Pamela Dunlap
Circle Repertory Company
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to: navigation, searchThe Circle Repertory Company , originally named the Circle Theater Company , was a theatre company in New York City that ran from 1969 to 1996. It was founded on July 14, 1969, in Manhattan, in a second floor loft at Broadway and 83rd Street by director Marshall W. Mason, playwright Lanford Wilson, director Rob Thirkield, and actress Tanya Berezin, all of whom were veterans of the Caffe Cino. The plan was to establish a pool of artists — actors, directors, playwrights and designers — who would work together in the creation of plays.
Marshall W. Mason was succeeded as Artistic Director (1969-1987) by co-founder Tanya Berezin (1987-1995). In 1995, Austin Pendleton succeeded her, with actress Lynn Thigpen as associate artistic director and Milan Stitt as executive director and Edward M. Hausle as artistic director of the Circle Rep Lab.
Originating in the Sixties, a time when many experimental theaters arose, this company outlasted many others. The Company moved their home to the Sheridan Square Playhouse in the early 1970s and in 1982 they moved to their own facility, the Circle Repertory Theatre on 99 7th Avenue South. They closed their doors in 1996 after 27 years.
Writers
Circle Repertory Company, also called Circle Rep, became home to some of the most prolific talent in the American theater. Founder and resident playwright, Lanford Wilson, wrote Hot L Baltimore (1972-1973 season), The Mound Builders (1974-1975 season), Fifth of July (1977-1978 season), Talley's Folly (1979-1980 season), A Tale Told (1980-1981 season, later revised as Talley & Son ), Angels Fall (1983), Burn This (1987), and Redwood Curtain (1992) for the company.
The list of playwrights who worked at Circle Rep includes Michael Cristofer, Herb Gardner, Albert Innaurato, Arthur Kopit, David Mamet, Murray Schisgal, Milan Stitt, Tennessee Williams, and Paula Vogel.
Productions
Circle Repertory Company provided the genesis for acclaimed productions such as Sam Shepard's Fool for Love (1982-83), William M. Hoffman's As Is (1984-85), Lanford Wilson's Talley & Son (1985-86), Terrence McNally's It's Only a Play (1994), Craig Lucas' Reckless (1987-88 and Prelude to a Kiss (1989-90), William Mastrosimone's Sunshine (1989), Jon Robin Baitz's Three Hotels (1992-93), Albert Innaurato's Gemini (1976-77), Jules Feiffer's Knock Knock (1975-76), Edwar
