Circle Mirror Transformation
The Blue Slipper Theatre continues it’s exciting 2019 season with Annie Baker’s magnificent play Circle Mirror Transformation.
Named after a common acting exercise, Circle Mirror Transformation follows four small town Vermont residents enrolled in Marty Kreisberg’s community-center drama class. Over the course of the six weeks, it becomes clear that not only are the personalities of the cast moving the class in unexpected directions, but the seemingly harmless in-class exercises and games are having epic, life altering influences on the characters’ outside lives. The New York Times called Circle Mirror Transformation an “unheralded gem that sends people into the streets babbling and bright-eyed with the desire to spread the word.” It won the 2010 Obie Award for Best New American Play and is a beautiful meditation on life, as elegant and gentle as it is hilarious and cutting.
The cast features Sherry Pikul as Marty, the class’ bold teacher; Immanuela Meijer as Theresa, a former New York City actress building a new life for herself in small town Vermont; Dale Ruhd as Schultz, a recently divorced and very much heart-broken carpenter looking for his next move; Dana Baskett as Lauren, a 16 year old student hoping to better prepare for her high school’s upcoming production of West Side Story; and Scott Denniston as James, Marty’s husband and somewhat voluntary member of the class.
The play is directed by John Henry Haseltine, who was the technical director for this season’s production of No Exit. He’s an award-winning filmmaker and artist whose pieces and designs have appeared on the TV shows Silicon Valley, Drunk History and Those Who Can’t. This is his Blue Slipper directorial debut.
Circle Mirror Transformation opens Friday, April 26 with performances Fridays and Saturdays at 8 pm and Sundays at 3 pm through May 12. The Blue Slipper Theatre is located at 113 E. Callender St. Tickets are $16 for adults, $13 for college students and persons over 60, and $10 for youth under 18 years and are available by calling 222-7720 or by visiting blueslipper.org.