Following sold out runs of Twelfth Night and Richard II last summer, Sonnet Repertory Theatre announces their upcoming production of Brecht's The Caucasian Chalk Circle, directed by Christopher Schilder. The Caucasian Chalk Circle will begin performances on Thursday, July 28, with an official opening slated for Friday, July 29.
Brecht's The Caucasian Chalk Circle is a classic tale, eerily relevant in light of today's global predicaments. A woman swept up in revolution must put her own safety and future on the line for that of a young child's. Theatrics abound in Sonnet Repertory Theatre's production of Brecht's epic tale, replete with masks, songs, dances and audacious trials.
The production features: Sarah Baskin (Off-B'way: The Milk Train Doesn't Stop Here Anymore, Roundabout; Wolves, 59E59) Ro Boddie (Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, CENTERSTAGE & The Philadelphia Theatre Company), Carrie Cimma (Lizzie Borden, Off-B'way; National Tour of Sweeney Todd, playing Mrs. Lovet), Seth Duerr (For The Public Theater he has twice appeared in Shakespeare in the Park: Macbeth, directed by Moisés Kaufman, and Romeo and Juliet, directed by Michael Greif), Adam Levinthal (Lost in Yonkers, The Walnut Street Theater), Matthew Ellis Murphy (The Dunes, Gallery Players; Chain of Fools, Guthrie Theater), Anthony Pierini (TV: "Body of Proof," "Sesame Street"), Markita Prescott ("The Cosby Show," upcoming film: Knuckleheads), Brent Rose (Bill Pullman's Expedition 6, The Kennedy Center; Richard II, Matchbook Productions/Sonnet Repertory Theatre), Andrew Wells Ryder (Harper's Ferry, University of North Carolina School of the Arts), Stacy Salvette (ShakesBARE, Sonnet Repertory Theatre; New Land at La Mama), Luke Smith (A Play About John Brown and 1776, Harper's Ferry) and Tim Wright (Sunset Boulevard, Pioneer Theatre Company; Metamorphoses, Melbourne Theatre Company).
Director Christopher Schilder takes part in his first collaboration with Sonnet Repertory Theatre on this timely production of Brecht's classic masterpiece. Previously, he has worked on Christopher Shinn's Picked at the Vineyard Theatre, Tennessee Williams' The Milk Train Doesn't Stop Here Anymore at Roundabout's Laura Pels Theatre, Horton Foote's three-part Orphan's Home Cycle at the Signature Theatre Co and Hartford Stage, Impressionism on Broadway, and has collaborated with the Ensemble Studio Theatre on their annual One Act Play Marathon, and new work development during their autumn Member Fest. Regionally, Schilder has directed School House Rock at Festival Park in North Carolina, and he is a graduate of the directing program of the University of North Carolina School of the Arts.
Choreography is by Jolly Abraham (as a performer - B'way: Coram Boy, Bombay Dreams; Off-B'way: Twelfth Night, Sonnet Repertory Theatre; Hamlet, The Pearl Theatre, McReele, Roundabout), with original music by Leo Hurley (song writing credits include: Maya Angelou's 80th Birthday Celebration, work with Grammy Award-winner Pharoah Sanders, and the Winston-Salem Symphony, and 2010 winner of the North Carolina Symphony String Quartet Competition with his "String Quartet No. 1").
Set design is by Seth Easter (Twelfth Night, Sonnet Repertory Theatre; The Boy in the Bathroom and September 19, Via Dance Collaborative; The Geranium in the Window Sill Just Died, Urban Stages. Television: "The Apprentice" live season finale, The 63rd Annual Tony Awards - Emmy Award-nomination, We Are One Inauguration of Barack Obama at The Lincoln Memorial, and the democratic and republican presidential debates, ABC News) and Keven Lock (Off-B'way: Godspell; art direction for "Good Morning America"). Lighting design is by Wilburn Bonnell (Project Lohan, La Mama; Malfi, Inc., The Milk Can Theatre Company). Sound design is by Janie Bullard (Keep Your Baggage With You, Theatre for a New City; underneathmybed, Rattlestick Playwrights Theatre; Twelfth Night, Sonnet Repertory Theatre). Costume design is by M. Meriwether Snipes (Maria Sturada, UNCSA) and Prop design is by Shana McKay Burns (the tapestry, College William & Mary). Johnny Milani (Stage Manager), Brian D. Gold (Assistant Stage Manager), Danielle Emile (Assistant Director) and Robyne Parrish (Assistant Director) round out the production team.
Sonnet Repertory Theatre is led by Co-Artistic Directors Tiffany Little Canfield (Casting Director at Telsey + Company in New York City with credits that include: Baz Luhrmann's production of Puccini's La Boheme on Broadway, the films Dan in Real Life, Julie Taymor's Across the Universe, Sex and the City [both films], the ABC Pilot "Ugly Betty" and many Broadway shows and commercials) and Todd Loyd (numerous on and off-Broadway credits as actor, director and everything in-between including: the Broadway productions of La Boheme, The Color Purple, works at The Kennedy Center, The Eugene O'Neill Playwright's Conference, Lincoln Center Institute, Cedar Lake Dance, PCPA Theaterfest, The Belt Theatre and such festivals as NYMF and NAMT).
The Caucasian Chalk Circle is an Actors' Equity Approved Showcase.
The Caucasian Chalk Circle is translated from the German by James & Tania Stern, with W.H. Auden. Edited by John Willett & Ralph Manheim.
THE CAUCASIAN CHALK CIRCLE
The Lion Theatre at Theatre Row, 410 West 42nd Street (between 9/10 Avenues)
Thu 7/28, Fri 7/29, Sat 7/30 at 8pm
Sun 7/31 at 3pm
Tue 8/2 at 7pm
Wed 8/3, Thu 8/4, Fri 8/5 at 8 pm
Sat 8/6 at 2 pm & 8pm
Sun 8/7 at 3pm
Tickets ($18) are available at www.Telecharge.com and at the Theatre Row box office (410 West 42nd Street, between 9th & 10th Avenues).
www.sonnetrepertorytheatre.org
