this is another in the recent spate of plays about writing movies.

Gavin Miller, played by Trey Walpole, has made a lot of money writing movies he didn't really believe in. As his luck turned sour in Hollywood, he has taken a university job teachingscreenwriting. His wife, Melanie (Linda Leonard), really enjoys her new life, gardening and getting to know the neighbors. Gavin is less sure about it all.

The play begins by crosscutting in cinematic style: Gavin is teaching his first day of class, while Melanie brings a basket of fruit and flowers to the new neighbor. Gavin is almost as cynical about his students' responses to his questions as he is about the movie business. The invisible students become quite vivid in our imagination – then an actual actor surprises us by popping up, late for class. This shy young man, Jeremiah (Josh Heard), at first puts Gavin off. But as the boy reveals his deep knowledge of old movies, the teacher is won over. Jeremiah doesn't quite believe he's Fred Astaire – but almost.

His surreptitious affection for old films has gotten him through a rough childhood that started out in a family of foreign missionaries. Gavin encourages Jeremiah to write about his own experiences – which is what sets the plot in motion.

Director Jennifer Engler's production, reviewed Saturday, brings out all the best in Mr. Graham's script. To begin with, According to Goldman brims with genuine wit. A lot of the jokes might appeal most to movie buffs, but there are laughs aplenty for all. The three actors keep tossing the zingers right inside the strike zone.

Underneath this winsome exterior, however, lies a play concerned with serious themes – particularly the issues that arise in the second half of a long marriage. Mr. Walpole, who was so charming in Mr. Graham's Moon Over the Brewery at Circle, dares to make Gavin downright unappealing a lot of the time – though this guy has his charms, too. Ms. Leonard lets us observe the pressures building inside Melanie with as much clarity as if we had a steam gauge. And she's not afraid to explode when the time is right.

Josh Heard and Trey Walpole convey both wit and wisdom in According to Goldman at Fort Worth's Circle Theatre. Mr. Heard has the most complex character to deal with. It would be easy to caricature Jeremiah's religious background – Mr. Graham himself does not entirely avoid doing so. But Mr. Heard keeps the character real and, most of the time, anyhow – charming: There's that word again. In fact, you could describe the whole experience of According to Goldman in the same way – real and charming.

•Through July 7 at Circle Theatre, 230 W. Fourth St., Fort Worth. Runs 120 mins. $18 to $28. 817-877-3040; www.circletheatre.com

Well, last night, I blogged for about half an hour and then accidentally hit the cancel button.  It took me a night to recover, but here I am again, talkin' at ya.

Right now, Circle is in the fundraising part of our year.  And its a big effort this time around because we face having to raise $400,000 in 2007!  A lot of folks wonder why an organization that sells tickets qualifies as non-profit.  But the fact is, most arts organizations are doing well if they raise 60% of their annual operating cost through ticket sales.  If we didn't have the ability to request public donations, none of us would make it.

This year is an extra financial strain for Circle.  We not only are raising funds for general operating, but also are about to launch a capital campaign to improve and repair our space.

Our annual fundraiser/party is just around the corner on Sunday, June 10th.  This will be our third Tony Awards watching party.  As our invitation says, watching the Tonys on a giant screen in a room full of theatre lovers, is a priceless experience!  Go to our web page at circletheatre.com for details.

Tickets for live show music, a delicioius plated dinner, wine, and the screening of the Tonys, from Radio City Music Hall, are $100 each.  This equals $25 for food and drink + a $75 tax-deductible contribution.

We'll be having a great time and it's all for a good cause. If you believe in Circle Theatre and want to pitch in your donation, call the box office at 817-877-3040 (1pm -6pm, Tuesday - Friday).

Believe me, we can't do it without you!!!